I am still just so amazed at how utterly different the same tortoise can be depending on where he is.

Inside Carl is lazy, he wakes up 3 hours after his lights turn on, and eats a bit, maybe suns himself for a while, then goes back to sleep within an hour or two.

Outside Carl is usually a statue when I go out to check on him, so I never know what he's up to, but his food is always gone, and sometimes I'll see him underneath the plants, or in his water dish, maybe even on top of some rocks. He sleeps in his hide very little when he's outdoors.

I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone on the forum who talked me into making an outdoor enclosure. Now I understand how much more fun it is to own a tort when they get to live outside

Yay! I hope every newbie who comes on to this forum reads your post. Torts are meant to be outdoors. They are happier and healthier in natural sunlight.

Thank you for sharing!

(08-06-2012 10:54 AM)mctlong Wrote:  Yay! I hope every newbie who comes on to this forum reads your post. Torts are meant to be outdoors. They are happier and healthier in natural sunlight.

Thank you for sharing!

Even when it's cloudy he is more active then when inside

(08-06-2012 10:51 AM)futureleopardtortoise Wrote:  I am still just so amazed at how utterly different the same tortoise can be depending on where he is.

Inside Carl is lazy, he wakes up 3 hours after his lights turn on, and eats a bit, maybe suns himself for a while, then goes back to sleep within an hour or two.

Outside Carl is usually a statue when I go out to check on him, so I never know what he's up to, but his food is always gone, and sometimes I'll see him underneath the plants, or in his water dish, maybe even on top of some rocks. He sleeps in his hide very little when he's outdoors.

I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone on the forum who talked me into making an outdoor enclosure. Now I understand how much more fun it is to own a tort when they get to live outside

I still haven't figured out why he won't move when I'm out there. Only time he does is if I brought out more food, then he beelines for the food dish

Our girl is the SAME way. Down to the statue!

Toby seems to come to me when I'm outside, expecting I'm bringing some sort of food. The funny part is, he marches towards me, eating everything from clovers to just blades of grass on the way, and expects me to bring him something that he can just find outside.

That's why I keep boring people with my broken record "build an outdoor enclosure for the tortoise!"...

I am glad that Carl enjoys his life and you "broke the chains" of pet-industry and naive keeper's "knowledge", that keep saying "tortoises CAN live a happy life indoors", if you provide the adequate "bulbs, substrate etc."...
Someone seeing the difference by himself cannot anymore think to an indoor life for a tortoise- save for climate or health issues. But for that, one have to care enough to inform himself and try.
I am waiting the day when hibernation will get to the same level of recognition as outdoor keeping. It is so natural and self-understood in Europe!

Thank you for all of your comments, everyone.

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(08-06-2012 06:14 PM)Masin Wrote:  Our girl is the SAME way. Down to the statue!

It's because you obviously can't see them if they don't move.

Glad Carl is doing nice outside. What a good feeling knowing he is happy and healthy.

Tortoises are SOLAR powered!!!

(08-07-2012 06:47 AM)Tom Wrote:  Tortoises are SOLAR powered!!!

Haha!!! Sooo true!

futureleopardtortoise Wrote:Thank you for all of your comments, everyone.

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It's because you obviously can't see them if they don't move.

Hahaha, exactly! It's like hide and seek with a 2 year old.

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Tom Wrote:Tortoises are SOLAR powered!!!

Aw that's the cutest quote!

(08-06-2012 12:16 PM)futureleopardtortoise Wrote:  I still haven't figured out why he won't move when I'm out there. Only time he does is if I brought out more food, then he beelines for the food dish

Most babies of most species are that way, especially outside. He'll come around in time.

(08-06-2012 10:51 PM)CactusVinnie Wrote:  That's why I keep boring people with my broken record "build an outdoor enclosure for the tortoise!"...

I am glad that Carl enjoys his life and you "broke the chains" of pet-industry and naive keeper's "knowledge", that keep saying "tortoises CAN live a happy life indoors", if you provide the adequate "bulbs, substrate etc."...
Someone seeing the difference by himself cannot anymore think to an indoor life for a tortoise- save for climate or health issues. But for that, one have to care enough to inform himself and try.
I am waiting the day when hibernation will get to the same level of recognition as outdoor keeping. It is so natural and self-understood in Europe!

Sure they can live inside, but is that really the quality of life and best?

Would they do just as good inside? Not at all. It's like depriving a cat of toys to play with or a dog of time to run outside. Outdoors time is essential in a tortoises life for many reasons. The experience in itself, and of course, good ol sunlight.