A secure tortoise enclosure for a home with pets or children has solid walls with no gaps, a lid or cover that closes properly and, where possible, locks, and a position that keeps pets and children away from the tortoise. For a small tortoise kept indoors, a closed tortoise house with a lockable lid or latches is worth considering. No single feature makes an enclosure secure, so combine it with supervision.
- Dogs: The Tortoise Protection Group (TPG) says even the most docile family dog is a potential danger to a tortoise, and the two should never be left alone together.[1]
- Outdoors: A small tortoise’s enclosure needs wire mesh or netting over it against birds, and must be secure at night against foxes and rats.[1] For the species it covers, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) advises a barrier at least 45 cm high and buried 15 cm deep.[2]
- Indoors: An open-top table can take a wire-mesh top if other pets are a concern, and works best in a quiet position away from children and household pets.[3]
- Children: Supervise children around the enclosure, and make sure anyone who handles the tortoise or cleans its enclosure washes their hands before and after.[2]
Why Is It Hard to Keep a Tortoise Safe Around Pets and Children?
Keeping a tortoise safe gets harder when other animals and young children share the home.
- Dogs: A dog may be curious about the enclosure. TPG warns that tortoises often suffer terrible, and sometimes fatal, injuries in dog attacks.[1]
- Cats and children: A cat may try to climb onto the enclosure, and a young child may lift a lid to look inside.
- Outdoor risks: TPG says tortoises are surprisingly good climbers that can climb up corners, and that crows and magpies can threaten smaller tortoises. Foxes and rats may also find a sleeping tortoise at night.[1]
Choose an enclosure that limits escape and access by other animals, and plan for the daily care the RSPCA says a tortoise needs.[2]
Supervise children around the enclosure, and make sure anyone who handles the tortoise or cleans its enclosure washes their hands before and after.[2]
Why Do Common Tortoise Enclosures Fall Short?
- An open-top tortoise table: It gives good airflow, but an open top does not stop a curious pet or child reaching inside. The Tortoise Table suggests a wire-mesh top in a frame where other pets are a concern, and a quiet position away from over-eager children and household pets.[3]
- A basic wooden box: It may have solid walls, but gaps around the edges or a loose lid can leave the tortoise exposed.
- An outdoor run without a secure cover: It gives space in the garden, but TPG says enclosures for smaller tortoises must have wire mesh or netting over them to keep out birds.[1]
- An indoor tortoise house used outside: It may not be built for UK weather. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and the product listing before using it outdoors.
What Should You Look For in a Secure Tortoise Enclosure?
Check these five things before you buy.
- Strong walls and escape protection: Look for solid walls with no gaps a tortoise could squeeze through, and check the corners, because tortoises can climb up them.[1] Indoors, The Tortoise Table advises solid sides at least 20 cm above the substrate and no items at the table edges that give a climbing step.[3] Outdoors, the RSPCA advises a barrier at least 45 cm high and buried 15 cm deep.[2]
- A secure cover: Wire mesh fixed above an outdoor enclosure can help reduce the risk of predation.[2] Check that the mesh is firmly attached to the frame, because the strength of the mesh, the frame and the fastenings all matter.
- Safe doors and lids: Choose a design you can close properly after feeding, cleaning or checking your tortoise. A lockable lid does not make an enclosure childproof, so supervise children and add extra barriers where needed.
- Enough room to move: Check the inside measurements, because partitions and shelters take up space. The Tortoise Table gives about 91 cm x 61 cm as the minimum table size for a hatchling and says it should be larger for a juvenile.[3] For spur-thighed, Hermann’s, marginated and Horsfield’s tortoises, the RSPCA gives at least 180 cm x 120 cm for an indoor enclosure in a shed and describes 10 m² outdoors as suitable for one tortoise.[2]
- Easy access for daily checks: An openable lid, viewing panel or removable tray helps with feeding, cleaning and health checks. Make sure you can close the enclosure securely again each time.
Which Type of Tortoise House Suits a Home With Pets or Children?
Once you know which features matter, you can compare indoor tortoise houses and outdoor runs.
An indoor tortoise house suits an owner who wants a set space for daily care, and viewing panels let you watch the tortoise without opening the enclosure. An outdoor run needs different checks, including boundaries that are checked daily for damage,[1] protection against digging, shade and shelter,[2] and a firmly fixed cover where predators are a risk.
Our Tortoise Houses Range includes PawHut designs with mesh roofs, clear panels and openable lids.[7]
Three PawHut Tortoise Houses Compared
These three houses have different layouts and access features. Their listings do not say that any of them is childproof or predator-proof.
| Feature | Mesh-Roof Tortoise House[5] | Dual-Zone Tortoise House[4] | Raised Enclosure[6] |
| Overall size (L x W x H) | 91 x 60.5 x 32 cm | 104 x 53 x 82 cm | 102 x 56 x 104 cm |
| Top or cover | Mesh roofs | Openable top with hinged lids | Openable top |
| Lock | Lockable latches | Lock on the top lid | None listed |
| Viewing | Three windows | Clear panels | Acrylic window |
| Lamp holder | None listed | In the package | Adjustable holder, not in the package list |
| Listed use | Indoor, with outdoor use mentioned | Indoor, kept dry and out of direct sunlight | Described as an outdoor tortoise house |
| Rating | 4.7 from 7 ratings | 4.6 from 5 ratings | 4.6 from 12 ratings |
PawHut Tortoise House With Mesh Roofs and Side Panels[5]
Our mesh-roof house has a main house and a run cage under mesh roofs, with three windows and pull-out side panels that make the space bigger. Its listing says it suits tortoises with a carapace length of less than 20 cm.
- Features: Fir wood, 7.5 kg, with lockable latches. The package lists the house and a manual.
- Best suited to: A small tortoise kept indoors, where mesh roofs for airflow and latches that close matter.
- Pros: Mesh roofs for ventilation, lockable latches and windows to watch the tortoise without opening the house.
- Limitations: The listing gives a main house of 57 x 29 cm and a run cage of 57 x 56 cm, and the run is narrower than The Tortoise Table’s 61 cm hatchling table width,[3] so it suits only a small tortoise. Its listing limits it to tortoises under 20 cm carapace length. The listing mentions outdoor use, but nothing says the mesh is predator-proof, so check the manual before using it outside.
- Choose another option if: You want a lamp holder in the package (PawHut Dual-Zone Tortoise House)[4] or a taller raised design (PawHut Wooden Tortoise Enclosure0.[6]
- Price and delivery: Priced at £55.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery. Contact us within 30 calendar days of delivery to return it.
PawHut Wooden Tortoise House With Dual-Zone Habitat and Clear Panels[4]
Our dual-zone house has two habitat areas, clear panels, an openable top with hinged lids and a pull-out tray. A horn lock on the top lid helps keep the lid shut.
- Features: Wood and metal mesh, 11 kg, with a nest of 36 x 49 cm and an activity area of 58 x 49 cm inside. The package lists a lamp holder, a feeding bowl and a manual.
- Best suited to: An indoor setup where you want to watch the tortoise through clear panels and close the top with a lock.
- Pros: Two separate areas, a lock on the top lid, a pull-out tray for cleaning and a lamp holder in the package.
- Limitations: It is listed for indoor use and should be kept dry and out of direct sunlight, so use it indoors. Inside, its 49 cm width is narrower than The Tortoise Table’s 61 cm hatchling table width.[3]
- Choose another option if: You want mesh roofs for airflow (PawHut Mesh-Roof Tortoise House)[5] or a design described for outdoor use (PawHut Wooden Tortoise Enclosure)[6] .
- Price and delivery: Priced at £86.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery. Contact us within 30 calendar days of delivery to return it.
PawHut Wooden Tortoise Enclosure With Adjustable Lamp Holder and Removable Main House[6]
Our wooden tortoise enclosure (we call it the raised enclosure in this guide) stands above a storage shelf and has an openable top, a removable main house and a run area, with an acrylic window and an adjustable lamp holder.
- Features: Fir wood, steel and acrylic, 15.5 kg, with a main house of 26 x 44 cm and a run of 95 x 48.5 cm inside, mesh wire for air circulation and a lamp holder adjustable from 80 to 100 cm high. The package lists the enclosure and a manual.
- Best suited to: An owner who wants a raised enclosure where a removable main house makes cleaning simpler.
- Pros: A removable main house, a storage shelf for supplies and an adjustable lamp holder (a listed feature, not in the package list).
- Limitations: No lock is listed, so add your own way to keep the top closed where pets or children could reach it. Its listing calls it an outdoor tortoise house and describes a water-resistant treatment on the wood, but nothing says it is predator-proof, so check before leaving it outside overnight. Its 48.5 cm run width is narrower than The Tortoise Table’s 61 cm hatchling table width.[3]
- Choose another option if: You want a lock on the top lid (PawHut Dual-Zone Tortoise House)[4] or a lower design with mesh roofs (PawHut Mesh-Roof Tortoise House).[5]
- Price and delivery: Priced at £99.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery. Contact us within 30 calendar days of delivery to return it.
Who Are These Tortoise Houses For, and Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- A good fit: Owners of a small tortoise who want a set space for daily care and easy access for feeding and cleaning, and who can add extra barriers or supervision at home.
- Look elsewhere: Owners who need proven protection from a determined dog or another large animal, a certified childproof design, or a house for a tortoise that will outgrow it, since all three are well under the RSPCA’s indoor figure of 180 cm x 120 cm.[2]
- A garden with predators or digging: A purpose-built outdoor run with a buried boundary and a secure cover is the better route.[1] [2]
How to Choose a Secure Tortoise Enclosure
Start by deciding where your tortoise will live and which risks you need to prevent. For outdoor risks, check the boundary, protection against digging, the cover and the fastenings.[1] [2] For indoor use, compare the lid locks, mesh, size and intended use of each model, and keep pets and children away from the enclosure.[3]
For a small tortoise kept indoors in a home with pets or children, start with a house that lists a lock: our PawHut Dual-Zone Tortoise House or our PawHut Mesh-Roof Tortoise House. If you prefer the raised enclosure, which lists no lock, add your own closure. None of the three is listed as childproof, and no single feature proves that an enclosure is secure. Combine a sound enclosure with supervision.
FAQs
1. What makes a tortoise enclosure secure for homes with pets or children?
Solid walls with no gaps, a lid or cover that closes properly, and a barrier that keeps pets and children away. Dogs are a serious risk – the Tortoise Protection Group says even the most docile family dog is a potential danger and the two should never be left alone together.[1]
2. Can dogs be left alone with a tortoise?
No. The Tortoise Protection Group warns tortoises often suffer terrible, and sometimes fatal, injuries in dog attacks. If you have other animals in the house, the tortoise should be secure from them too.[1]
3. How do I keep a tortoise safe outside in the UK?
4. How do I keep pets and children away indoors?
5. What size should a tortoise enclosure be?
The Tortoise Table gives about 91 cm x 61 cm as the minimum table size for a hatchling.[3] For spur-thighed, Hermann’s, marginated and Horsfield’s, the RSPCA gives at least 180 cm x 120 cm indoors in a shed and 10 m² outdoors for one tortoise.[2] Our three houses are well under the RSPCA indoor figure, so suit only a small tortoise under 20 cm carapace.
See also
- Tortoise houses and enclosures at Aosom UK
- Does Aosom provide assembly instructions?
- What is the return policy for Aosom?
References
[1] Safety and Security – Tortoise Protection Group.
https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/145.asp
[2] Spur-thighed, Hermann’s, marginated and Horsfield’s tortoises – RSPCA.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/Spur-thighed%2C%20Hermann%27s%2C%20marginated%20and%20Horsfield%27s%20tortoises%20%28PDF%20124KB%29/a072c67f-ebce-a7cf-542c-c7a4061182f8?download=true&version=3.0
[3] Indoor Housing – The Tortoise Table.
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tortoise-care/enclosures/indoor-housing
[4] PawHut Wooden Tortoise House with Dual-Zone Habitat, Clear Panels, Openable Top, Metal Mesh, for Tortoises and Small Pets, Grey | Aosom UK.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/pawhut-turtle-house-enclosure-2-areas-with-lamp-holder-hinged-roof-sliding-tray-104-x-53-x-82-cm-gray~2488FCNBPLO00.html
[5] PawHut Tortoise House, Small Reptile Wooden House, with Mesh Roofs, Side Panels, for Turtles, Lizards, Geckos and Snakes | Aosom UK.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/pawhut-tortoise-house-small-reptile-wooden-house-with-mesh-roofs-side-panels-for-turtles-lizards-geckos-and-snakes~1VUO5CKF9UG01.html
[6] PawHut Wooden Tortoise Enclosure, Tortoise Tank w/ Adjustable Lamp Holder, Openable Lid, Removable Main House – Grey | Aosom UK.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/pawhut-wooden-tortoise-enclosure-tortoise-tank-w-adjustable-lamp-holder-openable-lid-removable-main-house-grey~1LGMJOIG02800.html
[7] Tortoise Houses – Aosom UK.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/pet-supplies/tortoise-houses-c971.html