DIY Turtle Hideout: 3 Methods (Step-By-Step With Pictures)

Creating a DIY turtle hideout is a fun and rewarding project that can provide your turtle with a safe and secure space to rest and feel protected.

In this article, I am going to show you 3 different DIY turtle hideouts with steps & pictures: Stone cave, Plastic bowl cave and lastly, Coconut cave. You can make whichever one you prefer most!

Also, don’t forget to email me and let me know how the project went! Do take some pictures of your DIY turtle hideout and email them to me for featuring in this post!

What Is A Turtle Hideout?

In captivity, providing a hideout for pet turtles is essential to promote their well-being and give them a sense of security.

A turtle hideout typically consists of a safe and enclosed space where the turtle can retreat, rest, and feel protected. The hideout can be as simple as a small plastic container or as elaborate as a purpose-built enclosure with different hiding spots, depending on the turtle species and its needs.

The entrance to the hideout should be large enough for the turtle to enter and exit comfortably. Inside, it should be spacious enough for the turtle to turn around and move freely. The hideout should be placed in a quiet area of the turtle’s tank to reduce stress & allow the turtle to use it when needed.

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DIY Turtle Stone Cave (Method #1)

Step 1: Gathering The Materials

You’ll only need a few things to make this excellent stone cave for your turtle. And the good news is, most of these items are easily available. Let’s see the list of materials you will need.

1. Glue gun
2. Scissors
3. A plastic bottle
4. A lighter
5. Pebbles

Step 2: Cutting The Bottle

The first thing to do after the materials are all there is to take the plastic bottle. The size of the bottle will depend on how big you want the cave to be. Cut the plastic bottle using a pair of scissors as shown in the picture.

Step 3: Burn The Edges

Now, take the lighter and smoothen the cut areas of the bottle. This is to make sure there aren’t any sharp edges that may cause harm.

When using the lighter, make sure not to melt the bottle too much. Just run it along the edges to burn the sharp areas.

Step 4: Start Attaching The Pebbles

Take your glue gun and start attaching the pebbles to the bottle one by one. If the pebbles aren’t sticking, it may be because you are not using enough glue.

I’ve used white pebbles for this cave. You can use any natural pebbles you want. You can also use colorful pebbles. Just make sure to use waterproof paint if you are coloring them yourself.

Step 5: Glue, Attach, Repeat

Repeat the same process to cover the rest of the bottle. Don’t worry if you have a few spaces where the plastic beneath is visible.

Step 6: Cover It All

Keep adding the pebbles until you’ve covered the entire bottle. And you will have your beautiful stone cave for your turtle.

DIY Turtle Plastic Bowl Cave (Method #2)

Step 1: Collect The Materials

This is one of the simplest things you can make at home for your turtle. Let’s see what materials you will need to make this hideout for your turtle.

1. Plastic Bowl
2. Pencil
3. Knife
4. Lighter

Step 2: Draw A Door

A cave must have an opening, right? Take the plastic bowl and draw a door on it using a pencil. Don’t worry about making it perfect.

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Step 3: Cut The Door Using A Hot Knife

The last step is the most important one as well as risky. You have to heat the knife and cut the plastic by following the line you made. I’ve used a lighter for this step. You can also heat the knife on a stove or candle if that’s convenient for you.

Be very careful while handling the hot knife or you will hurt yourself badly. The hideout should look something like the picture.

DIY Turtle Coconut Cave (Method #3)

Step 1: Gather The Materials

The first step to making this excellent hideout is to make sure that you have everything near at hand. Let’s take a look at what materials you will need to make this hideout.

1. Coconut
2. Mini Hacksaw
3. Small Knife
4. Pencil

Step 2: Mark The Coconut

Use the pencil to mark one end of the coconut. Make a circle to facilitate cutting the coconut.

Step 3: Score The Coconut Along The Line

Use the mini hacksaw to score the coconut across the line that you drew earlier. This can take a while. Be patient with the procedure. Also, make sure to keep your hand away from the blade. You will be surprised to notice how easy it is to get distracted about how near your other hand is to the blade.

Step 4: Detach The Marked Area

Keep moving your hacksaw back and forth along the scoring. Continue doing so until the marked area becomes detached from the coconut.

Step 5: Remove The Core

Use a small knife to remove the edible part of the coconut. It will look something like the picture after you’ve cleared out the yummy part and set it aside for eating.

Step 6: Clean Up

Using the small knife, remove the messy parts from the coconut shell and give it a smooth look. Take your time and you will have your perfect little turtle hideout.