The BEST DIY Outdoor Enclosure For Tortoises, Turtles & Reptiles | HOW TO BUILD

DIY Outdoor Tortoise Enclosure Pen Build & Setup How To Build An Awesome EASY DIY Outdoor Reptile
This is the EASIEST diy play pen I think we could have come up with & Blue LOVES IT!
Please monitor your animals while outside always
DETAILS
SIZE 6x3 Whitewood
Non Pressure Treated
Screws
Dirt
Flowers safe for Reptiles\Tortoises
Slate for nails
Total Cost for ALL Under $80
Hope you guys enjoyed!
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*EDITOR: IMOVIE & FINAL CUT PRO
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"Dream Catcher" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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[@LorisHartland]

🌺FACTS 🌺This video took over a week to film! 🌺The flowers sat outside for almost a week & were watered daily! 🌺 we lost all the hibiscus blooms the first day :( but blue got one a few days later! 🌺Blue hasn’t eaten any of the petunias yet lol he’s been stomping on them & nibbling the leaves 😭 💕 🌺Koa runs around and tries to get out lol 🌺This enclosure cost about $80 start to finish to build!

[@user-wf8hv6um9v]

Lori’s Hartland I cant believe that this took you a week

[@LorisHartland]

It’s Ya Crazy Fan Girl we’ve been really busy & it’s been raining non stop :(

[@user-wf8hv6um9v]

Lori’s Hartland it’s ok it’s been raining where I live a lot too:(

[@gbmadeantroy]

Lori’s Hartland I love you can you please respond

[@stellabecker6044]

I am thinking on getting a Russian tortoise and am wondering how many tortoises can fit in a 3 ft by 2 ft enclosure, if you know can you plz respond? ❤️

[@katieturley5149]

You should plant, dandelion , cat grass .

[@laneyabigail171]

Blue is so lucky to have you as his care taker! You do such a great job taking care of your animals❤️❤️❤️

[@LorisHartland]

Fluffy Hammy thank you!

[@ElanaVital83]

You just saved me a bunch of work with this video! My fool ass was going to try to lay a stone wall 🤣😂

[@diane7546]

Everything I've researched says you should bury the sides of the turtle pen 18-24 inches into the ground because they could dig under it. I noticed you guys didn't do this. Is there a reason why? Great design and really cute enclosure. Good job! Thanks for sharing. 🐢

[@krazaykris]

I made an enclosure for my horsefield tortoise which was similar in size, but we screwed in all the sides. I love the idea of using the cement blocks instead. Moving that big guy between houses when we had to move was a pain because we took it all apart for transport and then reassembled it. I hope that if you build a top for it, you go over how to do it. We took thin planks of wood and secured it to chicken wire, but it was so huge and flimsy that it was such a pain to deal with.

[@krazaykris]

Also, the only plants my girl allowed to live in her enclosure were succulents. I got these big aloes from a mother plant at a friends house and put them in her enclosure. She'd hide under them, dig burrows next to them, but otherwise left them along and didn't eat them. I also had this ground cover succulent called an ice plant in her enclosure and she treated it like the aloes. It added a bed of greenery with occasional flowers, and were similar to the fake vine plants in Blue's enclosure in the sense that she'd just kind of walk on them and burrow under them. But any time I put a leafy plant in her enclosure she would immediately eat the whole thing, or trample it to death. LoL

[@LorisHartland]

Hahah yes! The blocks make it way easier! So far he’s just been a walking on the flowers lol not eating them!

[@07arl07]

Thank you for uploading this video! I need to do this for my tortoise who is quickly growing! He is just like blue (an eastern Herman’s) he is only nine months old though. I appreciate all the effort I took to film this, (I have a KZbin channel myself)

[@LorisHartland]

Ava Animal rescue awww so sweet! Watch that little baby closely outside 💕🐢

[@07arl07]

Lori’s Hartland yes! He is so small he is always monitored!!

[@jaspergogole2987]

Ava L where did you get it from ?

[@zextronic7250]

that is really impresive and creative but can you add the roof? bcs no one ill steal your tortoise and he will not escape

[@TheOleg33]

I just made mine using this way and it was awesome and fun to do.

[@silviyagregory4415]

How do you ensure they don’t dig under and escape? Also, do you have a cover for the enclosure to keep him protected from wild life?

[@anmichele3829]

Patrick seems so into it:) I had assumed the animals were more your thing and he just supported you but in this video he seems to be very knowledgeable :) he’s a good dude:)

[@LorisHartland]

An Michele haha he listens to me ramble about my pets so he absorbs some of it haha 💕🐢

[@Hiiiii886]

I love your channel you helped me learn about pacman frogs and Tortoises now I have a Pacman frog named Mud

[@11bravo1789]

Im literally gonna copy your exact model lol. Just got a turtle for the kids.

[@takeouthill9087]

Great video Lori😝

[@catteo2832]

This is such a cool concept! Also, Patrick was really good in this video!

[@LorisHartland]

matteo cajumi haha thanks!!

[@lindseyc.7493]

we just got a tortoise and this tutorial is so helpful. What do you do with your tortoise at night? Do they sleep outside, or in a cage in the house, etc..? Just trying to be prepared

[@brooklyncesarone9616]

I spray the toxic soil from the roots, I’ve found it works faster and gets rid of a lot of the old soil

[@gracespetparadise441]

Wow this is amazing Lori!!! It must have taken you forever! My fish just died so I was exited when you uploaded cause your videos make me feel better

[@LorisHartland]

Grace's Pet Paradise aw I’m sorry about your fish!

[@gracespetparadise441]

Lori’s Hartland thank you 💕💕💕

[@tortoisetarzan]

Why was I watching your videos earlier and you were saying about building an outdoor enclosure haha😂🐢 Btw I also built my tortoise enclosure with like honestly about 24 different plants and I’m a tortoise safe plant addict and it’s 6x3 foot. Also I’m very happy for you.

[@LorisHartland]

Nonce107 yay!

[@lillieknight2290]

How bad do y'all like this video from 1 to 10

[@idontknow1575]

What if you have cats and dogs is there a way to have a cover like mesh or something also is it safe with the rain and the cold tho do they have to come inside when it gets cold?

[@maryramos2100]

What plants are safe for box turtles.....

[@waleskanieves6095]

Oh my God this is so adorable!🥰 You guys are great!

[@Carology3]

I was just checking for this video since I saw you mention it in the video you made with the kiddie pool. Perfect timing :D

[@LorisHartland]

Caroline haha omg I remember that one! So old

[@Carology3]

@@LorisHartland Lol I was in a serious youtube hole about building outdoor enclosures for box turtles this mornign so this is really perfect timing

[@alyviaschmalz9206]

Any tips for my new Russian tortoise? 🐢

[@vjdistor993]

Hi Lori this is my 1st time to your channel and.. i love your vids now.😇😅

[@Samhain2323]

Is this for temporary use ??? 🤔

[@KalynWoodbury]

This is so cool! You did such a good job

[@belikenick2]

Tortise can dig right out of that

[@oliverb1656]

Hey Lori I’ve never had a tortoise before do I need a license ? Do Hermann tortoises sleep outside or do you keep them inside all the time what months etc

[@jaspergogole2987]

Oliver B you don’t and it depends where you live if you can keep them in or out check out her tortoise vids

[@wyattscheerer6469]

Fertilizer don’t hurt tortoises all plants have been fertilized at some point if farmed weed killers and like pesticides ARE what hurt tortoises

[@bcbialiy]

Is blue your favorite?

[@wonderbread9038]

Do you think this would work for a bearded dragon?

[@tessagarnett219]

i tried this and my tortoise got out and ran away

[@LorisHartland]

Omg that’s so sad

[@vickihiggins2043]

I am 71 years old and this is so enjoyable to see. I have turtles all throughout my yard and there is a creek behind my house. I have stood and observed a large mama turtle (10”x6”) lay her eggs in a deep hole she had made. After each egg, she carefully placed it inside the hole where she wanted it. Then she covered it and left! My husband was working in a flower bed, lifted a big piece of slate and discovered an entire family of baby turtles. They all scattered everywhere. If I wasn’t so old - I think I would enjoy a turtle friend. I just finished seeing another video about a lady that cares for her 3 toed box turtle. So cool!!

[@alwaysyouramanda]

🥰 you’ve got some outdoor turtle friends!! Awe!

[@bailywhiting5207]

Such a cool enclosure for them 👍🏻 thinking about getting some and now I know a great way to build them a good home

[@barebonesbrisco3954]

What are the lego blocks called? Great tip by the way!!!!

[@rkkong]

TC Voice truly doing God’s work

[@smallpetchronicles3586]

Patrick is such a natural now in front of the camera! Love his enthusiasm for the project, you guys are so cute together :)

[@Eloisee1103]

If you’re going to leave him outside you should probably get some type of lid so predators can’t get in!

[@LorisHartland]

Eloise Mercer no this is just for a few hours a day, I’m out there with him! But yes I want a lid!

[@tinaturtle8664]

Tort parent here. Your enclosure's walls don't seem to go too deep in the ground. Our outdoor pen is on top of concrete because of the risk of her digging under the wooden "walls" and escaping. Tortoises are like excavators. Normally if I wanted to build her a pen on the backyard's soil (there's been no chemicals in it for 25 years), I would dig a 1 ft trench and put hard wire mesh around it (with the wood interior walls). It happens sometimes where we live that unknown tort escapees show up in neighbors yards and are saved at the last minute from being hit by a car on the street. How do you keep Blue from digging under the pen's walls and escaping?

[@jackyfelder2563]

I want to build an enclosure for my Germans tort. So have to be put on concrete so they can't dig out?

[@PatrickStewarts]

I thought the same thing

[@mason770]

No, it fully depends on how happy they are. I just put my indoor tortoise outdoor and it’s been almost 2 weeks and he hasn’t dig a single hole. You need to make sure his mulch is always always always damp. And full, (I have a giant cooler so I can open the top and I cut out a hole for him to walk in) and he loves to dig in there. Also not sure why she did dirt as his ground becsuse they love to eat grass and weeds. If it’s dirt they will have the urge to dig. They need to know they aren’t supposed to outside their indoor enclosure. My dads friend is a tortoise zookeeper and he has 2 full sized ones. His never dug out either.

[@ashly5712]

Some tortoises don’t dig. At all.

[@MonicaHolly143]

Not all turtoise likes to dig, hermann turtoise dont like it compare to others. I have a russian which are known to dig a lot but she doesnt since she like her enclosure it trully depends on ur tortoise personality and how good ur enclosure is

[@embracenreborns6997]

I absolutely love this i wasn't sure why you took up the grass cause the tortoise loves grass and weeds I use to put mines in ths yard and he loves the clovers , dandelions and grass i planted three hibiscus they love the plant and leaves. Awesome enclosure 👀💓👍......👀💓🐢

[@williamsalazar2536]

Why did you got rid of the grass? Doesn’t tortoises eat grass? It’s just counterproductive

[@neverstoppulling5169]

Nothing from Home Depot/ Lowe’s / any big box store plants should be fed to animals. I’m sure they all buy from plant nurseries that use a ton of fertilizer to grow their plants quickly to get them large enough to sell. Ideally try to buy your plants from a local organic nursery

[@biejie88]

Great video! What is the common terms for square block you are using in every corner of the woods?

[@LeilaSoleil]

Wow. You guys. I have been researching and struggling a bit, looking at enclosures. You guys nailed it! And I can do this. thank you so much!!

[@Mattieice-ek9gy]

Why don’t you want to use pressure treated wood? I’ve read that that’s recommended if building an enclosure

[@epictorteee5596]

May I have the name of the square blocks? Where can I get it ? I try to find online but unable to find it?

[@chadblu2320]

... Bt dont tortoise burrow? Cant they dig their way out?

[@davidsridharan202]

What are those square blocks called?

[@kassierivera5635]

My enclosure is HUGE it is like hundred times bigger than that one and i will be getting a tortoise very soon

[@iwaifu9968]

Kassie Rivera Theirs is still nice, even if it’s smaller than yours.

[@edmund8954]

@@iwaifu9968 how do I buy those big enclosures??? or do I just buy planks?

[@billastell3753]

Mines bigger than yours. So?

[@nancylatham9862]

Thank you so much for making these videos. I am fostering a tortoise for a young man in the Navy. With all your help I have created a beautiful healthy tortoise table.

[@sadie333]

I have always wanted at tortoise...my dad built my rabbit pens. Maybe he could build a tortoise pen??

[@rpsix]

Kakanya cantik ❤ pecinta kura kura sulcata dan membangun rumah untuk mereka . Good job 👍

[@RitaWillis-db8hi]

It's nice but raccoons and fox possum will smell them and eat them up. Birds will come down and Carry them off and eat them up. It happened to me.

[@kyiatonise]

Just did this outdoor enclosure for Littlefoot, my Russian Tortoise. Homeboy is still trying to climb out after climbing out of the raised garden bed enclosure I made him. I don’t get him. But I hope he gets used to this new one.

[@Samantha_B_1416]

Out of all the enclosure Build videos that I have watched, I think yours is the Best Also, How long and wide is the enclosure?

[@MRBLUESKY111]

Do you not have a lid? Incase of prey? Or do you literally just take him out when you’re out there then take back in at night?

[@markb8954]

Some good tips for novice tortoise owners who want a tempo outside enclosure that will better contain a tortoise. Your thinking about not using pressure treated wood is very out dated. The new techniques are safe & very useable in animal pens. The old way used lots of nasty things but are no longer in use. I’m not sure why you scraped off all the good grass & made a dirt gravel pit. You only needed to level the buts actually in contact with the wood edges - max 1.5 inches. You could have actually dug down deeper in some spots & raised others to add some terrain. Water dish can/should be sunken down level in the substrate - makes it easier for the tort to get inside & crawl out (terra cotta plant saucers are better than plastic). Making a lid would be very easy. In fact, it could be made in two separate sections. All in all, a good start.

[@JoshCapell]

Are you going to get another hamster? Really miss the videos!

[@michellel564]

Y'all got a nice idea.....butttttt why 4 u take the grass out? That seems a little redundant, could just add your stuff to the existing grass. Ta Da. And u baby will be a lot cleaner. I dun did this lol.

[@amelyaaaaa]

Patrick is so sweet! this is an awesome enclosure you guys!

[@freedomospeech8180]

I built one and took pvc pipe and arched it over mine and zip tied chicken wire on it.

[@leilanim6681]

Hmm. Nice design but you need the walls to go way further into the ground (I'd say a couple feet) so the tortoises don't dig their way out.

[@dollipop12]

Just so anyone in these comments is aware, using pressure treated wood for an outdoor enclosure like this would be fine. Those chemicals are only really a concern for enclosures that do not have decent air circulation or for animals that may chew on or ingest the wood.

[@BB-je8hm]

you don't know if that turtle actually found a hide, like you asked it, and then think the dang turtle replied with a yes i did, do you?

[@mariaavram4811]

We need one, but with dogs, foxes, red kites around, l really don't know how to make one

[@mamaj4734]

Hey Lori. I know you did this video awhile ago but just wanted to thank you for sharing. Really the best video I have seen on actually how to built your outdoor turtle habitat. Being able to see the materials you used, costs and other tips were extremely helpful. My husband and I are in the process of building right now and we were able to find the materials at Lowes. Actually it is my Mother's Day present. He said jewelry or turtle pen like there would be any question there. haha No doubt I am an animal lover at heart. We still have some digging to do to level out the ground and plants to put in but very excited to see it coming together. Thanks again.

[@vyankateshbachate9334]

Hey why you keep flowers because in flower there is fertilizer and the tortoise is eating the flowers he be sick.

[@NihilistViking]

Did someone already say what the blocks are called? I can't seem to find the name for the life of me

[@thespath1139]

Do you keep your tortoise outdoors over night or do you bring him in?

[@caitbarron5526]

I might build this inside because my room is no longer mine my tort ownes this house and is just nice enough to let me live here

[@sheriemalta1157]

Did you ever build a top? If so, please explain how.

[@JeremyGoneWildPets]

This is fantastic! Great build! Amazing for enrichment and natural sunlight.

[@LorisHartland]

Jeremy's Wild Studio yea it turned out great! Thanks for watching!

[@cheryledwards9760]

Garden centre plants will be grown in compost with chemicals so not tortoise safe to eat

[@sigh213]

if i keep my tortoise in an outdoor enclosure what animals can be a danger?

[@alyssaguzman8473]

Maybe you could also dig a small hole to add the painting tray for a soaking spot or something for him

[@LorisHartland]

Aly Cat yea I want a bigger dish

[@alyssaguzman8473]

Omg thanks you so much for saying hi I love you so much have a great day you are a awesome pet owner

[@sausageboi7089]

Lori you are so amazing I wish I could meet .you are so cool I am getting a Hermann’s tortoise like you I have done my research first tho and his names clay

[@LorisHartland]

kian spike aww they live a long time!!! Think it through really well!

[@elintocable0072]

The ants are problem ? In my backyard they are ants and iam not shure to put the tortise outside

[@gabbyloveshorses17]

It’s so awesome that Patrick is getting a lot more comfortable in front of the camera. Hope Blue and Koa love their new enclosure!

[@LorisHartland]

He did so good!

[@LorisHartland]

Thank you!

[@tracibell7567]

That looks great 👌. You did a fantastic job. Thanks for the video. I might try this myself. Your tortoises ate going to love it

[@LorisHartland]

Traci Bell thank you 💕🐢

[@richadams881]

I feel that you may have gotten in an argument about using that dirt 😆

[@tylerchristian07]

Can you make more videos like this. I love your tortoise videos.

[@strongtv_creator]

Can these live year round outdoor In Florida???

[@BeckysAnimals]

Love the set up, Blue and Koa are going to love it! Great idea for a DIY! I just got done editing my outdoor enclosure tour too, it’s that time of year again haha 😆

[@LorisHartland]

TheSmallPetShop I bet yours is way better than mine!!! You do well with sheldon outside! This is the first one we’ve built lol

[@Nailtailor]

Any one brought these in the UK ? If so where from ?

[@adiizerr6384]

Does anyone know what those bricks are called?

[@TheGardeningZebra]

I hope to be able to build something like this for my two Hermann's tortoises! Thanks for sharing the process.

[@LorisHartland]

No prob!

[@not_ekoxd7463]

Good job removing the fertilizer from the plant cause it’s poisonous

[@extropy1]

6 foot by 3 foot outdoors is way too small for even 1 tort

[@joannemain86]

Love it,he's going to have so much fun. Made me smile when he tucked into his flowers🐢💖🐢

[@LorisHartland]

Hehe

[@ImpulseHobby]

no shed, no grass, no mulch, no water...

[@isaiahmoses2395]

High pitched voice, I can't watch

[@wallys7016]

If you have an outdoor enclosure can’t you leave them outside year round even in the winter?

[@LorisHartland]

Yes if its predator proof and you live in a suitable climate for your species of tortoise.

[@ashly5712]

What if a cat gets in your back yard?

[@kcchausse5274]

This is so helpful thank you so much, Im going to use this same layout but larger for a giant tortoise

[@KatieJeffery-e6n]

Qxje

[@deebutler2283]

They don’t try to climb out or dig out?

[@manuellujan8021]

The tortoise doesn’t dig under to get out?

[@VictoriaRyann]

1:42 when he says he loves you!!! aweeee mom and dad

[@VictoriaRyann]

"They look like legos" lololol now hes speaking my language.

[@LorisHartland]

Victoria Ryann hahahahahahahahhahahahaa

[@kristaduke7528]

This is so amazing! It looks really good!

[@tocatropics3025]

Is moloch ok for box turtle enclosures