You will need to build a larger enclosure if you intend to house multiple turtles there. A suitable size enclosure for three or four relatively small turtles, like box turtles, should be five feet by five feet in size. [4] X Research source
If you do choose to build along the side of your home, east and south facing walls are ideal locations since they receive sunlight early in the morning. This way, turtles can warm up after the night and it will mimic the daylight they’d receive in the wild. Once you pick a spot, watch it for a whole day to see how much direct sunlight and shade it gets. If the spot doesn’t get any shade, you’ll need to build a couple shaded shelters for your turtle so it has somewhere to cool off.
8-foot-long landscaping timbers 8-foot-long two-by-fours 3-foot-tall stakes. 2-foot-long two-by-two lumber A box of nails for wood Hammer Measuring tape Shovel 8 foot by 8 foot section of wire mesh
Use the hammer to nail each corner together. The four corners should meet and be secure.
You can make the wall as tall as you’d like. The minimum height should be twice as high as the adult length of a turtle. So if you have turtles that reach 10” once they are mature, your wall should be at least 20” high. This ensures that your turtles can’t crawl over the walls and escape. Turtles don’t fully grasp the concept of walls and when they are able to see out of the enclosure, like through wire mesh or glass walls, they may spend their time pushing against the barrier, hoping to escape. A wooden barrier, at least as tall as the turtle’s height, prevents this problem. [8] X Research source
You can also build a removable top to the enclosure, but this will take more time and additional materials.
Research your turtle’s natural habitat so you can include the right kind of plants and adjust the water temperature if needed. If your turtle’s natural habitat has mostly water or mostly land, make sure their enclosure is similar.
Some edible plants for your turtles include hibiscus, roses, geraniums, dandelions, mulberry trees, and pansies. Do not use pesticides in your turtle enclosure. [12] X Research source
Put a rubber ball in the enclosure so your turtle has something to push around. Give your turtle treat dispensing toys. Place a couple hideaways in the enclosure.
For ponds with multiple turtles, you need a larger pond. Smaller ponds accumulate waste and cannot be properly cleaned. [14] X Research source For land turtles, you want to create a shallow pond that is no deeper than a foot in the middle. The pond should have gently sloping sides so turtles can enter and exit the water easily.
If you intend to have your aquatic turtles hibernate outdoors during the winter, the pool will need at least a foot of water below the ice to hibernate. Check your local area’s weather to see how thick the ice is in local ponds.
A concrete pool will last longer, but is a more complicated process to undergo. If you prefer to use a waterproof tarp, choose tan or canvas colored tarps instead of black. Black tarps absorb the sunlight and can overheat small pools. [17] X Research source
Remember to change out and clean the water whenever it starts looking dirty.
