I'm sharing my different worries in different threads to keep things separate and clear for future reference if needed. So for outdoor enclosure in Texas, how do I protect my baby RF's from snakes? Should I even worry about that?
Snakes
- Thread starter Pearly
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- Jul 16, 2014
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- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
No.
I can think of very few snakes that would pose a threat.
Maybe a truly gigantic King snake?
I can think of very few snakes that would pose a threat.
Maybe a truly gigantic King snake?
Assuming they are young/small(as you said baby), best way is to keep them inside until they are a decent size. I'm sure a kingsnake or ratsnake could eat a small tortoise; although, I'm not sure if they would. I've lost afew chicks to a ratsnake, and they are larger than baby redfoot. But this speculation is purely about size, and not how enticing a hard shelled creature is to something that can't chew.
How about venomous ones?
The babies are staying indoors with only strictly supervised recreational garden outings their first year. In few wks though I want them to start spending more time in their enclosed garden, like few hrs during a day. Shellie should weigh around 1 lb by then. She's due for weight and measurements in few days but should be around 4.5 inches. Tucker is smaller. Is that "big enough"?
I'm really not sure. I have one that is around 6 inches that is outside all the time. She stays with 4 other tortoises. Each habitat has different variables, so its hard to judge what would work best for you. I will say that I have 2 large burrows, low brush growth, and large indoor area for them to go into so they have places to hide from lurking predators. My biggest concerns are birds, skunks, and racoons.
I have seen some people with enclosures for hatchlings to stay outside.
I was just curious if anyone had some secret tricks to keep the snakes away from the enclosure.
I don't think there really is anything. Smaller openings (wire guage) would keep them out at those points, but also block the sun's rays. A lot of the things we do to make the enclodures nice, like lots of plant coverage, is also something the snakes like to hide under.
Once the tortoises get a bit bigger, it is the snakes having to worry about them.
Once the tortoises get a bit bigger, it is the snakes having to worry about them.
Really? Tort would go after a snake?
Yes. Tortoises are very opportunistic creatures. Most often it's redfoots and sulcatas you hear about doing this.
I know nothing about snakes, but my guess would be that a tortoise may look like a warm rock to a snake. I don't think snakes see like we do. They see warm-blooded animals/prey. A warmed up tortoise wouldn't look like a warm-blooded prey animal, but more like a rock.
I regularly find gopher snakes in my current tortoise enclosure. Small ones, large ones.. But I don't worry. Like Yvonne said, I don't think they see a tortoise as prey.
I've seen members post photos of:
A scorpion sleeping on the rear leg/under the shell on a leopard
Frogs on a tortoises back
Various spiders in their houses
So I don't really worry about any of those.
I've seen members post photos of:
A scorpion sleeping on the rear leg/under the shell on a leopard
Frogs on a tortoises back
Various spiders in their houses
So I don't really worry about any of those.
Very true! I'm so stuck in warm blooded creatures! I've watched some science programs where things were shown as seen through snake eyes where the warmblooded animal image was in infrared camera lens or such with heat sensors that showed the warmest parts of the body as dark red. It was really cool to see that. Man, we are so lucky to have the technology that helps us understand the world around us
Ahmmmm.... I've made a huge progress in my snake phobia but not sure how I'd feel if going to collect my babies for the night I run into a big snake.... I know! I'm a big woos!
