Help in Ohio

Hello,
I have only had Shorty for a few months he is growing fast. Sadly I dis not know much about tortoises I just seen how he was living and told the kids I would give him a PlayStation for Shorty. Eight now I have him in a very large indoor encloser where I can control his environment. I am growing cactus pads and African grasses in my house. My worry is when he becomes to large for his table and has to be outside I live in Ohio where the cold last longer than any warmth. I am not rich so I am wondering what is an affordable way to house him outside when the time comes. Or should I find him a better home with someone who has the money to build a big fancy outdoor space. I have grown to love him, but I don't want to keep him if I can not properly provide. I will not let my feelings get in the way of proper animal Care. Please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome there are a few people on here who have sulcatas in northern climates and it can get expensive depending on what you want to do, I keep mine outside most of the year in a night box and large enclosure. If you look on this site check out Tom's night box enclosure it works the best. Being mine are only about 5 yrs old I bring them in for the winter. I feel better that they are indoors and since I can still carry them it makes me feel better. Going to start to build a larger shed for them this summer so it is ready when I have to leave them outside all year round. By doing it a little at a time, ahead of time this spreads out the cost.

Also check out the threads at the beginning of this section it has a lot of info on the proper care for them.

Thank you, it's a relif to know it will be years before I have to go that I will have years to plan. Shorty is still quiet small.

You have time, but if you decide it is too much for you when I needed to rehome my two Sulcatas, I got some very good people and homes wanting them. Some were from California and some from Florida where they could be outside longer. I found a home for mine with no trouble. I miss them, but know they are now in a place better than I could give them because of health issues.

Hutsie B said:

You have time, but if you decide it is too much for you when I needed to rehome my two Sulcatas, I got some very good people and homes wanting them. Some were from California and some from Florida where they could be outside longer. I found a home for mine with no trouble. I miss them, but know they are now in a place better than I could give them because of health issues.

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They are doing great. I have been working on the new temp enclosure. We will be working on getting our fence up so they can go outside too.

An insulated shed with an oil filled space heater, a basking light for day time and a thermostat placed at tort level to run the space heat and a ceiling fan is what works good for me here in Chicago for my leopards. This should work for you when the time comes. Then put in a tort door that goes to an outside fenced in area. Even in winter an adult sulcata can have the option to go outside as long as he has a place to go into too get warmed up.
The night box thread of Toms really won't work in the northern colder states. It's not enough room for those days they can't or won't go outside.

SULCY said:

Welcome there are a few people on here who have sulcatas in northern climates and it can get expensive depending on what you want to do, I keep mine outside most of the year in a night box and large enclosure. If you look on this site check out Tom's night box enclosure it works the best. Being mine are only about 5 yrs old I bring them in for the winter. I feel better that they are indoors and since I can still carry them it makes me feel better. Going to start to build a larger shed for them this summer so it is ready when I have to leave them outside all year round. By doing it a little at a time, ahead of time this spreads out the cost.

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Just a little heads up. Tom's night box will not work for those living in the colder northern states. It's not big enough for those really cold snowy days that a tortoise can't go outside. They work good for a summer hide box and for those in the warmer snowless states. Just keep that in mind when referring that box to northerners that deals with snowy winters. Tom is in CA, some cold nights, warmer most days and no snow.

wellington said:

Just a little heads up. Tom's night box will not work for those living in the colder northern states. It's not big enough for those really cold snowy days that a tortoise can't go outside. They work good for a summer hide box and for those in the warmer snowless states. Just keep that in mind when referring that box to northerners that deals with snowy winters. Tom is in CA, some cold nights, warmer most days and no snow.

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What dimensions would you consider to be the minimum for that situation @wellington ? just curious

vladimir said:

What dimensions would you consider to be the minimum for that situation @wellington ? just curious

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A shed not a box. For an adult sully probably a 10x20 would be a fair minimum going larger of course if possible. This should give enough room to move around enough. Then of course a bonus when it could go outside. Places that don't have the cold and snow of the northern states can go smaller because their days warm up more and their cold spells don't last as long.

When they are young Toms box is fine I use the box down into the low teens at night and the box stays at 85deg. They come out and walk around in these temps and go back in when they get cold never had a problem. Now that they are getting older I am working on a shed for them but will be putting one of those night boxes in the shed also. The coldest they have been in the night box was when it went down to 5 deg. I do not open when it is that cold.

Also like I said earlier I do bring them inside now that I am still able to.