Young Sulcata

kingskettle

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My young Sulcata is 10 months old now. He/she weighs 618 gms { 21 ounces} and is 14cm long { 5.5 inches} It will get quite warm here in southern Spain soon so what I wanted to ask is when can I put him in an outside run. I give him a half hour of sun 2 or 3 times a week at the moment but am thinking ahead to the hot weather we get here.
 

Butterfly

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I'm not sure what kind of predators you have in Spain, but because of his size, I would recommend building an outdoor enclosure that has some kind of wire top that will let the sun in, but keep predators out. That is, if you dont already have one. The recommended wire top is chicken wire, because mesh has small holes that is known to keep some uvb from getting through to your tortoise. Also, if you do put him outside, make sure you have some kind of house out there for him to get out of the sun and cool off so that he doesnt overheat.
 

Cmistretta1

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I was sort of wondering the same thing...my little guy, Coconut, is going to be 8 months on Thursday...He absolutely LOVES going outside...he almost seems depressed when I bring him back inside to his little box...I built him an outdoor habitat to which he cannot escape...I have two hideaways...and several plants in there...I live in South Louisiana so it's been so hot already...I've been leaving him out for several hours a day...when he gets hot, he goes into one of the hideaways...I don't have a heater in either of them...he seems very happy...he eats and poops normally. I give him a good soak every few days in the kitchen sink..,.it's not his favorite activity. I really hope all of this is ok...I do have a section with some chicken wire on top...but, it's not on the whole habitat...normally, I sit and watch him but sometimes I have to take care of a few things and I check on him often...I've been trying to build up some shady covered areas to keep him sorta "hidden"....I think the biggest thing to worry about would be a hawk? My back yard is completely fenced in with a 6 foot wooden fence...
 

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kingskettle

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I'm not sure what kind of predators you have in Spain, but because of his size, I would recommend building an outdoor enclosure that has some kind of wire top that will let the sun in, but keep predators out. That is, if you dont already have one. The recommended wire top is chicken wire, because mesh has small holes that is known to keep some uvb from getting through to your tortoise. Also, if you do put him outside, make sure you have some kind of house out there for him to get out of the sun and cool off so that he doesnt overheat.

I'm not sure what kind of predators you have in Spain, but because of his size, I would recommend building an outdoor enclosure that has some kind of wire top that will let the sun in, but keep predators out. That is, if you dont already have one. The recommended wire top is chicken wire, because mesh has small holes that is known to keep some uvb from getting through to your tortoise. Also, if you do put him outside, make sure you have some kind of house out there for him to get out of the sun and cool off so that he doesnt overheat.

His outdoor run is covered with a mesh frame . Predators are rats and foxes so he will have a safe box to sleep in at night, in the wam weather. There is a shade end. I just wanted to know if he's old enough and big enough to spend time outdoors without the high level of humidity he has now,
 

Tom

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That is a great size for 10 months old.

I let them stay outside all day, weather permitting, once they reach about 5-6 inches, and then they sleep in their indoor humid enclosure over night every night.

At about 8-10 inches, they are big enough to live outside full time with a heated night shelter like this:

Does this answer your question?
 

kingskettle

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That is a great size for 10 months old.

I let them stay outside all day, weather permitting, once they reach about 5-6 inches, and then they sleep in their indoor humid enclosure over night every night.

At about 8-10 inches, they are big enough to live outside full time with a heated night shelter like this:

Does this answer your question?

Great ! That's what I wanted to know Tom, thank you. His new run is growing grass nicely and a heated night box is no problem. I'm sure he'll be happier as the weather is warming up nicely now here in Spain.
 

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