Buying an enclosure - need recommendations

Else10 · May 2, 2026

Hello! I have a red foot tortoise who is growing like crazy! she’s doubled her size in a year. I’ve decided to move her to a new indoor enclosure sized for an adult red foot but I need recommendations for an off-the-shelf ready to set up enclosure package with lights, humidity and etc included. PLEASE recommend vendors that are reputable and have quality products for this purpose. Cost is not an issue at this point as I do want my red foot to have a happy, quality life. HELP!

The_Four_Toed_Edward · May 2, 2026

Have you checked out the Smart enclosure by @Markw84 ? If I remember correctly it comes with all the lighting etc.

wellington · May 2, 2026

There is no premade off the shelf enclosure for an adult RF! As an adult they should be housed outside with a heated winter shed. If it has to live inside, then a fairly good sized room needs to be dedicated to it

wellington · May 2, 2026

The_Four_Toed_Edward said:
Have you checked out the Smart enclosure by @Markw84 ? If I remember correctly it comes with all the lighting etc.

The cages are not for an Adult RF

Tom · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
Hello! I have a red foot tortoise who is growing like crazy! she’s doubled her size in a year. I’ve decided to move her to a new indoor enclosure sized for an adult red foot but I need recommendations for an off-the-shelf ready to set up enclosure package with lights, humidity and etc included. PLEASE recommend vendors that are reputable and have quality products for this purpose. Cost is not an issue at this point as I do want my red foot to have a happy, quality life. HELP!

What Wellington said.

This species should really be moved outdoors into a large enclosure when they reach adulthood, like a whole back yard. The problem is that your climate is totally unsuitable for the species. Too cold in winter, too hot in summer, to dry all the time. Same here in my area. This being the case, a large indoor closed chamber is your best alternative, but none of these are large enough for an adult RF. This means you need to heat and humidify an entire room of your house to give this tortoise the space and conditions it needs.

Else10 · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
Hello! I have a red foot tortoise who is growing like crazy! she’s doubled her size in a year. I’ve decided to move her to a new indoor enclosure sized for an adult red foot but I need recommendations for an off-the-shelf ready to set up enclosure package with lights, humidity and etc included. PLEASE recommend vendors that are reputable and have quality products for this purpose. Cost is not an issue at this point as I do want my red foot to have a happy, quality life. HELP!

UPDATE: to all who have replied so far, thank you for your answers. I do not have a whole room to dedicate to my RF nor do I have the funds to build an outdoor enclosure that is completely sealed so that environment can be controlled. So I need next-best ideas for now. She is 8 inches long, about 3.5 years old. I realize from your responses that I may need to re-home her when she gets bigger. I’m disappointed and there should be info out there discouraging the sales of RFs in the southwest USA.

zovick · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
UPDATE: to all who have replied so far, thank you for your answers. I do not have a whole room to dedicate to my RF nor do I have the funds to build an outdoor enclosure that is completely sealed so that environment can be controlled. So I need next-best ideas for now. She is 8 inches long, about 3.5 years old. I realize from your responses that I may need to re-home her when she gets bigger. I’m disappointed and there should be info out there discouraging the sales of RFs in the southwest USA.

I believe I have read that an 8' by 3' or 8' by 4' enclosure can be achieved by putting two of Markw84's 4' wide enclosures end to end. That size should accommodate your tortoise for at least a few more years.

Before you lose all hope, I would heartily recommend that you contact Markw84 and determine if this info is correct. His enclosures are turnkey. All you need to do is plug them into an outlet and enjoy your tortoise.

Good luck!

Else10 · May 2, 2026

zovick said:
I believe I have read that an 8' by 3' or 8' by 4' enclosure can be achieved by putting two of Markw84's 4' wide enclosures end to end. That size should accommodate your tortoise for at least a few more years.

Before you lose all hope, I would heartily recommend that you contact Markw84 and determine if this info is correct. His enclosures are turnkey. All you need to do is plug them into an outlet and enjoy your tortoise.

Good luck!

Thank you for your kind response. I’ll check it out!

wellington · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
UPDATE: to all who have replied so far, thank you for your answers. I do not have a whole room to dedicate to my RF nor do I have the funds to build an outdoor enclosure that is completely sealed so that environment can be controlled. So I need next-best ideas for now. She is 8 inches long, about 3.5 years old. I realize from your responses that I may need to re-home her when she gets bigger. I’m disappointed and there should be info out there discouraging the sales of RFs in the southwest USA.

It's not that it can't be done, it's just not as easy as one that is more appropriate for your location. I agree it would be nice if sellers would do some educating on what it would take to house a specific tortoise in the area of the buyer but unfortunately the majority is just out to sell and make money.

Fluffy · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
nor do I have the funds to build an outdoor enclosure that is completely sealed so that environment can be controlled.

Im sorry but maybe i'm not understanding. Why would your outdoor enclosure need to be sealed and the environment controlled outdoors?

Tom · May 2, 2026

Else10 said:
Thank you for your kind response. I’ll check it out!

Zovick is correct. You could combine 3 of Mark's Smart Enclosures and have a 12x3 indoor enclosure with perfect conditions for a RF. That is still on the small side for an active 8 inch tortoise, but it will work for a while.

The_Four_Toed_Edward · May 3, 2026

wellington said:
The cages are not for an Adult RF

I was thinking of connecting multiple but reading this thread made me think that even that isn't preferable.

I am not that well versed in tropical species, what would you guys say is an absolute minimum enclosure size for an adult redfoot? This is kind of off topic, but I feel like we don't have an up to date redfoot care sheet pinned in the species specific section, one of them talks about a bare minimum of 8 by 4 feet and some care sheets mention humidifiers.

Tom · May 3, 2026

The_Four_Toed_Edward said:
I was thinking of connecting multiple but reading this thread made me think that even that isn't preferable.

I am not that well versed in tropical species, what would you guys say is an absolute minimum enclosure size for an adult redfoot? This is kind of off topic, but I feel like we don't have an up to date redfoot care sheet pinned in the species specific section, one of them talks about a bare minimum of 8 by 4 feet and some care sheets mention humidifiers.

RFs can grow to more than 12 inches, and in some cases weigh 20 pounds. The are best housed in large outdoor enclosures in warm humid areas like Florida or Southern Louisiana. Housing this species in cold, hot, or dry areas requires indoor housing, and that means something the size of an entire room. 10x10 feet is only 100 square feet, and that is pretty small for a 12+ inch active tropical tortoise. I'd prefer to see them in something 10 times that size. I house 8-10 inch juvenile tortoises in a 30x35 foot outdoor enclosure, and they march up and down every square foot of it. Seeing a 12 inch tortoise cramped into a 10x10 foot room for months at a time, is not my idea of good housing. Seeing one in a tortoise table is... well... Let's say "not good".

This goes back to the larger philosophical principals of choosing the right species for your means and your climate. If a person lives in a third floor apartment, I would recommend against buying a cow, or a herd of goats. There is no satisfactory way to house a cow or a herd of goats in a normal third floor apartment. Like wise, if you live in Phoenix Arizona, a gyr falcon or a polar bear is not the animal for you. If you live in Alaska, then Harris hawks and elephants are not good animals for your area. In a similar vein, Galapagos or sulcata tortoises which come from hot sunny tropical areas, and which require HUGE warm sunny enclosures and large heated shelters for cold North American nights, are simply not suitable for most people. Giant sulcatas are easy to house here. We are warm and sunny 300+ days a year, and a 4x8 insulated box keeps them warm and safe at night, or on the odd cooler day in winter. RF and YF tortoises, which require large enclosures that are warm and humid, are simply not a good species for someone living in the Southern CA desert, or in this case, the New Mexico desert. Don't get a husky if you live in South Florida. Don't get a Saluki if you live in Northern Minnesota.

Don't have space or money to buy or build large enclosures and heat them? Then don't get a large tortoise species. Live in the frozen north with cold winters? Don't get a species that needs large outdoor housing and warmth to function and thrive. If you are limited on space, and have cold winters, then get a smaller species that can live indoors year round, and brumate over a frozen winter.

I wish that more sellers were upfront about all this, but even if they are not, it is still the responsibility of the buyer to understand the long term needs of any animal they are purchasing. If those needs cannot be accommodated, for any reason, then simply don't get that animal. If someone mistakenly bought an animal and cannot accommodate its needs, then that animal needs to be re-homed to a person and place that can accommodate them. It is possible to house large species in unsuitable areas if enough time, money, and effort is given. Most people in most situations simply cannot or will not do what is necessary. I have yet to see someone build a 50x100 foot insulated barn with heated floors and banks of basking and UV lights to house a sulcata in the frozen north, but it can certainly be done. It's just not practical or cost effective. For the vast majority of people, it makes more sense to keep species that are more suitable for your area, or move to an area where you can more practically keep the species that interest you. That is what brings many people to Florida.

The_Four_Toed_Edward · May 3, 2026

Tom said:
RFs can grow to more than 12 inches, and in some cases weigh 20 pounds. The are best housed in large outdoor enclosures in warm humid areas like Florida or Southern Louisiana. Housing this species in cold, hot, or dry areas requires indoor housing, and that means something the size of an entire room. 10x10 feet is only 100 square feet, and that is pretty small for a 12+ inch active tropical tortoise. I'd prefer to see them in something 10 times that size. I house 8-10 inch juvenile tortoises in a 30x35 foot outdoor enclosure, and they march up and down every square foot of it. Seeing a 12 inch tortoise cramped into a 10x10 foot room for months at a time, is not my idea of good housing. Seeing one in a tortoise table is... well... Let's say "not good".

This goes back to the larger philosophical principals of choosing the right species for your means and your climate. If a person lives in a third floor apartment, I would recommend against buying a cow, or a herd of goats. There is no satisfactory way to house a cow or a herd of goats in a normal third floor apartment. Like wise, if you live in Phoenix Arizona, a gyr falcon or a polar bear is not the animal for you. If you live in Alaska, then Harris hawks and elephants are not good animals for your area. In a similar vein, Galapagos or sulcata tortoises which come from hot sunny tropical areas, and which require HUGE warm sunny enclosures and large heated shelters for cold North American nights, are simply not suitable for most people. Giant sulcatas are easy to house here. We are warm and sunny 300+ days a year, and a 4x8 insulated box keeps them warm and safe at night, or on the odd cooler day in winter. RF and YF tortoises, which require large enclosures that are warm and humid, are simply not a good species for someone living in the Southern CA desert, or in this case, the New Mexico desert. Don't get a husky if you live in South Florida. Don't get a Saluki if you live in Northern Minnesota.

Don't have space or money to buy or build large enclosures and heat them? Then don't get a large tortoise species. Live in the frozen north with cold winters? Don't get a species that needs large outdoor housing and warmth to function and thrive. If you are limited on space, and have cold winters, then get a smaller species that can live indoors year round, and brumate over a frozen winter.

I wish that more sellers were upfront about all this, but even if they are not, it is still the responsibility of the buyer to understand the long term needs of any animal they are purchasing. If those needs cannot be accommodated, for any reason, then simply don't get that animal. If someone mistakenly bought an animal and cannot accommodate its needs, then that animal needs to be re-homed to a person and place that can accommodate them. It is possible to house large species in unsuitable areas if enough time, money, and effort is given. Most people in most situations simply cannot or will not do what is necessary. I have yet to see someone build a 50x100 foot insulated barn with heated floors and banks of basking and UV lights to house a sulcata in the frozen north, but it can certainly be done. It's just not practical or cost effective. For the vast majority of people, it makes more sense to keep species that are more suitable for your area, or move to an area where you can more practically keep the species that interest you. That is what brings many people to Florida.

I totally get what you are saying. This is why I have a Russian and I am thankful to never have seen a sulcata here in Finland. (the biggest zoo in the country used to have some 10 years ago but don't anymore, hopefully they have been moved to a better climate) I just think that the redfoot care sheets we now have pinned in the species specific section do not reflect how much space the species needs.

Tom · May 3, 2026

The_Four_Toed_Edward said:
I totally get what you are saying. This is why I have a Russian and I am thankful to never have seen a sulcata here in Finland. (the biggest zoo in the country used to have some 10 years ago but don't anymore, hopefully they have been moved to a better climate) I just think that the redfoot care sheets we now have pinned in the species specific section do not reflect how much space the species needs.

I hear you. The space requirements for RFs really apply to any 12+ inch tortoise species. They don't need more or less space than any other type of tortoise of this size.

Else10 · May 5, 2026

Tom said:
RFs can grow to more than 12 inches, and in some cases weigh 20 pounds. The are best housed in large outdoor enclosures in warm humid areas like Florida or Southern Louisiana. Housing this species in cold, hot, or dry areas requires indoor housing, and that means something the size of an entire room. 10x10 feet is only 100 square feet, and that is pretty small for a 12+ inch active tropical tortoise. I'd prefer to see them in something 10 times that size. I house 8-10 inch juvenile tortoises in a 30x35 foot outdoor enclosure, and they march up and down every square foot of it. Seeing a 12 inch tortoise cramped into a 10x10 foot room for months at a time, is not my idea of good housing. Seeing one in a tortoise table is... well... Let's say "not good".

This goes back to the larger philosophical principals of choosing the right species for your means and your climate. If a person lives in a third floor apartment, I would recommend against buying a cow, or a herd of goats. There is no satisfactory way to house a cow or a herd of goats in a normal third floor apartment. Like wise, if you live in Phoenix Arizona, a gyr falcon or a polar bear is not the animal for you. If you live in Alaska, then Harris hawks and elephants are not good animals for your area. In a similar vein, Galapagos or sulcata tortoises which come from hot sunny tropical areas, and which require HUGE warm sunny enclosures and large heated shelters for cold North American nights, are simply not suitable for most people. Giant sulcatas are easy to house here. We are warm and sunny 300+ days a year, and a 4x8 insulated box keeps them warm and safe at night, or on the odd cooler day in winter. RF and YF tortoises, which require large enclosures that are warm and humid, are simply not a good species for someone living in the Southern CA desert, or in this case, the New Mexico desert. Don't get a husky if you live in South Florida. Don't get a Saluki if you live in Northern Minnesota.

Don't have space or money to buy or build large enclosures and heat them? Then don't get a large tortoise species. Live in the frozen north with cold winters? Don't get a species that needs large outdoor housing and warmth to function and thrive. If you are limited on space, and have cold winters, then get a smaller species that can live indoors year round, and brumate over a frozen winter.

I wish that more sellers were upfront about all this, but even if they are not, it is still the responsibility of the buyer to understand the long term needs of any animal they are purchasing. If those needs cannot be accommodated, for any reason, then simply don't get that animal. If someone mistakenly bought an animal and cannot accommodate its needs, then that animal needs to be re-homed to a person and place that can accommodate them. It is possible to house large species in unsuitable areas if enough time, money, and effort is given. Most people in most situations simply cannot or will not do what is necessary. I have yet to see someone build a 50x100 foot insulated barn with heated floors and banks of basking and UV lights to house a sulcata in the frozen north, but it can certainly be done. It's just not practical or cost effective. For the vast majority of people, it makes more sense to keep species that are more suitable for your area, or move to an area where you can more practically keep the species that interest you. That is what brings many people to Florida.

Well, thank you for that. I guess what you are saying plainly is that I should rehome my Jessie. Any ideas on how to do that? I am quite attached to her but I guess that means nothing on this forum...

Tom · May 5, 2026

Else10 said:
Well, thank you for that. I guess what you are saying plainly is that I should rehome my Jessie. Any ideas on how to do that? I am quite attached to her but I guess that means nothing on this forum...

I'm saying that people should know what they are getting ahead of time, and not get animals and become attached to them if they are unable to give the animal the long term care that it needs. I'm not trying to be mean to you, but you wouldn't be in this situation if you'd looked more into the needs of the species you chose to work with in your climate. It's sad, and my hope is that someone out there reading this will not buy that cute baby sulcata and then end up with the same dilemma you have. While it is not fun to receive bad news, it's also not fun to give it. I wish you'd picked a better species for your climate, and this would be a different conversation.

I think we've explained several ways to keep your tortoise if you want to. It just won't be cheap or easy to do in your climate with this species. I love RFs too, and I don't get them because my climate is similar to yours here in the southern CA desert. If you want to keep your tortoise, we will all try to help you as best we can. Going back to your original question for this thread, there really isn't any off-the-shelf enclosure you can buy for a tortoise this size that can't live outdoors in your area. You could get 3 of Mark's smart enclosure and make a 12x3 foot indoor closed camber, or Animal Plastics makes a 4x8 foot closed chamber that will last you for a while longer.

Buying an enclosure - need recommendations

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