Letting them roam

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freebutterfly

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Hey everyone, I'm new to tortoises and we will be getting a Hermanns tortoise very soon! I have a question though... how many of you let their tortoise walk around their house?? I am from Minnesota so winter time is long and we will not be going outside!! ;) and I want to make sure that my tort gets plenty of space. Do you have any recommendations about how to let them roam around? what do I need to watch for, etc. Thanks everyone! :tort:
 

tyler0912

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Do you mean aswel as an enclosure? Or Instead Of?
IMHO I Dont Like To They Could Eat Things With You Knowing. There Sneakier Than You Think..
 

Rover15

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Just some things to worry about some of your flooring might not be the best for your hermann to walk on. Drafts from doors opening would be problematic. How and where would you provide a basking spot? If it is a hatchling you might step on it.

Honestly best option would be a tortoise table, or. Dedicate a room for it but even then you get drafts and might be hard to keep temps

So again Tortoise table XD
 

luvpetz27

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Hi and welcome!
I let mine roam but I am with
them the whole time. If they go
to the bathroom, I want to clean up
quick!!! Some people on here dont agree
and some do. Mine get very restless in
the winter and they enjoy roaming :)

Watch for anything on the floor they could
put in their mouth too.
 

freebutterfly

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tyler0912 said:
Do you mean aswel as an enclosure? Or Instead Of?
IMHO I Dont Like To They Could Eat Things With You Knowing. There Sneakier Than You Think..

I mean as well as having a tortoise table, I will have the table but was also hoping to let them get out and about every once in awhile. Thank you for the reply!
 

Rover15

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luvpetz27 said:
Hi and welcome!
I let mine roam but I am with
them the whole time. If they go
to the bathroom, I want to clean up
quick!!! Some people on here dont agree
and some do. Mine get very restless in
the winter and they enjoy roaming :)

Watch for anything on the floor they could
put in their mouth too.

Do you also have an enclosure? I think. Freebutterfly is taking about only roaming. I could bee wrong but that was my take.
 

luvpetz27

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Rover15 said:
luvpetz27 said:
Hi and welcome!
I let mine roam but I am with
them the whole time. If they go
to the bathroom, I want to clean up
quick!!! Some people on here dont agree
and some do. Mine get very restless in
the winter and they enjoy roaming :)

Watch for anything on the floor they could
put in their mouth too.

Do you also have an enclosure? I think. Freebutterfly is taking about only roaming. I cobee wrong but that was my take.


Yes, they both have enclosures. I let them roam for
about 20 mins. and that is it. I stay with them the whole
time! I make sure they are safe. :)
 

Rover15

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luvpetz27 said:
Rover15 said:
luvpetz27 said:
Hi and welcome!
I let mine roam but I am with
them the whole time. If they go
to the bathroom, I want to clean up
quick!!! Some people on here dont agree
and some do. Mine get very restless in
the winter and they enjoy roaming :)

Watch for anything on the floor they could
put in their mouth too.

Do you also have an enclosure? I think. Freebutterfly is taking about only roaming. I cobee wrong but that was my take.


Yes, they both have enclosures. I let them roam for
about 20 mins. and that is it. I stay with them the whole
time! I make sure they are safe. :)

I assumed you had an enclosure just wanted to make sure cause they are neww and it will be their first tort XD
 

luvpetz27

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Rover15 said:
luvpetz27 said:
Rover15 said:
luvpetz27 said:
Hi and welcome!
I let mine roam but I am with
them the whole time. If they go
to the bathroom, I want to clean up
quick!!! Some people on here dont agree
and some do. Mine get very restless in
the winter and they enjoy roaming :)

Watch for anything on the floor they could
put in their mouth too.

Do you also have an enclosure? I think. Freebutterfly is taking about only roaming. I cobee wrong but that was my take.


Yes, they both have enclosures. I let them roam for
about 20 mins. and that is it. I stay with them the whole
time! I make sure they are safe. :)

I assumed you had an enclosure just wanted to make sure cause they are neww and it will be their first tort XD


I totally understand!! :) no problem!
 

freebutterfly

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Thanks for the chatting everyone, I plan on having a tortoise table, but was also looking at letting him roam for a little while (under supervision of course). thanks!
 

Terry Allan Hall

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My 1st tortoise, a Hermann's, had the run of my homes for 19 years, but I kept things that might be bad for her out of her reach, and created a basking spot for her by attaching a clip-light, with an infra-red bulb in it, far enough above a paving stone to keep it about 98F, so she could warm up whenever she needed to, and when I lived in apartment w/ a balcony, I made a "doggie door", so she could go outside and get sun, if she wanted.

A free-roaming tortoise must have a tortoise-safe home.
 

Alles uber schildkroten

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I've been letting my Red Foot run around for the last week around the house and she has loved it!! But there is nothing she can get into...
 

sara

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while living in alaska, I had a russian tort. just the cutest little thing ever!! he would actually come when i called him. He had a tortoise table all set up, but sometimes i would let him roam the apartment. being careful to vacume first and make sure there ws nothing on the floor. being our apartment was inside another building, drafts were not a problem. but i would still be very careful . and i didnt make it a habbit. otherwise he would start pacing in his enclosure and get annoying. but as an occasional treat it was fine.
 

Nixxy

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I let mine walk around the room now and then, for a little fun. As long as you keep a close eye, it's generally fine. :)
 
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