NIGHT TIME TORTOISE KEEPING

[wellington]

I was just wondering, does everyone that is housing their torts outside put them in a closed shed/etc every night? I have a bit of time before my leopard will be able to stay outside. I had planned on only letting him stay out for the day time and bringing him back in the house for the nights, but wonder if he would rather stay out for the night hours also, summer only, not winter. I would be to worried about him to leave him outside at night to wonder around until he had decided the party was over and he headed to his shed on his own. However, I will also have to cart him up three flights of stairs to bring him in every night and out every morning, which I had taken into consideration before I got him. What do all of you do and suggest to be the best? Shut in shed at night, leave to wonder and tuck himself in or bring in to house? That is the question.

 

[lynnedit]

I think it depends on what works for you. Your tort will appreciate being outside for most of the day. Unless the entire enclosure is secure, you want them to be safe at night. If you can provide a small shed or tort house (heated or not, depending on your climate), then you can make sure he is secure in it at night. If not, bringing him in sounds like it will be a work out , but that would be fine too.
They seem to adjust to different scenarios, once a routine is settled on.
Seems like a lot of people choose to have outdoor secure places for their torts at night in the nicer months.

 

[tortoise-kid]

I would bring him into the secure shed. You never know whats going to happen when you don't have your eyes on them; theft, predators, etc.

 

[Shelly]

I was just wondering, does everyone that is housing their torts outside put them in a closed shed/etc every night?

Nope, not me.

 

[dmarcus]

My three all put themselves up at night or when it's cold and all I have to do is close the door. My rescuse took to the outside house with no issues, my hatchling took almost two weekes of me placing him in the house before he started going in on his own, and my large male took two days.

 

[zesty_17]

our giants we put in the barn(they usually are waiting at the door) if it is under 45, the rest of the time they have access. My box turtles at home get a heated corner of the enclosure & they are free to move in and out as they choose, and/or hibernate(modified) if they choose. The outside water turtles are brought in, i do not let my cooters hibernate.

 

[wellington]

Thanks all. I will probably have to wait and see how heavy he/she gets and go from there. I counted on bringing him in every night but if he does get to heavy for me to carry up three flights, I will be building him an out door house or an out door elevator. Hmmm

 

[Tom]

If you are three stories up, I'd be worried about something or someone messing with him. I think it would be safer to just bring him in at night.

 

[N2TORTS]

If your yard is safe you can make simple hides, all the way to mini houses. Here might be a couple of ideas for you . Yes I bring in ALL my torts 23 + in at night or shall I say a " head count" . Some of them escort themself's while others cooled off enough or just too darn lazy to make it back .....
Some of the designs I've done and thought about security ( to a degree) all of them lock when in the " closed" position....or just a plain solid core door~

" happy tort~N"
JD~

 

[zesty_17]

our giants we put in the barn(they usually are waiting at the door) if it is under 45, the rest of the time they have access. My box turtles at home get a heated corner of the enclosure & they are free to move in and out as they choose, and/or hibernate(modified) if they choose. The outside water turtles are brought in, i do not let my cooters hibernate.

sorry, the cut-off temp is 55, not 45

 

[lynnedit]

Some of us live in predator (humane and animal) free areas.
I would worry too much, but my torts went inside their hide on their own (probably thought; beats digging!).
I think you just need to know your area, and base it on your own intuition.
What about one of those baskets like in the movie Rear Window, where the guy pulls his dog up to his apartment, lol?

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JD- in your second picture, is that ceramic light base mounted on sheet metal? then connected to a 3 prong cord?
And HOW do you do that stenciling? It is so nice!

 

[SailingMystic]

If your yard is safe you can make simple hides, all the way to mini houses. Here might be a couple of ideas for you . Yes I bring in ALL my torts 23 + in at night or shall I say a " head count" . Some of them escort themself's while others cooled off enough or just too darn lazy to make it back .....
Some of the designs I've done and thought about security ( to a degree) all of them lock when in the " closed" position....or just a plain solid core door~

" happy tort~N"
JD~

Amazing enclosure! How old and heavy is the little guy in the picture? So neat!

 

[N2TORTS]

Some of us live in predator (humane and animal) free areas.
I would worry too much, but my torts went inside their hide on their own (probably thought; beats digging!).
I think you just need to know your area, and base it on your own intuition.
What about one of those baskets like in the movie Rear Window, where the guy pulls his dog up to his apartment, lol?

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JD- in your second picture, is that ceramic light base mounted on sheet metal? then connected to a 3 prong cord?
And HOW do you do that stenciling? It is so nice!

---

Not to infringe on this persons thread , but yes to both questions about the elec. ..and the stens' are from bushes in my yard~.

 

[wellington]

Some of us live in predator (humane and animal) free areas.
I would worry too much, but my torts went inside their hide on their own (probably thought; beats digging!).
I think you just need to know your area, and base it on your own intuition.
What about one of those baskets like in the movie Rear Window, where the guy pulls his dog up to his apartment, lol?

---

JD- in your second picture, is that ceramic light base mounted on sheet metal? then connected to a 3 prong cord?
And HOW do you do that stenciling? It is so nice!

---

Not to infringe on this persons thread , but yes to both questions about the elec. ..and the stens' are from bushes in my yard~.

Love the houses and the stencil, beautiful work. Thanks for the pics. I also like the rope and basket idea. I guess I will probably do both ideas, a nice house for when he wants to go in during the day and the basket to power him up three flights at night. Thanks everyone.

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[Maggie Cummings]

Bob lives in a 20'X12 foot heated and insulated shed. He puts himself to bed every night in his sleeping box then about 7, I go out and padlock the door. We have four footed predators and 2 footed predators, and while I can't see anyone lifting a 102 pound tortoise over the fence, I am not will to take that chance. So all my tortoises are put some place safe and secure at night...

 

[N2TORTS]

Some of us live in predator (humane and animal) free areas.
I would worry too much, but my torts went inside their hide on their own (probably thought; beats digging!).
I think you just need to know your area, and base it on your own intuition.
What about one of those baskets like in the movie Rear Window, where the guy pulls his dog up to his apartment, lol?

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Great Well's...happy building! ...



Love the houses and the stencil, beautiful work. Thanks for the pics. I also like the rope and basket idea. I guess I will probably do both ideas, a nice house for when he wants to go in during the day and the basket to power him up three flights at night. Thanks everyone.

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Great Well's...happy building! ...Show us some pics when your done!
JD~

 

[wellington]

It won't be for oh I don't know a year or two? He is only 9? months now, and I wouldn't ever leave him outside unattended until he is a lot bigger. I don't know how fast they grow on average, so I figure I will be able to guesstimate by his size next summer as for when he will need a permanent outdoor house. I will post pictures then though.