Nice enough to stay outside?

[leigti]

Does this look like a good enough forecast to keep my Russian tortoise outside 24/7? Starting Monday morning and not counting Thursday that is.

 

[WithLisa]

I think it's warm enough to let him stay outside, even though the weather doesn't look so nice. Does he have a cold frame or some kind of heated shelter where he can warm up on cloudy days?

 

[leigti]

No I do not have a heated night box and no electricity out there. I'm thinking maybe I will just put her out in the morning and bring her back in at night. The problem is I go to work at 6 AM so that is keeping me from doing it so far. Since I made this post I'm thinking I might wait another couple weeks for it to get just a little bit warmer at night. Later this summer I will have electricity available for outdoors.

 

[WithLisa]

I wouldn't worry about the night temperatures, they are perfect, but the days are a little chilly, especially without sunshine (and the weather seems quite cloudy). I don't have electricity either, but my cold frame works like a charm, 90° or more on almost every day.

 

[leigti]

I wouldn't worry about the night temperatures, they are perfect, but the days are a little chilly, especially without sunshine (and the weather seems quite cloudy). I don't have electricity either, but my cold frame works like a charm, 90° or more on almost every day.

Do you have a picture of your cold frame? My enclosure is only 12 inches tall with a hardware cloth top.

 

[leigti]

I might be able to Jerry rig something with some plexiglass that I have.

 

[WithLisa]

I have a normal cold frame (about 24" tall) connected to the enclosure.

 

[leigti]

I like that. Did you make that or buy it and Connect it to the enclosure? I really don't know anything about cold frames.

 

[WithLisa]

I bought it (or rather my neighbour bought it, she loves my torts and promised to pay for their enclosure when I got them ).
It was quite expensive because it's specially made for tortoises with Alltop (UV can pass through), but a cheap one heats up as well and since your Russian is not a baby anymore I'm sure she gets enough UV outside.

 

[Gillian M]

I bought it (or rather my neighbour bought it, she loves my torts and promised to pay for their enclosure when I got them ).
It was quite expensive because it's specially made for tortoises with Alltop (UV can pass through), but a cheap one heats up as well and since your Russian is not a baby anymore I'm sure she gets enough UV outside.

You're lucky to have such a sweet neighour.

 

[leigti]

I need a neighbor like that too. Oh well. UV doesn't need to pass through it, my tortoise does get enough of it. I will try to rig something up. Otherwise, I will at least be able to get her outside for a couple hours after work until it gets just a little warmer.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Wish I could send you a bit of our weather.
Not too much, 'cos Tidgy loves it and so do I, but a bit.

 

[leigti]

It's supposed to be in the 80s next week. So that should work out. I am just very inpatient.

 

[Gillian M]

Wish I could send you a bit of our weather.
Not too much, 'cos Tidgy loves it and so do I, but a bit.

Good afternoon Adam, Wifey and Tidgy. How are you? Is it as hot back there as it is in Amman? Believe it or not temperature has reached 37 degrees Celcius today! The strange thing is that whilst roaming around, Oli has been going to to the 'coolest' places. I am wondering why.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Sometimes you just have to run the experiment. Their shells seem to be well designed to heat up in the sun. See how warm the carapace is and if he's active. If not, bring him in.

 

[Gillian M]

Sometimes you just have to run the experiment. Their shells seem to be well designed to heat up in the sun. See how warm the carapace is and if he's active. If not, bring him in.

Was that post sent to me? If so, would you please be kind enough to re-word in in simple language? (I do not mean Enlish here, of course).

Thanks very much.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

You have to try and see what works. If they are active and the shells feel warm, it's warm enough, even if the numbers tell us it's chilly. Out of the wind, low to the ground, rocks and tortoise shells warm up. If, however, they burrow and won't come out and aren't active, the temperature isn't suitable.

 

[Gillian M]

You have to try and see what works. If they are active and the shells feel warm, it's warm enough, even if the numbers tell us it's chilly. Out of the wind, low to the ground, rocks and tortoise shells warm up. If, however, they burrow and won't come out and aren't active, the temperature isn't suitable.

Torts burrow when it's chilly/cold, but I mentioned extremely HOT weather here today, with temperature reaching 37 degrees Celcius.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Torts burrow when it's chilly/cold, but I mentioned extremely HOT weather here today, with temperature reaching 37 degrees Celcius.

Yes, you did, you're hijacking leigti's thread. Tortoises will become inactive when they are too hot. Too hot is partially determined by behavior. Provide shade, a water dish, cool burrowing area, and hose off when appropriate.

 

[Gillian M]

Yes, you did, you're hijacking leigti's thread. Tortoises will become inactive when they are too hot. Too hot is partially determined by behavior. Provide shade, a water dish, cool burrowing area, and hose off when appropriate.

Thank you for your help and advice.