When to move my Hermann's outside

[Nmshepard]

I have a hermann's tortoise that just turned six months old and about three inches long that I was curious when to move outside. I am in the PNW so it's still pretty chilly and wet however his indoor enclosure is only 2x3 and I want him to have more space. I found an 8x3 greenhouse cover I'd like to put in my raised garden bed until he's larger. The garden bed is 3x18 feet long, so in the future it will all be his. Can I take him out during the warmer times of day or will that stress him to go back and forth? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Tom]

Please give this a read. All of this is explained in here:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

I wouldn't even consider letting him live outside full time until he's at least 5-6 inches or so.

 

[Nmshepard]

Thank you! It may say and I missed it but for outside time are there temps you recommend waiting for?

 

[Maggie3fan]

Wait until it warms up in the Spring, he's way too young to be outside until 'possibly' April or May. A baby like that is very good kept in the house. Even in Spring and Summer he should be brought in at night. I have bigger Sulcata and everybody is locked in at night. Make that a practice unless his outside pen and yard are 100% safe. No bigger birds flying over, no 'coons, skunks foxes and we are now getting Cougars. I'm in Corvallis Oregon. Here's one of my pens a couple of days ago

 

[Nmshepard]

Oh wow! Thank you. I have bought a bunch of seeds to grow a variety of weeds in his space. It will be good to get those started under the greenhouse before he tramples them all.

 

[Nmshepard]

Since it will be awhile before he moves outside, will his current 2x3 enclosure work until then? He's been getting more and more active. I don't want him cramped.

 

[JoesMum]

Since it will be awhile before he moves outside, will his current 2x3 enclosure work until then? He's been getting more and more active. I don't want him cramped.

Short answer. No.

Longer answer. Read the thread @Tom linked to. It explains what your tortoise needs

 

[Nmshepard]

Short answer. No.

Longer answer. Read the thread @Tom linked to. It explains what your tortoise needs

So the attachment is super helpful, however it lists enclosure sizes for babies and adults. I know Tortellini will need to upgrade, but I can't manage 4x8 indoors. I guess I'm struggling with this in between stage and what he needs. He's too little for outside, too big for the grow tent he's in, and that was an upgrade from the 50 gallon bin originally used as it wouldn't stay humid enough. I was planning a second story in the grow tent, would that be enough extra room? I just want to do the best I can to help him grow strong. Thank you everyone.

 

[JoesMum]

Once they stop being babies you should move to an adukt sized enclosure as quickly as possible