Tortoise Vivarium
Creating Your Own Tortoise Vivarium
Creating your own tortoise vivarium (aka: tortoise house containing both land and water) probably seems like a pretty grand project in which you can design lots of impressive and nifty features. In reality, there are a few basic necessities that a tortoise’s home should include in order to provide him with the elements he needs to live a healthy and comfortable life. We are going to talk about the most important aspects you should consider when building your vivarium, as well as a few other inclusions that aren’t so necessary, but can be pretty neat to have around!
Let’s start by first pointing out that almost everything you will include in your tortoise’s habitat largely depends on the type of tortoise you have or will purchase. This means doing a lot of research! How big will your species of tortoise grow to be? What climate and terrain is your tortoise’s species accustomed to? Also, does your species of tortoise handle humidity well? These are all relevant questions that you should be finding the answers to before building a vivarium (and preferably before you purchase a tortoise altogether).
How big your tortoise will grow to be is a very important factor in building a tortoise vivarium. If you can get a good prediction on the adulthood size of your tortoise, you will be able to compensate by building a house that is large enough to accommodate the tortoise through all life stages and sizes. The general rule for a tortoise is to allow three yards of living space for every 12 inches of turtle you have. So, if your tortoise is about two feet long, you should endeavor to build a vivarium that provides at least nine yards of space. This can be a difficult condition to meet if the species of tortoise is to grow particularly large, as many people find they do not have the adequate room to spare in their home.
You should also bear in mind that most types of tortoise like to burrow, which means the “land” you put in the vivarium should allow this, but the moisture level of the sand/soil/rocks should definitely be monitored. Many burrowing tortoises end up with shell rot because the soil in their habitat is too moist for them. Alternatively, some tortoises can end up with severe dehydration if the soil is too dry. If your vivarium is going to be glass-sided, try darkening a few sides to give your tortoise a “hidey hole”—or a place that he can retreat to when he wants to be alone. Taking away the option of privacy from your pet can result in a very stressed out tortoise. Imagine how he lives in the wild—he isn’t used to prying eyes when he burrows, in fact, he likely burrows to get away from activity and other creatures, so try to allow him this measure of comfort.
In an attempt to make the tortoise vivarium more natural, you should endeavor to keep fresh vegetation and even rocks in the enclosure. This means adding lots of grass, flowers, and even tree branches. If you can, try to include a few hollowed-out tree branches, as they can also provide a great place for your tortoise to retreat to if he doesn’t feel like burrowing.
There should also be some form of heat source placed over the enclosure. Tortoises are cold blooded and will pull their body heat from the heat emitted from the lamp. The temperature you keep your tortoise’s habitat should be based on research of your specific species of tortoise. Remember, tortoises come from all over the world and are accustomed to various types of surroundings—particularly temperature. It can help to keep a static thermometer inside the housing so that you can easily keep track of the vivarium’s temperature.
If you are having trouble developing any feature of your tortoise vivarium, try to contact the breeder you purchased or are planning to purchase the tortoise from. If you bought your tortoise from a pet shop, you can likely ask an employee there to help you, but they may not be as knowledgeable about tortoise habitats as a breeder would be. Best of luck building your tortoise habitat!