Cold weather

[James9811]

Hi all

My Russian tortoise is around 6 months old, is it okay to have him outside for half an hour or so a day? He seems to love it I just worry that he’ll get too cold! We don’t have an outdoor enclosure yet as we’ve just got him, that’ll be coming early next year, this is just some outdoor supervised time ? ? I’m in north England so it’s around 5 degrees at the moment

 

[Markw84]

Hi all

My Russian tortoise is around 6 months old, is it okay to have him outside for half an hour or so a day? He seems to love it I just worry that he’ll get too cold! We don’t have an outdoor enclosure yet as we’ve just got him, that’ll be coming early next year, this is just some outdoor supervised time ? ? I’m in north England so it’s around 5 degrees at the moment

I would not put a tortoise that young outdoors in that weather where you are. This time of year the sun at it's peak at noon is only 11.5° above the horizon where you live. Hardly any effective solar heating for a tortoise. There is a reason no tortoises live that far north, and certainly could never be active this time of year. And the ground upon which the tortoise will sit will be very cold - also with little solar heating with that sun elevation.

I would advise keeping your tortoise indoors in a nice temperature controlled environment.

 

[Lyn W]

Even though it's been quite mild for the time of year in the UK this last week, it's still too cold and damp for baby torts.
Your baby will cool quickly outdoors, best to keep him indoors until warm Spring days.