Outdoor time for Tiny :)

[Ak3035]

Hello all,
Tiny and I are enjoying some natural UV down here in southern AZ. It’s 93 degrees out, UV index is 8 according to AccuWeather.

My husband built the top today to protect him of course so this is Tiny’s first time “unattended” outside (and by that I mean I am 10ft away in the shade checking on him every three minutes lol).

So far it’s pretty basic… the other half of the dish tub from his indoor enclosure, a water dish and coco coir bedding. I did plant irrigated horse pasture seeds in there yesterday from peaceful valley seeds and I am eagerly awaiting sprouts!!

Anyways, this is mostly just a hello post and also interested in any feedback or neat ideas to spruce up the place a bit!! Should I cover more of it for shade purposes while he’s in there? Thanks for stopping by!

 

[wellington]

If it were me, I would set it on the ground part way under the table so the table makes the shade and will also absorb most of the heat, making the shaded area even cooler
Also, be sure the substrate is really damp. I can't tell if it is.

 

[Ak3035]

If it were me, I would set it on the ground part way under the table so the table makes the shade and will also absorb most of the heat, making the shaded area even cooler
Also, be sure the substrate is really damp. I can't tell if it is.

Ah! Thanks! I did water it right before I put him in. It’s already drying in some spots since it’s so hot out!!

We decided to put him on a table for now because we have 3 dogs. I didn’t want any territorial marking inside his pool or worse.
We will be starting to close off an actual area for him in our yard once it starts to cool off a bit so my husband doesn’t melt. But I’ll figure out some deeper shade ideas in the meantime.

 

[Tom]

Check this out:

The importance of DEEP shade

Ok, folks, we need to talk about SHADE. You have probably (hopefully) heard tortoise keepers talking about the fact that tortoises need "DEEP SHADE" to retreat into on a hot Summer day (really any day that has air temps above 80 degrees). What do we mean by "deep shade?" - this is NOT...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Ak3035]

Check this out:

The importance of DEEP shade

Ok, folks, we need to talk about SHADE. You have probably (hopefully) heard tortoise keepers talking about the fact that tortoises need "DEEP SHADE" to retreat into on a hot Summer day (really any day that has air temps above 80 degrees). What do we mean by "deep shade?" - this is NOT...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you! Tiny and I have retreated indoors for a soak and I’ll be figuring out some high quality shade for next time!

 

[Ak3035]

Check this out:

The importance of DEEP shade

Ok, folks, we need to talk about SHADE. You have probably (hopefully) heard tortoise keepers talking about the fact that tortoises need "DEEP SHADE" to retreat into on a hot Summer day (really any day that has air temps above 80 degrees). What do we mean by "deep shade?" - this is NOT...

tortoiseforum.org

So I did a walk through with my laser temp gun after I took him in. The ground in the sun was 130 degrees, the sunny side of the enclosure was 89, and under the white box was 85. Is that still fairly hot?

Long term we will be planting desert willows to start in his adult living area and grass of course. Potentially other safe bushes and shrubs that I haven’t decided on.

I’m also curious about burrows though for when he’s larger. It would seem to me that it would be difficult to get a 100lb stubborn Sulcata out of an underground burrow and into its heated shed, if it had options. My husband wants to dig him a burrow but I’m just worried about having to fight him to get to safety during the cold months or him getting flooded during the monsoons here. Is that an unnecessary concern or am I correct?

 

[wellington]

The 130 is too hot but the enclosure temps aren't bad
It's much safer to do the night box. In the beginning you might have to put him in it every night but eventually they catch on and do it themselves.
If you dug a burrow for him, there is no guarantee he won't dig further down. If you put something it the burrow so he can't dig further then that would work. You would have to make the entrance so water can't flood it.

 

[Tom]

So I did a walk through with my laser temp gun after I took him in. The ground in the sun was 130 degrees, the sunny side of the enclosure was 89, and under the white box was 85. Is that still fairly hot?

Long term we will be planting desert willows to start in his adult living area and grass of course. Potentially other safe bushes and shrubs that I haven’t decided on.

I’m also curious about burrows though for when he’s larger. It would seem to me that it would be difficult to get a 100lb stubborn Sulcata out of an underground burrow and into its heated shed, if it had options. My husband wants to dig him a burrow but I’m just worried about having to fight him to get to safety during the cold months or him getting flooded during the monsoons here. Is that an unnecessary concern or am I correct?

Those temps are all okay, but be careful. They can over heat and die in minutes.

Little babies don't need much sun. An hour two or three times per week is plenty, and too much time outside becomes detrimental. My general rule is an hour of sun per inch of tortoise. At 5-6 inches, I will leave them outside most of the day, soak on the way back in, and sleep overnight in their large indoor closed chamber.

I move them outside full time at around 10 inches with a heated insulated shelter. Burrows are excellent for the hotter months, but nights are too cold for half the year or more. I start a burrow for them, and let them dig it themselves. Around October, depending on the weather, I catch them above ground, block off their burrow entrance with a sheet of plywood, and make them sleep in their heated shelters until the hot weather returns in May or June.

Examples of heated shelters:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Burrows should be protected from flooding with slopes, the dirt they pile up, and sometimes I make plywood covers or use umbrellas that are weighted down.

 

[Ak3035]

@Tom @wellington
Thank you for your insight and great ideas!!

 

[Ak3035]

Our grass and clover mix sprouted! I wasn’t sure what Tiny would think of fresh grass since this was his first encounter. It would appear it’s a thumbs up!

 

[TammyJ]

Our grass and clover mix sprouted! I wasn’t sure what Tiny would think of fresh grass since this was his first encounter. It would appear it’s a thumbs up!

Ain't gonna be enough!

 

[Ak3035]

Ain't gonna be enough!

I know!! He’s a hungry monster for sure. I have a separate pot to cut off of and he’s only going outside a few times per week since he’s small so I’ll add more seed in there too.

Do you know when he can start trying hay? I know he’s too small still but my parents have a 25yo boy Rex so he just got his bale yesterday.

 

[TammyJ]

Not sure about the hay...@Tom @Yvonne G