First summer outdoor questions

[jjsull33]

I live in Denver and I have 2 adult russians that will be spending the entire summer outside for the first time rather than just supervised visits.

I have 2 questions. My first question is since it gets so hot and its really dry out during the summer, should I buy one of those patio mist systems and hook it up around their pen on a timer so it mists the pen for a few min a couple of times a day? I will be watering the pen daily and making sure there is a water dish as well but it dries out quick around here.

Second question is should I put them out and leave them there right away or should I put them out and bring them in at night for the first few days? Of course I will wait until the temperatures at night are correct before I let them stay out there, and they have not had a night time heat source in their indoor pen since the dead of winter as the inside of the house rarely gets below 65.

 

[hunterk997]

I'm not sure about the water issue, but I read on here that you should put the tortoise(s) in their outdoor enclosure for a few minutes at a time and ease them into it. Hopefully someone else can help you on your water dilemma

 

[EchoTheLeoTort]

I have no say in the water issue either, as I am not sure what is best. But I would tell you to ease into their outdoor time. When I was younger, my best friend had a russian tortoise. We live in the midwest where summers vary but are between 80-100 degrees. His mom brought the tortoise outside and forgot about it and when she remembered she found him dead from over heating, and I am positive, no water either. I have a leopard tort now, a little hatchling, but I am taking him outside now that its getting warmer and I make it a little longer each time. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[jjsull33]

I bring them out for a few hours every day that it's warm enough, and have been for a few weeks now, but they roam the yard while I watch. When the pen is grown in and sight is blocked off should I still pace it since its a new area of my yard or will it be ok since they are used to being outside?

 

[lynnedit]

If you have the means to set up a misting area, then by all means, use it on one end, maybe half of it, on the sunnier side. They will help keep some weeds alive on that side, unless your torts demolish them
And have a dripper going into your water dish to keep it from drying out.
Plant a shade plant or two; herbs like Rosemary, Lavendar, sage, etc., are fairly drought resistant.
Put a piece of wood across one end to provide shade.
Russians are very good at staying cool, if they can burrow or get into the shade. Marissa is right about over heating, but if you give them options, including shade, they will be fine.
If you set up a couple of nice concrete block/paver hides, they hold moisture well.
These would work well for even adult Russians:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-70362.html
Put one on both the shady and sunny ends.


What are the outside temps now? Russians are very hardy, and if they can bask and warm up during the day, can tolerate very cool temps at night.
Be more concerned about nocturnal predators, in which case, bringing them in at night is the safest option.

 

[Tom]

I like to bring them in at night for a while. If you build their outdoor shelter in such a way that you can lock them in at night, it will keep any predators at bay. They shouldn't need any misters or anything until temps start climbing above 100. Does it get that hot in Denver? As long as they have good shelters and shade, they should be fine outside in the summer heat.

 

[jjsull33]

It's still in the 40s at night but by the end of the month it will be mid 50s, and the summer does get up into the hundreds, last year we had 50-60 days in a row over 90.

They have about 40 sq ft each with 2 cinder block hides each and are completely enclosed so no predators and no escape. I actually have another thread with pictures of it and it's growth called at last Russian outdoor *pic heavy* or something along those lines lol.

 

[lynnedit]

Oh, yes, your enclosure is great! Seems very secure.
I see dappled shade, and you have weeds growing, and good hides, so your torts will do very well!
(Don't worry about misters, but if it is fairly easy, I love my water dishes being regularly refilled with a dripper system. Those shallow water dishes can dry out quickly.)
You can put them out all day now, and once night temps are >50, all night and day. As long as they can bask in the day, your torts can stay outside night and day into the fall as long as temps are safely above freezing. (assuming you are not hibernating them out there, which might be difficult the first year or two).