Outdoor Tortoise Enclosure Guide (Size, Setup & Predator-Proofing)

This guide shows you how to build a safe outdoor enclosure for turtles and tortoises, including size guidelines, fencing, shelters, sun/shade, substrate, water, and predator protection.

Enclosure Size & Space Requirements for your tortoise:

General Rules of thumb:

• Hatchlings & Younger tortoises: If you decide to keep hatchlings or younger tortoises under 4 inches. I recommend building a smaller tortoise table style enclosure. You can even put it on the ground but be sure to add a secure lid to keep at predators or birds out. I like to use chicken wire and even an electric fence to help keep the predators out.
• Smaller Species: Russians, Hermann’s, Greeks, Etc.. I like to go minimum 8ft x 4ft outdoors. This allows for space and enrichment. If you can go bigger always go bigger.
• Medium Species: Leopards, Russians, Stars, Etc… I like go go pretty big with these and you can even make it L shape or have different hills, and mounds to help. Try and go 10ft x 5ft minimum and go bigger if possible. For species like leopards grazing areas are nice to have.
• Large Species: Galapagos, Aldabras, Sulcats. These need a lot of room. Hundreds to thousands of square footage. They do love to graze and will use any space you give them. Make sure the walls are extra secure and strong as these tortoise can get 100 plus pounds.

Important Aspects of outdoors:

• Bigger is always better. Try and use as much space as you can. You don’t always need to make it a rectangle, get creative with the space you have.
• Outdoors encourages more natural behavior, and enrichment such as grazing, roaming, exploring.
• Plan for adult size when thinking of where to put an enclosure. Almost all adult tortoises should be kept outdoors if possible.

Secure Fencing & Walls:

Fencing and walls for outdoor enclosure is important, so figure I’ll make a section just for it. Build strong walls and fences. Tortoises are low and can push hard, so build strong.

• Solid walls: Use solid walls and fencing. This allows for a strong wall and doesn’t allow the tortoise or turtle to see through the wall causing stress. Also if its not solid there is a chance a turtle or tortoise can climb over.
• Height of walls: I like to go minimum of 24 inch walls. Larger species you might need to go to 30inches. If you are housing a smaller species and adding a lid you might need to go taller to allow for plant growth.
• Underground: I like to put my walls 12 inches under the ground. This will prevent any digging out. Species like Russians, box turtles and sulcatas love to dig and can dig out if you don’t secure the walls under the ground.
• Transparent: Try to avoid transparent walls or any materials like that. This can cause confusion and stress. Big tortoise if they can see the other side they will try and get there and will push through walls.

Shelter & Hides important for your tortoise:

Outdoor enclosures need hides and secure shelters to give your tortoise and turtle the options of getting out of the weather.

• Shelters: These provide shade, a dry area when it rains, warm area for when its cold. They are important to every outdoor enclosure.
• Shelter & Hide Options: I like to build my own shelters and Hides. I usually insulate it with foam. Other good options are dog houses and adding heating and insulation to it, or wooden or plastic sheds that are converted to a hide. Depending on the species there are many ways to go about making a good shelter or hide.
• Half Logs: The classic half log hides are some of the favorites for smaller species like box turtles and Russian tortoises. They are natural and you can tuck them below bushes.
• Heated Night Box: this can be the same as your shelter, but they are important if you live in a cooler area. If you have cold winters and keep tortoises or turtles that do not hibernate. I will make a post just on this but make sure you plan for this.

Sunlight & Temperature:

Outdoor enclosures provide natural UVB, which is needed for health shell and bone growth. No need for UVB bulbs when outdoors.

• Provide Areas: Plan the enclosure to have both sun and shade areas. Using plants and or shade cloth can help with this but always be sure to have options
• Temperature Gradients: These are harder to create outdoors. Use plants and shade cloths to help make a cooler area of the enclosure. Have a more open and less shaded area for the warmer side and basking area. Plan for this when making a outdoor enclosure.
• Fresh Water: All species of turtles and tortoises need access to fresh water. Some will just drink out of dishes while others love to soak and get into the water. Always provide fresh water and change it out daily.

Examples of outdoor enclosures I used and made in the past.

Substrate & Ground Cover:

Substrate and ground cover helps control moisture, provides for digging, grazing, and enrichment.

• Substrate options: I like to use natural Top Soil, coco coir, sand, and moss mixed. I like to blend most my substrates and depending on the species I change the percentage of what I put into it. Also I put grass seeds down to grow grass for grazing. Bird seeds will also grow random weeds and flowers to provide good natural foods.
• Avoid: Avoid hard concreate surfaces. You can add parts of hard surfaces but don’t have the whole enclosure just hard surface. Avoid just sand as this can cause health problems and can be a danger. Do not use treated substrates that have added chemicals or fertilizers to it. j
• Ground Cover: I like to add plants and grasses to my enclosure. Hosta, Ferns, Hibiscus, grass, dandelions are all favorites. You can even get moss and some ground cover type plants if you have a green thumb.

Water & Hydration:

I touched on this above already a bit but it’s important so lets go over it a little more.

• Water dish: Always provide a water dish. this can be a shallow water dish, a pond, and bigger water dish. Just be sure its shallow, and has sloped sides so your turtle or tortoise can easily get out.
• Fresh water daily: Always change the water dishes daily, or if you have a small pond style water dish put a filter on it. Use aquatic plants as well to help filter the water. Add more water to any ponds that has evaporation going on.
• Soaking: Some species like box turtles, Wood turtles, Mountain tortoises, Red footed tortoises are species that like to soak and get into the water. I like to provide a shallow big water dish enough for them to get into.
• Pond: For turtles you can make a small pond and if its more of a aquatic species of turtle you can make it a bigger pond with a smaller land area. For ponds always provide an area where the turtle can leave the water and fully dry off.

Predator Protection (Safety for your tortoise):

Outdoor enclosure must be protected from predators. This is important for the safety of your pet.

• Common threats: Dogs, Cats, Raccoons, Birds, Rodents. These are the most common threats and the worse would be raccoons and rats.
• Protection Methods:
  • Wire Top/Lid: Use a wire top or secure lid for the enclosure. I use chicken wire and staples or screws to help keep predators out. This method mostly works on smaller outdoor enclsures.
  • Secure Fence: Having a secure fence with no gaps. Gaps will allow small rodents or weak spots that predators can use to get in.
  • Net on top: Use netting to keep birds out of enclosures or ponds. This is more important for bigger ponds but depending where you live keeping birds out might be needed.
  • Electric Fence: These are getting more affordable and can be a good way to keep things out of enclosures or yards all together. Put them on the top of fences and walls to help keep animals from coming over the top.
  • Lockable gate: This is good for nighttime. Locking animals in hides, or locking up the enclosure area can keep them safe from predators and people snooping around.

Weather Considerations:

Outdoor Housing depends on weather patterns in your area.

• Warm Climates: Places like So. California, Flordia and much of the south are great places because you can keep most species of tortoises and turtles outdoors year around. Just be sure to provide the basics and they can thrive.
• Cold Climates: Places like the PNW, Illinois, and the North eastern states get colder and you might need to do seasonal outdoor housing or plan for a big heated shelter like a shed for the cooler months. This is very doable just takes more planning and choosing the right species can benefit you more.
• Monitor Conditions: You will have to make your own judgment and monitor your weather conditions. Also look at the forecast and plan accordingly. I like to have plans in case there is a cold snap or heat wave. The more prepared you are the better you can adapt.

Enrichment & Natural Behavior:

Outdoor Enclosures allow for more natural behaviors and provide better enrichment daily. Turtles and tortoise kept in enriched environments will be more active and show more natural behavior.

• What I like to use:
  • Logs- These allow for obstacles for the turtle to go around or over. Also it blocks the view making the enclosure feel bigger. You can move them around or let the plants grow around them to add to the enrichment.
  • Rocks- Just like logs rocks can add great obstacles and you can put them to block line of sight. Make sure they are secure and don’t shift or trap any tortoise or turtles.
  • Topography change- This means adding hills, or low spots to the ground. This terrain change will give the turtle different muscles to use as well as break up line of sight.
  • Plants- Add plants and edible plants. This can add enrichment and places for turtles and tortoise to hide. It makes them feel safer and if you plant edible plants it gives them the ability to graze which is a natural enrichment for them.
  • Hides- As stated above hides are important for many reasons. For smaller species hides can create safe areas and I like to provide small half logs, tunnels, and even underground dens to keep things interesting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Too Small: Making a enclosure to small. Outdoor enclousures should be bigger and need to be bigger to create microclimates. Be sure to build as big as you can.
• Weak Fencing or walls: Building a weak fence or wall on the boarder of the outdoor enclosure. Make sure you make it strong to prevent escape.
• See through boarder: Using chain fence, or see through sides is a big no no. This causes stress and can be a weak point for escapes.
• Lake of shade: The enclosure is in full sun with little to no shade. Turtles and tortoise need to get out of the sun to avoid overheating. Provide both sunny and shaded spots with outdoor enclosures.
• No shelters or not enough hides: Not providing a good shelter or enough hides. This can cause stress and be unsafe for your animal. They need a place to escape the heat, warm up, and sleep safely.
• No predator protection: Not providing any predator proofing. This is mostly from people that think they have no predators in their neighborhood. Just because you haven’t seen them doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Also enclosures are habitats and attract wildlife and predators so be sure to add protection, or at the very least take your tortoise and or turtle inside at night.

Pro Tip: Check out what species works for you. I started making a list of profiles. Check it out.

Final Thoughts:

Outdoor enclosures are the best way to go when keeping turtles and tortoises. Not only is it great for your pet but also for you. It is lower maintained and if set up right turtles and tortoises are the easiest pet you will ever own. Just be sure to always provide a safe, natural, enriching environment that can support your turtle and tortoise for the long run. Always provide fresh water daily.

What next?

• Full Care Guide → /care-guides/
• Diet & Nutrition → /diet/
• Habitat & Enclosures → /habitat/
• Gear Reviews → /gear-reviews/