There are a lot of good ways to house baby sulcata tortoises – tubs, tables, etc. And different methods work for different people, depending on the amount of work each person wants to put into maintain the temperature and humidity. And certain environments require different housing needs – if you live in a much drier environment, like Arizona, a closed chamber will likely work better than if you live in a more humidy environment, like Florida. In general though, closed chamber enclosure for sulcata tortoises are probably the easiest and best method of housing a baby sulcata.
What is a Closed Chamber Enclosure?
A closed chamber enclosure is an enclosure that is fully enclosed. It maintains the heat and humidity with minimized air flow.
Make a Closed Chamber Enclosure for a Tortoise
You can make a closed chamber by using a large tub, a commercially built enclosure, a greenhouse cover, etc. Use a substrate that holds moisture and add a fogger. There are a lot of easy ways to achieve a enclosed enclosure.
You can make an enclosed enclosure with wood, safe sealant and Plexiglas.
If you don’t want to completely construct a tortoise house, you can use a large tub and cut holes in the lid. Secure a light and heat bulb to the lid and use heat tape around the hole(s) to make the plastic lid safer. You can secure the UV tube to the inside of the lid.
If you already have a LARGE aquarium, you can use it. Aquariums aren’t always the best, but if you block the bottom portion so the tortoise cannot see out, it’ll minimize stress and work fine. To turn an aquarium into a closed chamber enclosure for sulcata tortoises, place tin foil on the screen lid. Leave an opening for light and UV. Here’s an example, but you’ll want to place the tin foil in the best place for your setup.
You can make a topper with greenhouse-grade poly and a PVC pipe frame.
Buy a Closed Chamber Enclosure for a Tortoise
If you’d rather just purchase a closed chamber enclosure for your sulcata, there are a few options.
The first option, I’d recommend is a blend of making and buying a closed chamber enclosure. Purchase an indoor greenhouse cover and customize it to fit the top of the aquarium or tub. For the most part, you should be able to lay the greenhouse on its side so it’s long and not tall. Slide the aquarium, tub or floor space into the greenhouse and safely secure the light and heat fixtures.
You can purchase an Animal Plastics cage. These can be expensive, but they are built for reptiles and other critters.
Another easy indoor closed chamber for a baby sulcata tortoise is a raised flower bed. The Lifetime Raised Garden Bed comes with two beds and a topper. You can use one of the beds or both. If you use both beds, you will need more substrate, but the more substrate, the better it will hold humidity.
