30 DIY Tortoise Enclosure Ideas For A Natural Haven

Creating the perfect home for your tortoise can be both fun and rewarding, transforming a simple enclosure into a natural haven.

As a tortoise enthusiast myself, I’ve explored numerous DIY ideas to make their space as comfortable and enriching as possible.

Whether you’re a seasoned reptile keeper or new to the tortoise world, these 30 DIY enclosure ideas will inspire you to craft a cozy and natural environment for your shelled friend.

30 DIY Tortoise Enclosure Ideas

1. Hobbit Style Tortoise Habitat

Materials	Doors, light, heater, filter, plants, etc.
Difficulty level	Challenging

Start by building a robust structure that resembles a hobbit home to create a habitat for tortoises with a ‘hobbit house’ motif. To provide your tortoise with easy access, add two entrance locations with doors. To provide some heat, install a warm white light inside the home.

Build a working “3-layered pond/brook” water feature after that, making sure there is enough filtration and water movement. Finally, add fairy lights and plants to the enclosure to create a wonderful aura that will be particularly noticeable at night.

Want to understand Enclosure + Tortoise Inspirations better? Here’s a breakdown that makes sense. You Won’t Believe How Easy These 10 Tortoise Pond Ideas Are to Build!

2. Earthly Tortoise Oasis

3. Old Wardrobe Tortoise Habitat

Materials	Coconut chip substrate, twigs, water bowl, food bowl, lamp, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

With coconut chip substrate, a twig hiding place, water and feeding bowls, a resting stone under a light, and a walk-in concealing shade, you can create a tortoise paradise. Make a welcoming environment that supports your tortoise’s comfort and well-being.

4. Grassland Retreat tortoise house

Materials	Clay pot, tray, soil, grass, plants, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

You may make a natural habitat for tortoises by using organic soil as the base and growing grass that is native to the area. Put a pot without anything in it to use as a hiding spot, and put a clay tray to use as a water container.

Within the enclosure, include plants such as lettuce and strawberry, and lay stones in such a manner that they form a walkway.

Want to understand Tortoise Inspirations + Tortoise Species better? Here’s a breakdown that makes sense. Different Types of Tortoises: A Comprehensive Guide

5. Two-storeyed tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Substrate, clay pot, food and water bowl, lamp, plants, grass, ramp, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

While constructing a two-story wooden cage for the tortoise, make sure to include a ramp for easy access to the top level and a concealed place beneath. The best bedding for tortoises is commercially available tortoise substrate.

Put a clay pot without anything in it on the upper level, and put bowls of food and water on the bottom level. Improve the appearance of the area by adding grass and spider plants. To ensure that there is sufficient light, mount a bulb straight above.

Ready to get the facts on Tortoise Inspirations + Tortoise Species? Here’s your turtle-friendly guide. 8 Amazing Tortoise Shell Types That Reveal Nature’s Creativity

6. interesting tortoise feeding station

Materials	Organic soil and coconut fiber substrate, water bowl, basking rock, twigs, clay pots, plants, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

Start with a substrate made of coconut fiber and organic soil to create a home for tortoises that is both natural and interesting. Place a water jug there and make a climbing structure for a hiding place out of twigs.

Set up empty pots with substrate halfway filled to imitate caves. Plant spider plants that are favorable to tortoises and include a basking stone. Create a covered place for seclusion and a twig bridge for climbing and hiding.

7. tortoise Enclosure With Five Elements

Materials	Coconut chip substrate, lamp, water bowl, food bowl, hiding cave.
Difficulty level	Easy

With only five items from any pet shop, you can make the simplest habitat for a tortoise. Use a substrate made of coconut chips for your tortoise’s maximum comfort.

At each of the four corners of your cage, place a water dish, food bowl, cave for hiding and resting, and a light. And there it is—the most straightforward cage for your tortoise!

8. Simple Tranquil Tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Coconut chip and fiber substrate, lamp, water container, food platform, grass, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

Here is another easy DIY tortoise enclosure that you can make with a few simple, store-bought elements. Fill your wooden enclosure with coconut chip and fiber substrate, and place a water container and a food station or platform at two corners.

At one corner make a hiding spot with a wooden wall and cover, and lastly put a good lamp over the enclosure. Dont forget to plant some grass under the hiding spot.

9. Warmtone Tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Coconut chip substrate, hollow log, sphagnum moss, thermometer, plant, water, food bowl, basking rock, lamp, etc
Difficulty level	Moderate

To recreate this organized tortoise enclosure first you will need to as coconut or wooden chip substrate that your tort buddy will be able to dig, add a hollow log for hiding space, and half-fill it with sphagnum moss.

Place a water container, cactus plant,  and food bowl at two corners, and place a large basking stone. To finish it up place a large branch around it, a thermometer, and a lamp right above!

Got questions about Tortoise Inspirations + Tortoise Species? This post has the basics, turtle-style. 5 best tortoise species for indoor enclosures (And How to Care for Them)

10. Slick Black Sand Enclosure

Materials	Black grainy sand, wooden chips, water, and food bowl, a hollow log, a basking rock, a thermometer, a lamp, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

To create this unique enclosure use black grainy sand as substrate and surround the boundary of the enclosure with wooden chips, place a food bowl at one corner and a hollow log for hiding at another corner.

In the middle place a decorative flower plant, basking rock, and a water bowl on the beautiful grainy black sand. Dont forget to install a thermometer and a lamp directly over the enclosure.

11. Wood-Chip Cozy tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Wood chips, hollow log, branch, rock, water and food bowl, lamps, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Transform your tortoise enclosure to this warm cozy wood chip habitat by using the most simple elements! Use wood chips as substrate and carefully place the hollow log, food, and water bowl on the substrate, and place rocks to climb and jump. Complete the enclosure with a good-quality lamp to ensure your tortoise’s well-being.

12. Leafy Tortoise Retreat

Materials	Soil, plants, cacti, grass, lamps, food, water bowl, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

To create a natural ambiance for your tortoises, use organic soil as substrate and plant native grasses around the corners of the enclosure.

To add some greeneries place plant pots of different cacti, and milkweeds on the surface of the enclosure wall. Provide a hiding spot for some privacy of your li’l buddies and the most important lamp over the enclosure.

13. Extended Loft tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Coconut fiber, basking rock, Clay pot, twigs, grass, ramp, lamp, etc
Difficulty level	Challenging

For this two-storeyed loft, you will need coconut fiber substrate on the surface of the bottom level decorated with an empty pot, basking rock and food, and a water bowl.

To make the path to the top floor make a ramp with hardboard and use twigs for making a boundary wall. Use grass on the surface of the top level. Not to mention provide a good lamp over the enclosure.

Curious about Tortoise Inspirations + Tortoise Species? Let’s keep it simple and clear. 5 Super Rare Tortoise Species You Didn’t Know Existed

14. Rustic Tortoise Refuge

Materials	Grainy sand, spider plants, twigs, lamp, water and food bowl, stones, ramp, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

To recreate this enclosure first use grainy sand as substrate and put water, and a food bowl, place stones here and therefore the tortoise as support and to climb.

Make a ramp to go to the top floor where you can plant slider plants for hiding, munching, and adding some greenery. Underneath the top floor provide coverage for some privacy.

15. Window Lid tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Window lid, wood chip, water, food bowl, succulent, grass, pebbles, lamp, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

In order to create this beautiful tortoise enclosure fill the bottom of the habitat with organic soil and wood chips and layer it with some pebbles on the side.

Secure the water bowl and food bowl in the pebbles. At one corner make an area with large pebbles for a garden where you can plant some grass or other plants, lastly, place a lamp over the top carefully and add lids like a window for a beautiful top view.

16. Wooden log tortoise Enclosure

Materials	wooden log, hollow logs, water and food bowl, stones, lamp, spider plant, lucky bamboo plant, cave, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

As the name suggests, you will require bamboo sticks to decorate the inside of the enclosure. First, add some soil mixed with sand as substrate followed by adding a hollow log for hiding underneath or climbing over and some food and waterbowl.

Dont leave out basking rock and lamp as well. For some privacy and resting use the bamboo sticks to separate the enclosure and add a nice white cave for a hideout.

17. Garden Oasis For Tortoises

Materials	Organic soil, plants, lamp, water bowl, food stone, rocks, clay pot. etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Recreate this beautiful garden-themed tortoise enclosure starting with filling the enclosure with organic soil, followed by surrounding the edge of the enclosure with different plants like a spider plant, peace lilies, lettuce, strawberries, etc.

plants of your choice in pots. On one side place a food stone, water bowl, and twig bridge to go under and climb over. 

Exploring Tortoise Inspirations + Tortoise Species? We’ll walk you through it, slow and steady. How to Instantly Recognize 5 Types of Tortoises (Even If You’re a Newbie)

18. Tortoise Haven

Materials	Bushy plant, water bowl, food rock, organic soil, wood ramp, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This gorgeous enclosure for your tortoise will be no less than a haven for your tort bud. To create this first you’ll need a wooden enclosure and make a covered area with walls at one edge of the enclosure for resting and privacy.

 Make a ramp surrounded by a bushy plant, leading from the hideaway to the water bowl. Place a food rock beside and on the other side plant Thai grass, lettuce, and other tortoise-friendly plants.

19. Backyard Baby Tortoise Garden Enclosure

Materials	Elevated garden bed basket, plants, herbs, pond liner, gravels, organic soil, etc.
Difficulty level	Challenging

First, fill up the elevated garden basket with gravel and place a pond liner over it followed by an organic soil layer. Plant different plants and herbs that are safe for tortoises to chew on like marigolds, lavender, creeping flocks, stonecrops, rosemary,  etc.

lace the staple driftwood for hiding and resting. Provide a resting stone and the water tray and you’re good to go!

20. Sophisticated Indoor Tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Cood, coconut fiber, fern, cactus, gravels, water tray, twigs, pebble stones, sand, resting pad, lamp, etc.
Difficulty level	Challenging

To make this DIY two-storeyed enclosure you will require to cut out hardboard pieces and put them together to create a ramp leading to the top deck while providing a hideaway underneath. Fill the upper level with sand, a resting pad, and a cactus plant.

Decorate the downstairs with organic soil, ferns, cacti, twigs, and stones. At one corner provide a cave hiding spot and a water tray.

21. Budget-Friendly tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Coconut chip substrate, water dish, plastic tub, hollow log, lettuce
Difficulty level	Easy

If you are looking for a tortoise enclosure on a budget, this is the perfect DIY enclosure for you. Start with filling a plastic tub with coconut hip substrate. Next, put a hollow fiber at one spot as its hiding cave and a water bowl at the other end. Plant lettuce for mandatory vegetation.

Ready to get the facts on Enclosure + Tortoise Inspirations? Here’s your turtle-friendly guide. 10 Genius Tortoise Pool Ideas That Will Make Your Pet’s Summer Unforgettable

22. Wired Zen tortoise Enclosure

23. Tortoise Table House

Materials	Wooden enclosure, pond liner, organic soil and coconut fiber substrate, hollow log, decorative plant and plastic terracotta tray, cuttlebone, feeding, and basking slate, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

Fill up your wooden enclosure with pond liner, organic soil, and coconut fiber substrate, place a hollow log at one end, followed by adding a decorative plant over the log and a plastic terracotta tray for water.

Place a  cuttlebone for nibbling and finish it off with feeding and basking slate.

24. Large Outdoor Tortoise Enclosure

Materials	Wood, wire net, stone bricks, slate, water tray, etc.
Difficulty level	Challenging

Make a 4X8 feet wooden enclosure and use a wire net to keep predators out.  Place white stones and organic soil as substrate.

Use large stone bricks and a flat rock to make a cave for hiding and resting. Add a large plastic terracotta tray for water and feeding and resting slate in the middle or side,

25. Clear Tub Tortoise Oasis

Materials	Clear plastic tub, coconut fiber, organic soil substrate, lamp, water and food bowl, hollow log, aloe vera plants, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

Utilize a rectangular clear plastic tub (40 gallons) and fill it up with coconut fiber and soil substrate. Level up the enclosure by planting some aloe vera plants on each side.

Add a hollow log for hiding beside which you will set the water dish and on the other side set the food bowl. Place the basking spot directly under the lamp.

26. Easy Tortoise Enclosure

27. Woody Natural tortoise Setup Enclosure

Materials	Wooden enclosure, wood chip substrate, clay water tray, grass plant, twig cave, lamp, stone, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

This habitat is one of the simple minimal DIYs that you easily recreate. In order to make this, first, cut out wood pieces of your preferred size and nail them down and add clamps.

Add wood chips as substrate and carefully add the necessities like a twig cave to hide under and climb over, stones, a clay water tray, a grass plant for vegetation, and lastly the most important lamp. Carefully place it over an empty spot where your tortoise will be able to bask in peace.

Ready to get the facts on Enclosure + Tortoise Inspirations? Here’s your turtle-friendly guide. 10 Genius Tortoise Table Ideas for a Happy, Healthy Pet

28. Serene tortoise Sanctuary

29. small home friendly tortoise enclosure

30. two Tortoise Enclosures