Tortoise house?

[Elliriyanna]

Thoughts on a “tortoise house”for a juvenile central american ornate wood turtle? I want to start having the little one out during the day and in at night but would 1 or possibly 2 of these connected work well for a couple years? The turtle is only 2 months right now so it would be approximately 7 months old when our weather is nice enough to put it out during the day. I like large enclosures but I don’t have much faith in my building and we are renting so something permanent may not be the best option.

 

[Tom]

Where are you? There is no location listed in your avatar info.

Those "tortoise houses" aren't suitable for any species at any time. They can't handle the moisture needed for babies, and they are far too small for any adult.

You'd be better off buying a large horse/cattle watering trough from a local feed store. They make them 6 feet in diameter at a reasonable price, and since they are meant to hold water, the wet conditions will not hurt them at all. They also make much larger ones, but the price goes up accordingly. You can also make a lid for it for extra security.

I'm no expert on your species, but from what I have learned, they need conditions similar to a box turtle. A big shallow water feature, lots of hiding places, lots of leaf litter, lots of plants to hide under, and damp "earth" to live on/in.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Where are you? There is no location listed in your avatar info.

Those "tortoise houses" aren't suitable for any species at any time. They can't handle the moisture needed for babies, and they are far too small for any adult.

You'd be better off buying a large horse/cattle watering trough from a local feed store. They make them 6 feet in diameter at a reasonable price, and since they are meant to hold water, the wet conditions will not hurt them at all. They also make much larger ones, but the price goes up accordingly. You can also make a lid for it for extra security.

I'm no expert on your species, but from what I have learned, they need conditions similar to a box turtle. A big shallow water feature, lots of hiding places, lots of leaf litter, lots of plants to hide under, and damp "earth" to live on/in.

My worry is the amount of rain we can get that something made to hold water would flood. Humidity is no issue, 80%+ humidity is not uncommon during summer. I know we will need a large water feature and such. Eventually I would like to do a 10x10 dog kennel modified for it but that’s just not practical at the moment. Any idea on something that wouldn’t hold water and comes with a lid?

 

[wellington]

My worry is the amount of rain we can get that something made to hold water would flood. Humidity is no issue, 80%+ humidity is not uncommon during summer. I know we will need a large water feature and such. Eventually I would like to do a 10x10 dog kennel modified for it but that’s just not practical at the moment. Any idea on something that wouldn’t hold water and comes with a lid?

You could always drill holes in the trough.
Also adding a lid that could be closed on those rainy days but still letting light in. Something you'd have to rig yourself, but could be out of plexiglass or part wood, part plexiglass or even those clear corrugated greenhouse panels.

 

[Elliriyanna]

You could always drill holes in the trough.
Also adding a lid that could be closed on those rainy days but still letting light in. Something you'd have to rig yourself, but could be out of plexiglass or part wood, part plexiglass or even those clear corrugated greenhouse panels.

Honestly I would not trust something not fully attached. I’ve volunteered with rehabbers and have seen the damage that can be done and quickly so I am paranoid. I want something completely predator proof even in the day time

 

[wellington]

Honestly I would not trust something not fully attached. I’ve volunteered with rehabbers and have seen the damage that can be done and quickly so I am paranoid. I want something completely predator proof even in the day time

Totally understand. But any predators other than birds that I know of are out at night.
What state are you located? Maybe you have predators most of us don't. Wild cats, bears, etc?

 

[Tom]

My worry is the amount of rain we can get that something made to hold water would flood. Humidity is no issue, 80%+ humidity is not uncommon during summer. I know we will need a large water feature and such. Eventually I would like to do a 10x10 dog kennel modified for it but that’s just not practical at the moment. Any idea on something that wouldn’t hold water and comes with a lid?

They all have a drain plug. Tilt it slightly down hill and put a 3-4 inch layer of coarse gravel or rocks in the bottom for drainage and have all your substrate on top of that.

Then, if you are still worried, put some rocks taller than 6 inches in there. Even if it rains 4 or 5 inches in one day, and your drainage fails 100%, they will still have places to sit out of the water if they don't want to swim and play in the water. Bushes will do the same thing.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Totally understand. But any predators other than birds that I know of are out at night.
What state are you located? Maybe you have predators most of us don't. Wild cats, bears, etc?

We don’t , usually, occasionally a daytime coyote though neighborhood cats can always be a fun issue. I know they are TECHNICALLY nocturnal predators but I am also just a very anxious individual lol. Heck just keeping my toddler out from the turtle is going to require something strong

 

[Elliriyanna]

They all have a drain plug. Tilt it slightly down hill and put a 3-4 inch layer of coarse gravel or rocks in the bottom for drainage and have all your substrate on top of that.

Then, if you are still worried, put some rocks taller than 6 inches in there. Even if it rains 4 or 5 inches in one day, and your drainage fails 100%, they will still have places to sit out of the water if they don't want to swim and play in the water. Bushes will do the same thing.

Unfortunately that doesn’t fix the lid problem. I am going to keep looking and see what I can come up with that will protect them, hawks and such are a big issue around here if nothing else

 

[Elliriyanna]

I was also considering something like this up on cinderblocks but I worry I wouldn’t be able to easily access the turtle to get it back out

 

[Tom]

Unfortunately that doesn’t fix the lid problem. I am going to keep looking and see what I can come up with that will protect them, hawks and such are a big issue around here if nothing else

I live in the country. We have hawks, coyotes and all the other predators here too. You make a lid with 2x4s and welded wire from home depot.

Hawks and ravens are really only a problem for baby turtles or tortoises. An easily made cover will deter them.

 

[Elliriyanna]

I live in the country. We have hawks, coyotes and all the other predators here too. You make a lid with 2x4s and welded wire from home depot.

Hawks and ravens are really only a problem for baby turtles or tortoises. An easily made cover will deter them.

I don’t have the tools needed or feel comfortable in my building skills which is why I am looking for something already made

 

[Elliriyanna]

My husband and I have been brainstorming and with the little one only being a couple months old we have decided to go simple this year. A clear container for indoors, an opaque one for outdoors. These should be enough for a year and we can upgrade to truly adult enclosure sizes later. I’ll of course be making the top mesh for the outdoor one but keeping the latches for safety. For the clear one I will be adding ventilation and some mesh for uvb and plant lights but keeping the majority of the top to make sure humidity stays appropriate . Updated pictures of little bit as well

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

@mark1 Can you advise if this is suitable?

 

[COmtnLady]

Honestly I would not trust something not fully attached. I’ve volunteered with rehabbers and have seen the damage that can be done and quickly so I am paranoid. I want something completely predator proof even in the day time

To quote Captain Picard, "Make it so."
Keeping any pets is a learning curve. Its up to you to rise to the occasion.

If it's a baby, you have time before it can be outside anyway, so get it set up in a closed enclosure now, and plan-out the other later.

It's one thing to put away funds for your kid for college, but another thing entirely to not provide adequate housing and food while you are doing so.


.

 

[Elliriyanna]

To quote Captain Picard, "Make it so."
Keeping any pets is a learning curve. Its up to you to rise to the occasion.

If it's a baby, you have time before it can be outside anyway, so get it set up in a closed enclosure now, and plan-out the other later.

It's one thing to put away funds for your kid for college, but another thing entirely to not provide adequate housing and food while you are doing so.


.

You havent seen my building skills … however you may want to see my most recent post

I should also note that your analogy makes no sense, in my way will I “not provide adequate food and housing”

 

[COmtnLady]

I intended to show that it is important to first take care of getting your tortoise in the best possible situation, then think about future situations.

Where are you located? Not your address, what state, and what general area of that state are you in? Keeping a tortoise in California is vastly different than in Chicago. Without accurate info how can we recommend what would help you in the best way possible?

 

[Elliriyanna]

I intended to show that it is important to first take care of getting your tortoise in the best possible situation, then think about future situations.

Where are you located? Not your address, what state, and what general area of that state are you in? Keeping a tortoise in California is vastly different than in Chicago. Without accurate info how can we recommend what would help you in the best way possible?

I don’t have a tortoise please read my most recent post. This is what I will be doing. As my turtle is a hatchling and kept fully aquatic as recommended by those that keep this species it will be in its current enclosure for a few more months. So yes I am planning for the next enclosure. The size of the enclosure does not vary based on location nor does keeping the animal outside while the weather permits and inside when it doesn’t.

 

[ryan57]

I was also considering something like this up on cinderblocks but I worry I wouldn’t be able to easily access the turtle to get it back out View attachment 384057

I tried this once. I left Stumpy outside and my wife blocked him in the cinder blocks with a couple gallons of water. All he did for about 3 hours was look at her from around the jugs of water and that was the end of that...

 

[Elliriyanna]

I tried this once. I left Stumpy outside and my wife blocked him in the cinder blocks with a couple gallons of water. All he did for about 3 hours was look at her from around the jugs of water and that was the end of that...

Yeah I changed plans for now. And I was going to put a cage over top, no way would I just use cinderblocks. But that’s at least a year away