Hello!
I have an adult Russian tortoise named Oscar. He is a "rescue" from my friend's brother who wasn't really caring for him. About a year ago, when I got Oscar, he was ill and wouldn't eat. I kept him very warm and gave his cage a total make-over based on internet and book research. For a year Oscar has been doing great.
I would love to get Oscar living outdoors in the summer. The winters here are too wet. I have an area in our garden between three concrete walls (tall) and one ground-level wooden retaining wall. This is the perfect spot for him. My dad says Oscar would burrow 2 or 3 feet down into the soil, and even though he can't dig out, he could get so deep we'd never find him. He might start to hibernate, or estivate, and we wouldn't be able to find him. And we wouldn't know if he had escaped or just borrowed. Help with this problem?
Also, the summer temperatures are around 75-80 in daytime, 70-75 at night. Many days reach 80-85. Some even reach 90-95. Don't Russians need 95 degree basking spots? Would I need to bring a heat-lamp outside for him, and is this safe?
Finally, is it worth it to have Oscar outside when he could escape, flip himself in the sun and dry out, or be eaten by a wild animal? Just for the benefits of fresh air and sunlight?
THANKS so much for any help!
gecko1 and Oscar
I have an adult Russian tortoise named Oscar. He is a "rescue" from my friend's brother who wasn't really caring for him. About a year ago, when I got Oscar, he was ill and wouldn't eat. I kept him very warm and gave his cage a total make-over based on internet and book research. For a year Oscar has been doing great.
I would love to get Oscar living outdoors in the summer. The winters here are too wet. I have an area in our garden between three concrete walls (tall) and one ground-level wooden retaining wall. This is the perfect spot for him. My dad says Oscar would burrow 2 or 3 feet down into the soil, and even though he can't dig out, he could get so deep we'd never find him. He might start to hibernate, or estivate, and we wouldn't be able to find him. And we wouldn't know if he had escaped or just borrowed. Help with this problem?
Also, the summer temperatures are around 75-80 in daytime, 70-75 at night. Many days reach 80-85. Some even reach 90-95. Don't Russians need 95 degree basking spots? Would I need to bring a heat-lamp outside for him, and is this safe?
Finally, is it worth it to have Oscar outside when he could escape, flip himself in the sun and dry out, or be eaten by a wild animal? Just for the benefits of fresh air and sunlight?
THANKS so much for any help!
gecko1 and Oscar