How to make a turtle enclosure?
Are you passionate about turtles? And would you like more advice on building and setting up a turtle enclosure?
Our team brings you practical tips for your enclosure.
Turtles, especially land turtles, despite their clumsy appearance, are master escape artists and easily expose themselves to serious dangers. A carefully constructed enclosure ensures their safety and quality, preventing danger from any source.
In this article, you will discover:
- What are the components of a good turtle enclosure;
- What is the recommended height for the enclosure;
- How to prevent turtles from creating tunnels under enclosures;
- What recommendations are there for improving the quality of life of turtles?
What are the components of a good turtle enclosure?
It must also be able to keep out potential predators: dogs, birds of prey, and rodents. And what about vehicles such as cars and lawnmowers? Do you love tortoises? Discover in a few steps how to build a beautiful enclosure for them.
The issue here is not just about building a perfect enclosure, but about recreating on a small scale the ideal habitat for your tortoises, imitating the one they would have had in the wild. Note that the enclosure must always include shelter, excavated earth, a saucer for water, light areas and shaded areas.
What is the recommended height for the enclosure?
Land turtles are capable of climbing over obstacles that are far beyond their height . It is therefore recommended that the enclosure be at least 40 to 50 centimeters high. Choose a location that allows ample sunlight, which is essential for the proper formation of your turtles' shells.
Also, avoid steps or spikes, as they can be an escape route for your turtles. You can choose to use wood or brick blocks for your construction. In either case, make sure the interior surface is smooth. Also, if you have a dog, increase the height of your tortoise's enclosure for their safety.
How to prevent turtles from creating tunnels under enclosures?
Additionally, tortoises are capable of creating tunnels that will render your enclosure ineffective. To counteract this, be sure to bury the fence around the entire perimeter, at least 40 centimeters deep . If this is not possible, dig a trench around the entire perimeter of the tortoise enclosure.
Next, fix vertical posts, made of wood or metal, to which you will hang a net . Then, attach the latter, and open the trench with earth. With this, you are sure to make your dear turtles hang up their engineer's helmets!
What recommendations are there for improving the quality of life of turtles?
A very important aspect that should not be overlooked is the amount of space inside the enclosure. Indeed, the quality of life of your tortoises is proportional to the amount of space you dedicate to them. Research has shown that it is recommended to provide 5 to 10 square meters for each tortoise.
Note that you should never go below 2 square meters per specimen. This shows that a living space is conducive to your turtles. In addition, it is important to consider the turtle's hibernation area. This should be a small bed made using sand, peat, and dry leaves.
Or hay where it can shelter and spend time in the warmth. The enclosure must also contain everything a tortoise needs to feed . Wild herbs such as prickly pear leaf, alfalfa, barberry, sainfoin, plantain or earwig are suitable for it.
The Need for Curves in Turtle Enclosures
Speaking of shape, curves are definitely an added layer of security for you and your tortoises. Your fence should therefore have plenty of curves and very few angles, as these make it difficult for tortoises to escape. While a high fence will protect your tortoises from most predators, it doesn't completely encircle them.
Because danger can also very well come from the sky. Owls, gulls, and crows are all birds of prey that can injure or kill your tortoises. It is therefore necessary to cover your tortoises' enclosure with netting to protect them, at least during the first few years of their lives.
Visual bars to embellish the enclosure
You must keep in mind that the enclosure must allow your turtles to escape. At the very least, it must make them not want to look elsewhere for better things. Experienced breeders and researchers therefore recommend creating a visual barrier that prevents them from seeing beyond the fence. Interesting colors or good things to eat. Your turtles, with their exploratory souls, will therefore not have the leisure to judge whether the grass is greener elsewhere.
And will be more likely to be content with what you offer them. It's important to remember, however, that replicating your turtle's natural habitat is essential. Desert-climate turtles, for example, need sunny locations. And loose, well-drained soil so moisture doesn't build up. These turtles are prone to shell and leg infections if they're in constant contact with water.
Other ideas for arranging your enclosure
There should be rocks and slopes where they can walk and lean back if they accidentally turn over. For turtles in tropical climates , maintaining high humidity in an open space is essential, which is also not easy. Typical plants for this type of climate are ferns and other large-leaved plants that provide shade and cool places for turtles to take refuge.
Finally, consider adding aromatic plants to your tortoise's enclosure: lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, and roses. Why? If your tortoises are going to spend their entire lives there, they might as well feel comfortable with fragrant and highly decorative plants. A functional, secure, and stylish environment, what's more. What more could you ask for!
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Ultimately, it is important to remember that the fence of a turtle enclosure must have the following properties: it must be an insurmountable obstacle along its entire length. It must be opaque or have a visual barrier. Its surface must be smooth and not cause the animal to climb.
The enclosure must store heat and provide protection from the wind. It must be easy for the owner to climb, clearly visible, and aesthetically pleasing.
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