As when caring for an animal, your first priority should be to set up a suitable habitat for your new pet. This is especially true for those who keep turtles, as these animals are often uniquely adapted to life in their natural habitats.
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| A Step by Step Guide: How to Set Up a Tortoise Enclosure? |
Below we will try to help you provide your new pet with a suitable habitat that will meet all of its needs. You will obviously need to modify some of these recommendations to suit the needs of the particular species you keep, but – generally speaking – most turtles will thrive when given the same basic enclosure style.
How to Set Up a Turtle Enclosure: A Step by Step Guide
Do you know what is the benefit of bringing home a turtle? Separation anxiety won't be a problem for you. Their lifespan is probably longer than yours, i.e. 50 to 100 years. You won't have to worry about allergies since they don't shed. But they aren't as big as your furry friends, so they do need extra care. With this, your responsibilities also increase. The first thing to consider before bringing it home is the turtle's house. Many parents consider keeping them in an open space, in an aquarium or in an enclosure. But the best place for them to live is the turtle enclosure.
Why is this so? Aquariums tend to have high side walls which is good, but their ventilation system is very poor. And the glass walls are too exposed for the turtle. They prefer opaque walls and structures. If you have ever kept or seen a turtle in an aquarium, you would have noticed how it keeps pushing the glass and trying to get out.
Tortoises and tortoises are active animals that need extra room to move around. It is necessary to provide them with a turtle enclosure. Since they are captive animals, it is necessary to keep them in a space that has a feel or atmosphere that somehow resembles their natural habitat. And before you build or choose a turtle enclosure, you should know the features to keep in mind. Here are the features you need to consider for a turtle enclosure:
1. Size
The first thing to consider when building or getting a terrarium is its size. The size of the cage should be according to the size of the turtle. They need as much space as possible to roam. For example, if your turtle is 12 inches long, it will need a minimum enclosure of 9 feet x 9 feet.
2. Materials (of which the cage is made)
The materials should be checked before getting your hands on the turtle house because of their specific needs for hiding places and sufficient heat. Wired cages are a strict no for the enclosure as there are chances of them injuring themselves or tearing the cage.
The ideal material for the turtle house is either plastic or wood. Plastic enclosures are suitable for small turtles, while for adults you will need a wooden cage as this will provide them with enough warmth and space to roam around.
3. Anti-evasion
A tortoise is used to climbing, digging and is an active walker. So you need to make sure that his house is escape-proof, to protect them from predators. These cute little ones are damn stubborn and evasive. So be aware!
When building, make sure the sidewalls are vertical, there shouldn't be a slight tilt as well, otherwise they will manage to escape. And make sure the height of the cage is twice the length of the turtle. If your turtle's length is 5 inches, the height of the walls should be a minimum of 10 inches.
4. Heat supply
Once you are done deciding which cage to choose, consider the heat input. These tiny infants require more warmth rather than visibility. The heat can be enjoyed in two different ways.
One is through incandescent light, which will work like an artificial sun, and the other is through belly heat - which will provide heat under the turtle.
How to make an indoor turtle house?
You may not find a suitable home for the stroller at home. Don't be worried; you can handle it yourself. It will pay off if you already have too much material left after the last renovation in your home. Before moving on to the steps, gather the basic materials for building the enclosure.
When making an indoor turtle enclosure, you can also use a plastic container. Just make sure your indoor turtle house reflects the essence of the outdoors. Here are the easy steps you need to follow for the perfect no-escape turtle home:
1. Plywood cutting
Obtain or cut the plywood according to the size of your turtle. Make sure it's not too small or your escaper will escape. Keep it as high as possible. Make the sides vertical without any tilt. These will make your turtle house escape-free.
2. Flooring with linoleum lining
To create a safe floor covering, add a linoleum liner to the bottom. This way, it will be easy for you to keep the space clean and orderly.
3. Add substrate and make room for water
Keep the water dish in a particular space and fill the entire container with substrate. The water bowl should not be too deep for your toddler to drown. But it must have enough depth to wet its upper shell. And the substrate is a combination of sand and soil (in which 60% is soil and 40% is sand), you can also add hay and mulch to it.
4. Build a hiding area
Turtles are sensitive to exposure and touch. They require more privacy (probably even more than people do!). Build a small hiding place for her to slip into when needed. Digging and attempting to escape are habits of theirs. And the shading area will allow them to hide as well as an escape when they feel too hot.
5. Create a space for lounging
Heat is the most important factor for the survival of turtles. The turtle basks in the sun to absorb and digest nutrients from food. Make sure the area is lit with the UVB bulb emitting at least 5 watts. The whole enclosure should be lit evenly, for this keep the bulb in the center or get a liner tube light the same length as a cage.
8 to 12 hours each day, keep the light on. They like to stay warm but cannot tolerate temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In this case, move the bulb above the enclosure or get a mercury vapor bulb specifically designed for reptiles that will provide both UVA and UVB light.
6. Provide enough water and food
Like any pet, the turtle also needs the right amount of food and water. But the fact is that they cannot digest meat and cereals. Give them fresh vegetables to eat. And calcium and vitamin D3 are needed to strengthen the turtle's shell, so give them powdered calcium and vitamin D3.
Fresh water is essential. Be sure to change the water every day in the water bowl. And wash the vegetables well before feeding them. (Never give them dog or cat food, it contains meat and grains.)
7. Keep the space clean
Clean the food tray and water tray daily. And change the substrate once a month, or when it seems too dirty.
Here are some tips on how to take care of the baby turtle
- Be careful when keeping multiple turtles together.
- When keeping multiple turtles together, watch them as soon as you see them fighting, separate them into different cages.
- Never keep two grown men together; they can fight over territorial issues.
- the ratio of men to women must also be maintained.
Conclusion: An ideal turtle enclosure for your little friend
Turtles are animals that don't like to be handled (strange, but true!). They are like introverted human beings; they need time to adapt to a new atmosphere. So place them carefully in their new turtle home and give them space (about a few days) to settle in and be comfortable. Once they are comfortable, you can spend time with them as before.
Also, now you know how to make an indoor turtle house, customize it to your liking. The only things you need to keep in mind are the materials to use, the right heat supply and the type of food to feed. And you are good to go.
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