How to Make a Turtle House With Cardboard

Creating a turtle habitat that meets your turtle's basic needs helps your turtle live a long and healthy life. For many species, this includes providing hiding spots to which they can retreat. Hiding spots reduce stress, making turtles feel more comfortable. Box turtles especially like to use hiding spots. Using a cardboard box is an inexpensive way to create a space for your turtle to hide out in. When the box gets dirty or too small, you just throw it out and create a new house within a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Measuring tape
  • Box cutter
  • Hot glue gun and glue
  • Pencil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your turtle's length and height. With a measuring tape, measure from tip of the turtle's nose to tip of his tail for length. Measure height by measuring vertically alongside the turtle from the ground to the top of the center of his shell.

    • 2

      Choose a box that is several inches longer and taller than your turtle. Also, choose a box that will fit in the turtle's enclosure without taking up too much space.

    • 3

      Remove the flaps used to close the box from one side of the box. Cut these flaps off at the fold with a box cutter. The open end of the box will be the bottom of the turtle house.

    • 4

      Seal the flaps down on the other side of the box using hot glue and a hot glue gun. Packaging tape can also be used if it is applied so that the turtle does not accidentally remove it. This is now the roof of the house.

    • 5

      Draw an outline of the door with a pencil on one side of the turtle house. Make it at least two inches longer and taller than your turtle. Cut a out the door with the box cutter following your penciled outline.