Why choose a tortoise table?
Choosing the right indoor home is one of the most important decisions you will make for your tortoise.
For many commonly kept Mediterranean tortoises, including Hermann’s and Horsfield’s tortoises, an open-topped tortoise table can make it easier to provide the space, ventilation, lighting and temperature gradient they need.
If you are trying to decide between a tortoise table or vivarium, the enclosure itself is only part of the answer. What really matters is whether you can create a healthy environment that allows your tortoise to bask, cool down, explore, dig, hide and behave naturally.
What is a tortoise table?
A tortoise table is an open-topped indoor enclosure designed to give a tortoise plenty of usable floor space while allowing heat, light and fresh air to enter from above.
Unlike a traditional enclosed vivarium, the open design allows air to circulate freely and makes it easier to position basking and UVB lighting over a particular part of the enclosure.
That can be particularly useful with tortoises that naturally move between warmer and cooler areas throughout the day.
A good tortoise enclosure should never be uniformly hot. Your tortoise needs to be able to move towards its basking area when it needs warmth and away from it when it wants to cool down.
Why is a tortoise table better for many tortoises?
Fresh air and ventilation
An open top allows natural air movement around the enclosure. This can make it easier to prevent stagnant air and excessive heat building up inside the tortoise’s living space.
A useful temperature gradient
Heat can be concentrated at the basking end rather than warming the entire enclosure. Your tortoise can then move between warmer and cooler areas as required.
Space for natural behaviour
A well-designed table provides usable floor space for walking, exploring, digging, feeding, hiding and basking rather than simply providing somewhere for the tortoise to sit.
Tortoise table or vivarium: what is the difference?
A traditional vivarium is usually an enclosed or mostly enclosed box with doors or panels at the front. A tortoise table is predominantly open above.
That difference can have a significant effect on how heat and air behave inside the enclosure.
With an open table, warm air from a basking lamp can rise naturally out of the enclosure. This can make it easier to create a distinct basking zone without heating every part of the habitat to the same temperature.
In a poorly ventilated or undersized enclosed vivarium, heat can be more difficult to dissipate and the difference between the warm and cool ends may become too small.
That does not mean that every enclosed vivarium is automatically unsuitable. A large, carefully designed and correctly ventilated enclosure can provide appropriate conditions.
The important question is not simply, “tortoise table or vivarium?” It is whether the enclosure can provide the correct conditions for that particular tortoise.
The important bit
There is no single enclosure that is right for every tortoise species.
Humidity, temperature, substrate, lighting and housing requirements differ between species. The advice on this page is principally relevant to commonly kept Mediterranean and Horsfield-type tortoises. Always research the requirements of the particular species you keep.
A tortoise needs somewhere to warm up and somewhere to cool down
Tortoises rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. They need access to a suitable basking area, but they must also be able to move away from that heat.
This is one of the strongest practical reasons for choosing a generously sized enclosure. The larger the usable floor area, the easier it is to establish separate zones within the habitat.
A well-planned indoor setup should allow room for:
- a suitable basking area
- an appropriate UVB source
- a noticeably cooler area away from the basking lamp
- suitable substrate for the species
- a hide or sheltered area
- a shallow water dish
- feeding areas
- opportunities to walk, investigate and dig
Lighting, basking temperatures and the wider environment must always be chosen according to the tortoise species rather than simply according to the type of enclosure.
Give your tortoise room to be a tortoise
Tortoises may not move at tremendous speed, but that does not mean they are naturally inactive.
They walk, climb, investigate, forage, dig and make choices about where they spend their time.
An indoor enclosure therefore needs usable floor space, not unnecessary height.
Where space allows, choose the largest practical tortoise table rather than assuming a small tortoise only needs a small home. Remember that young tortoises grow, and increasing the size of the enclosure can also give you more freedom to create different temperature zones and areas of interest.
The layout can be varied with suitable hides, rocks, safe planting or other species-appropriate features. The aim is not to fill every centimetre. Your tortoise still needs plenty of clear space to move around.
An indoor table is only part of the habitat
A tortoise table is primarily an indoor housing solution.
For species suited to the British summer climate, access to a properly designed and secure outdoor enclosure can provide additional space, natural sunlight, grazing opportunities and environmental variety when conditions are appropriate.
Outdoor housing must be secure. Tortoises can dig, climb and squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, and an enclosure may also need protection against predators.
Indoor and outdoor accommodation should therefore be considered together as part of the tortoise’s overall care.
What should you look for in a tortoise table?
A tortoise table should be chosen as a habitat rather than simply as a piece of furniture.
When comparing different designs, consider both the construction of the table and what you will need to place inside it.
Space and construction
- As much practical floor space as you can provide
- Secure, solid construction
- Walls high enough to prevent escape
- No dangerous gaps or sharp edges
- Room for an appropriate depth of substrate
Habitat setup
- Sufficient room between warm and cool areas
- Safe positioning of basking and UVB equipment
- Space for a hide and water dish
- Easy access for cleaning and daily care
- Opportunities for enrichment and natural behaviour
The enclosure also needs to fit the individual tortoise. Age, size, species and environmental requirements all matter.
Tortoise table FAQs
Why is a tortoise table better than a vivarium?
For many Mediterranean and Horsfield-type tortoises, an open-topped table can make it easier to provide good ventilation, a clear basking area and a useful warm-to-cool temperature gradient. It can also provide generous floor space without enclosing the whole environment. The best housing still depends on the species and on how well the complete habitat is designed.
Does a tortoise table need a heat lamp?
Most commonly kept Mediterranean tortoises require an appropriate basking heat source when housed indoors. The exact temperatures and equipment required depend on the species and circumstances.
Does a tortoise table need UVB lighting?
Tortoises housed indoors generally require an appropriate UVB source as part of their lighting setup. The lamp type, strength, positioning and replacement schedule should be appropriate for the species and enclosure.
Can my tortoise live outdoors?
Many commonly kept Mediterranean tortoises benefit from suitable outdoor accommodation during appropriate weather, but the enclosure must be secure and the conditions must suit the species. British weather means that safe indoor accommodation remains important.
Find the right tortoise table for your home
Happy Tortoise Habitat makes wooden tortoise tables in a range of sizes and designs, giving you a practical starting point for creating a comfortable indoor habitat.
Choose the table that suits your available space and your tortoise, then build the heating, lighting, substrate, shelter and enrichment around the needs of the animal.
My tortoise couldn’t be happier with his new table. It is so well built, the service was excellent, it was delivered super quickly and was very easy to set up. I had looked online at other tortoise tables but this one (model 266) stood out, a beautiful bit of craftsmanship from Ken and an amazing habitat for my 1 year old herman. He absolutely loves it and is a very happy tortoise.
Thanks
Just received our tortoise table,delivered on time well packaged and beautifully made,would recommend this website to all thank you very much.
Received my tortoise table today, as promised. Securely packaged, well-made, assembled in minutes and now housing my 4 week-old hatchling. Well pleased!
Just received my tortoise table today, my horsfield Loves loves loves it :) Its great quality with plenty of room .
Many thanks
We purchased two tortoises last week and are very pleased .we got Luna and cornelius and they both settled in very well and love running around the living room.they are easy to keep,feed,and clean and would recommend to anybody .the tortoise table is very well made and we are definately happy with them love Jill,mark,Charlotte and Lucy
Just bought the 4ft x 2ft table for our 10 year old tortoise! It’s fabulous, am so pleased we did this rather than making our own. It is made beautifully and is so reasonably priced. Delivery was in a week and was carefully packed. I would highly recommend this service.
Thank you.
Two weeks ago I bought two tortoises and a table for my sons birthday, he was very pleased with them. We went to see the tortoises and tables before we purchased them and was made very welcome and answered all questions and told us everything we needed to know. The table is very good quality. I would highly recommend happy tortoise habitat to anyone wanting to buy a tortoise/table. Thank you very much for a brilliant service:)
I have just had delivery of my tortoise table and I am delighted. Ken was so helpful and tailored the table to our growing tortoise. The table is very well made and it was delivered within a couple of days. All round, a great service. Many thanks.
I have today taken delivery of my 5ft tortoise table. I dont know who is more excited about it, me, the husband or Ethel and Edna (the tortoises). Made to such an exceptionally high standard, I could not be more happy. I dealt with the lovely Ken who was so friendly and helpful throughout. I would recommend Ken to anyone wishing to purchase a tortoise table, they are fabulous. Thank you.
just purchased 2 tortoises and a tortoise table and I am extremely happy with the service I recieved. The tortoise table is made to a high standard and is lovely. The tortoises you can tell are well looked after. I travelled from Manchester to Hull to collect them and Ken and Elliee were extremely welcoming and such lovely people. I would recommend purchasing the tortoise table and tortoises from happy tortoise habitats. I have 2 extremely happy children and cannot fault anything
Thank you