Zoo Med Tortoise House

Deluxe, wood-sided design adds privacy and is preferred by professional tortoise keepers. Use outdoors to provide natural sunlight and beneficial UVB or indoors to protect tortoise from colder temperatures or to escape bad weather. Features private weatherproof sleeping area and lockable wire safety cover. Wire spacing measures 1" x 5". Double its size by removing end panel and connecting a second Tortoise House. Easy to assemble. Measures 36" x 24" x 12".

Please click on "More Information" for assembly instructions and tips for setting up your new tortoise house.

Assembly Instructions
Please read all instructions prior to assembly. You will need a Phillips screwdriver to complete assembly. Screws are included. Assembling this unit on a tabletop may be best.

1. Attach the Back Panel and Front Panel to the Right Side Panel using six screws.
2. Attach Floor to panels using six screws.
3. Insert Middle Rail into the Back Panel and Front Panel and attach using two screws.
4. Insert Middle Panel into Back Panel and Front Panel. Insert Left Side Panel into Back Panel and Front Panel.
5. Secure Right Top to Right Side Panel using six screws. Secure Left Top to Back Panel using six screws.

• For use with the following tortoises and turtles: Your new Tortoise House is ideal for smaller turtle and tortoise species, including: Russian Tortoises, Hermann's Tortoises, Hingeback Tortoises, and American Box Turtles. Juveniles of larger species (i.e. Sulcata Tortoises, Leopard Tortoises, and Red-Foot Tortoises) can live in the Tortoise House until they reach an approximate shell length of 6".
• Number of tortoises: The recommended maximum number of hatchling tortoises per House is six. For adult tortoises or box turtles, the maximum number of turtles/tortoises per House is two. Remember, you may attach two Houses together (remove sliding end panels) to double the enclosure space and animal capacity.
• Tortoise House placement: House is designed for indoor and outdoor use. We recommend keeping it indoors and occasionally taking it outside on warm sunny days.
• Indoors: Keep the House on a table and out of your family dog's reach. Always keep both lids closed unless you are feeding, watering or inspecting your tortoise/turtle.
• Outdoors: Place in your garden or yard on mild to warm days only (no rain or cold weather). Place the covered sleeping and ½ of the wire mesh side in the shade, leaving the other half of the "open" mesh side in the sunlight. Always make sure your animals have water in the shaded area. (Remember, keep both lids closed at all times.)
• Substrate: (Very Important) For desert/grassland tortoises, we recommend putting newspaper down first and then dried grass hay (e.g. Timothy Grass Hay) for additional substrate, food, and shelter. Desert/grassland species include Russian, Sulcata, Leopard and Star tortoises. For tropical/forest species we recommend mixing Zoo Med's Eco Earth (item #261602) substrate and T-Rex's Cypress Bed substrate (item #22676) to create the perfect tropical species substrate. We recommend a substrate depth of 1"-2" for hatchlings and 3"-4" for turtle/tortoises with a shell length of up to 6". Tropical species of tortoise/turtles include Red-Foot, Hingeback and Elongated Tortoises and Box Turtles.
• Humidity: Very important for all species! Consult a good care guide on the species you are keeping. Use a humidity gauge and adjust humidity accordingly.
• Water: Always keep a large "low profile" water dish for your turtle/tortoise to climb easily in and out of.
• Heat/Hibernation: Tortoises that do not hibernate need temperatures around 80-85°F. Tortoises (and American Box Turtles) that do hibernate should have the heat source and lights turned off during winter to simulate hibernation temperatures. Consult a good tortoise/box turtle guide to learn about hibernation methods.