Andromeda (now Marco) the Aldabra Tortoise

[Tolis]

I agree @dd33 I never let him spend the night outside. What I was saying is he doesnt want to spend the night outside during winter.

In summer time he only wants to be outside and I allow it but then theres about a month of conditioning again in the autumn to get him used to sleeping in the box again. I leave him on the ramp and he runs inside to hide from me. After about a month maybe less, I find him in his box every evening without me having to put him.

I see your point about being intelligent enough to seek the warmth, perhaps he is only using the box for shelter.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I remember when my sister's Aldabs were simply huge so getting them into bed at night became impossible. you absolutely need to train them now when they are small. In my opinion and experience they are not a very smart torts so they make it harder to keep.
@Tolis a question for you...why must you get up at dawn to let those torts out? Mine have a light in their shed that comes at the same time every day and when I feel like it I probably let my torts outm about 9 am.

 

[dd33]

@Maggie3fan did you mean to ask me why we let them out before dawn? We do that on the rare nights that we decide to lock them in now (sub 45 degree weather). The doors on our night house face east so they are accustomed to getting sunlight very early in the morning and they are usually out of the house at first light. If we don't open the doors before they want out they will attempt to break them down. This behavior is improving though.

 

[Tolis]

Hello fellow tort enthusiasts!
Just wanna share my excitement today, for the first time I have seen a giant aldabra up close and got to enter the enclosure and interact with them.
Cant wait for mine to grow up!