A baby sulcata tortoise won’t be inside long. At one year old, a sulcata tortoise could be 8-inches long and weigh up to two pounds. So, when preparing an indoor enclosure for a baby sulcata, think temporary… Very temporary…
But, the key is going to be think large. The bigger you go, the less often you have to upgrade. You want enough room for your tortoise to properly thermoregulate, and you want to make sure the food dish, water bowl and houses aren’t all sitting on top of each other. A cluttered enclosure can be a stressful enclosure.
Glass Aquariums for Baby Sulcata Tortoise
Try to avoid using glass aquariums. If you don’t have any other options, find a way to make it work by covering the sides and building a proper lid to hold in humidity.
If you are going to use an aquarium, think big. The bigger the better. Go with a minimum of a 50-gallon tank for sulcatas under 4-inches.
A 50-gallon aquarium measures about 36″ Wide x 18″ Deep x 19″ Tall. Ideally, larger is better.
Plastic Tub for Baby Sulcata
Plastic totes are cheap and easy to move around. You can buy plastic storage totes at Walmart, Target, DIY stores and home stores.
A 50-gallon tote, like a Christmas tree tote measures about 4-feet long and 18-inches wide. This can be a sufficient indoor enclosure for a baby sulcata tortoise.
Zoo Med Tortoise House
Many beginners LOVE the Zoo Med Wooden Tortoise House. This indoor enclosure measures 36″ Long x 24″ Wide x 12″ Tall.
The enclosure is made with solid walls so the tortoise feels safe and secure. There is a screen over 3/4ths of the enclosure so you can add lighting, UV and heat. There is a fully enclosed section for a dark shelter.
You can double the size of the enclosure by removing an end panel and connecting another Tortoise House. This increased size is ideal for a sulcata tortoise baby.
The biggest concern with the Zoo Med Tortoise House is that it does not allow for humidity. With the open screen lid, the enclosure makes it harder to maintain proper humidity levels. You can make adjustments by converting the enclosure to a closed chamber enclosure using a greenhouse cover or greenhouse-grade poly.
Cement Trough for Suclata Tortoise Baby
Similar to plastic stortage totes, you can convert a plastic cement trough into an indoor enclosure for a baby sulcata. Because cement troughs do not have lids, you’ll want to convert it to a closed chamber enclosure in order to maintain humidity.
You can buy a cement trough at a local DIY store.
