There are many options for a heated tortoise house for your sulcata. You can go modify a pre-made dog house or a shed. Or you can build a custom tortoise house.
Pre-Made Wooden Dog House
You can convert a dog house to an insulated, heated house for your tortoise. Amazon sells several wooden dog houses that you can modify.
If you live in a warmer climate that only has a few chillier days throughout the year, you may not need to insulate the dog house. Just add plastic flaps to the door to block wind and the cold air.
If you live in an area the has several cold days, you want to consider insulating the dog house. You can buy sheets of insulation at your local home improvement store. Cut the insulation to fit in the walls of the dog house. Also, consider a foam insulation or a silicone sealant for the corners and cracks.
If you’re trying to prepare the dog house for near or below freezing temperatures, You’ll want to add a heat source. Consider your temperatures. A Kane heat mat may work if the weather is chilled but not freezing. However if you’re looking at freezing temperatures, you want to add a oil heater. Buy a cheap oil-filled heater from Walmart.
Tortoise Shed
If you have an outdoor shed available, you can modify it to house your sulcata in winter. Similar to a dog house, take into account your weather.
If live in an area with warmer winters, consider just insulating the shed and filling any cracks. If you live in an area with colder winters, consider insulating and adding a heater. As with any heat source, make sure to use a good thermostat to ensure the heater doesn’t overheat your tortoise.
Custom Tortoise House
If you or someone you know is handy, you can custom build a tortoise house for your sulcata.
For an adult sulcata, you want the size to be at least 4’L x 4’D x 2’H. For added space, consider a 8’L x 4’D x 2’H heated house. Cut in the door at 26″W X 16″H.
Insulate the sides, bottom and roof with rigid foam insulation, sandwiching the insulation between two pieces of plywood. Use a silicone sealant for the corners. Seal the wood with premium exterior paint. Use galvanized hinges for the door and decking screws to hold it all together.
If you’re going to include an oil-filled heater, make sure to build in a compartment to block off the heater so your sulcata cannot knock it over.
