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How to Make a Tortoise's Habitat

Tortoises can make great pets, but before you take on a tortoise as a petyou have you have to have the proper habitat for it. Most tortoises are kept in an outdoor habitat, and they generally do not make very good indoor pets. There are also a number of species-specific environmental considerations to be made, which will depend on your species of tortoise. Generally, however, creating a safe and pleasing environment for your tortoise is a doable project.

Things You'll Need

Enclosing walls
Doghouse
Native plants

Instructions

- 1
  Find an outside spot that will be suitable for your tortoise species. A desert tortoise, for instance, will prefer a dry area, while some other tortoise species may prefer a wet landscape.
- 2
  Create an enclosure around the area you plan to use as the tortoise's habitat. Some tortoises can and do climb, so the enclosure walls should be at least as tall as the length of the tortoise. A variety of materials, from plywood to brick to stones, can be used to form a wall.
- 3
  Plant the flora and fauna that is commonly found in your species of tortoise's natural habitat. This will provide a more natural environment for your tortoise, and also a potential food source, depending on what the diet of your tortoise species is.
- 4
  Install a hiding area for the tortoise that will provide it with protection from the sun and predators. A do house may be suitable, depending on the potential predators, but a more tortoise-specific home may also be constructed. Again, this will depend on the preferences of your particular species.
- 5
  Give your tortoise access to fresh water, along with any other dietary requirements not provided by the environment. A well0designed habitat may provide all of your tortoise's food needs, but there are some species that, for example, eat some amount of meat as part of their diet, which will need to be provided for them.

Animals & Science