A tortoise house is the basic necessity for a tortoise. Since, tortoises are habituated to live in wild, it is important that you pay special attention on their accommodation. Also, this accommodation should be flexible enough to adapt to the growing and changing needs of a tortoise. Here are a few things that you should bear in mind while building the best tortoise house for your pet.
The first and the basic thing to consider is the size of your tortoise. Smaller tortoises can be kept indoors in glass tanks or wooden boxes but outdoor pens are still the best option. Tortoises should never be kept in small, enclosed spaces as they are very prone to develop respiratory problems.
The second thing is you should maintain the right temperature. If you plan to use large wooden boxes, try to keep a large lighted lamp on it so that the tortoise gets sufficient lighting and heat. Tortoises cannot bear extreme hot or cold conditions. It is important to maintain the right temperature so that your tortoise stays healthy.
The third thing to consider is the material of the tortoise house you want to build. It is always a good idea to choose a material that is easy to clean so that you dont spend too much time and effort in maintaining it. The paints and other such things that you might want to use should be non-toxic.
The next thing is that you should keep wooden enclosures or glass tanks slightly raised above the ground so that the base does not become soiled or rotten.
The fifth thing that you should consider is use of changeable features in your tortoises house. This will help you in bringing about minor changes so that the tortoise house is adaptive to your growing tortoise. It is important that the tortoise feels it is in the natural ambience so that it is comfortable. This is also important to keep the tortoise from falling ill. Placing artificial plants or stones is a good idea to create a natural looking habitat.
Only if you consider the above mentioned points, you will be able to build that perfect tortoise house that your pet will love to own. After all, your pet too deserves good shelter. Building the perfect tortoise house is hence the most important aspect of owning a tortoise as a pet.
