Handmade Turtle Enclosures

Owning a turtle requires you to understand its environmental habitat and set up an adequate amount of space for the turtle to move around. Since turtles like to roam around, the more space you allocate for the turtle, the better. As such, when it comes to constructing enclosures for the turtles, make them by hand so that you can customize the enclosure to fit the exact amount of space that you want for your pets.

  1. Chicken Wire Enclosure

    • An effective way to enclose outdoor turtles to one section of a yard, while still enabling them to see out, is to make an enclosure out of chicken wire. Chicken wire provides see-through holes that can make the turtles feel less trapped. For a chicken wire enclosure, use a staple gun to attach the chicken wire to planks of plywood that you hammer vertically into the ground as posts. You may have to dig a hold first to make sure the wood is set and secure in the earth. The chicken wire is then wrapped around the posts to create the enclosure. Leave the ceiling open so the turtles have a view of the sky.

    Plexiglass Enclosure

    • Plexiglass is a see-through material that is often used for creating pet reptile, amphibian and rodent tanks. For turtles, a plexiglass enclosure can be assembled to give turtles a way to see out, while keeping them completely contained within a tank structure. You will need panels of plexiglass in the proper dimensions for how high and wide you want to make the tank. Posts are necessary for keeping the plexiglass erect and stationary. If you create a rectangular tank, you need at least four posts and four panels of plexiglass. The more posts you have, the more sturdy the enclosure will be. You can connect plexiglass to plywood posts using a strong wood glue, or by drilling the plexiglass directly into the wood. If you want to create a ceiling for the tank, use another piece of plywood that spans the dimensions of the enclosure to set on top of the posts.

    Picket Fence Enclosure

    • A picket fence enclosure can look like a little garden area for the turtles. Picket fences can be made in a variety of heights. For turtles, the fence does not have to go up high, but just enough so that the turtle cannot crawl up, over and out of the enclosure. Space the wooden beams of the picket fence apart enough for the turtle to look out, but close enough together so that the turtle cannot fit through the openings. The picket fence must be inserted into the ground in order to stand up on its own. You can decorate the picket fence wooden beams by painting them different colors, such as various shades of green.

    Natural Enclosures

    • You can create a natural habitat for the turtle by making an enclosure out of large stones, bricks or wooden logs. When these natural materials are high enough, the turtle will not be able to escape from the enclosure. An example is to set large stones, bricks or logs around the area that you want as the turtle's space. Stack them on top of one another so that they make a tall enough enclosure, but make sure they are sturdy and will not topple on top of the turtles.