When can you move sulcata outside full time

[Michael Malone]

Secil will be 1year old in April. And if his growth continues should be around 500-600 grams by then. I was thinking about moving him outside full time in the spring until winter. If it was possible. Let me know your thoughts thanks.

 

[Yvonne G]

I generally move my babies out when they're too big to be carried off by a bird. In the meantime, I put them out for an hour or so during the middle of the day, daily - but make sure he has shade to get out of the sun.

 

[Tom]

I move them outside full time, with a heated night box, when they reach 8-10".

When you start letting them live outside full time, you MUST make sure they are in their night box EVERY night.

 

[Michael Malone]

Ok thank y'all. And I've never measure him do u measure from nose to tail on plastron?

And also do lock them in there might box or do u just check to make sure they are in there and they say in there cause they know it's cold outside at night?

 

[Michael Malone]

Wow spell check was not kind to me lol

Do you lock them in there night box?

 

[Tom]

Wow spell check was not kind to me lol

Do you lock them in there night box?

Spellcheck gets us all!

I lock them in at night. In the past I didn't used to, and I have found them outside the box in the morning. I've lost lizards and tortoises this way on freezing nights. Just lock them in at night. Its safer and it also protects them from nocturnal predators like rats or raccoons. Having the door closed also makes it hold in the heat better.

 

[Michael Malone]

Ok thank you. And by the time they are ready to stay out side full time the hungry isn't as big of a factor is it?

 

[Michael Malone]

Humidity lol

 

[Tom]

Humidity lol

Humidity is a factor as long as they are growing. I use water tubs in their night boxes to add humidity to the sleeping quarters. In the hot summer months when temps are 100+ every day, I spray water down their burrows to add some humidity in my super dry climate.

 

[Stuart S.]

Ok thank y'all. And I've never measure him do u measure from nose to tail on plastron?

And also do lock them in there might box or do u just check to make sure they are in there and they say in there cause they know it's cold outside at night?

I typically put my Sulcata on a piece of paper and gently push him into a door frame and when he retracts into his shell, I mark the paper where the back of his shell his and that’s how I get his measurements.

 

[vladimir]

@Tom at what weight is a sulcata safe from aerial predators?

 

[Tom]

@Tom at what weight is a sulcata safe from aerial predators?

I feel safe here when they are 4-5".

 

[tortoisenana]

I feel safe here when they are 4-5".

We have a lot of hawks. I worry that they will be able to pick them up at 4-5 inches. Mine are 7-8 inches now and I still worry. I guess I'm an over protective Nana. lol

 

[vladimir]

Vladimir is over 11 pounds now so I'm pretty sure he's safe [emoji16]

 

[Tom]

We have a lot of hawks. I worry that they will be able to pick them up at 4-5 inches. Mine are 7-8 inches now and I still worry. I guess I'm an over protective Nana. lol

Here is how I look at it Nana: If you are more protective than you need to be, nothing bad is gonna happen. On the other hand, if a person isn't careful enough...