Outside Turtle Habitat

Pet box turtles love to be outside, so if you're planning on building your pet turtle an outdoor pen, there are a few things to make sure to include. Pick the spot you want to house your turtle, preferably facing east so your turtle can warm up with the rising sun.

  1. Size

    • Make sure your turtle has plenty of room. Make your pen as big as you can, but at least 4 x 6 feet. If you have more than one pet turtle, size accordingly.

    Flooring

    • Your pen should have flooring around the inside perimeter to keep your turtle from digging his way out. You can dig a two-inch trench and place bricks in it to deter the turtle.

    Walls

    • Use smooth-sided walls with corner braces to keep your turtle from climbing out. Corner braces keep your turtle from using the lip at the corner of the pen to hoist himself out.

    Landscape

    • Have plenty of places for your turtle to hide, heat up and cool down. A heat-absorbing rock helps him warm up. You can provide a reptile lamp if you want. You can include planted mint, grass, dirt mounds for digging and logs. Be sure he has a water dish with fresh water daily. The water dish shouldn't be too shallow for a soak or so deep that it will drown your turtle.

    Lids

    • Build a lid for your turtle pen if you are worried about dogs and hawks getting your turtle or hatchlings. Be sure your turtle still gets plenty of sunlight if you use a lid.