Tortoise Table For a Small Tortoise

If you are thinking of getting a smaller variety of tortoise you will be able to keep it happily in a well equipped tortoise table. These are relatively easy to make if you have a little D.I.Y. knowledge and some wood, a hammer and a screwdriver.

The basic design includes somewhere for your tortoise to bask in heat and an artificial light source. You will also have to think about what sort of substrate would be best used in the table. There are a variety of commercially available products that work very well in this type of environment and this design of enclosure will ensure it is easy to maintain and keep clean.

Here are a few basic instructions on how to build a 3'x8' Tortoise table (ideal for a Horsfield/Russian species)

This table has a 3'x8' floor and the walls are 18" high before instillation. The wall height after assembly is 14" unless you attach wheels which will obviously give it more height.

Use 1/2" thick plywood and cut:

1 - 3'x8' (for the floor of the table)
2 - 1'-6"x8' (for the side walls)
2 - 1'-6"x3'-1" (for the end walls)

Using 2x4 wood cut:

4 - 8' long (for the frame)
8 - 2'-9" long (for the frame)
4 - 1'-2" long (corner batons such as 2x2s)
4 - the legs are 18" tall.

If you attach wheels, for easy movement when cleaning it makes a finished leg length of 21").

Using the screws, build the 2 frames with the 8' long pieces overlapping the 2'-9" long pieces. You want the frames to be 3'x8' outside measurement.

Next, screw down the 3'x8' floor plywood to one of the frames. Make sure you square the frame to the plywood. The plywood should be flush to the outside of the frame all the way around.

Turn the assembled frame over and attach the legs to the inside of the frame with floor and the second frame assembly. The outside of both frame assemblies should wrap around the outside of the legs.

If you want your tortoise table to have wheels this is a good time to attach them.

Turn it back over so it is standing on the legs. Attach the plywood walls to the outside of the 2x4 frame. Make sure the bottom edge of the walls is flush to the bottom of the 2x4 frame all the way around. Also make sure the 8' long side walls are flush to the frame at each end. This will give you a nice, tight corner. The 3'-1" end walls will overlap the 8' side walls.

Finally use the nails and batons to secure the corners of the walls.

Now all you have to do is equip it with a suitable reptile heating lamp and light source plus the substrate. You will also need to plan what hiding places and other rocks you can place inside the tortoise table for your pet.

Ellie Bear is a tortoise enthusiast and she owns and maintains http://www.tortoisetips.com a useful resource for more information on how to construct a Tortoise Table

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