Won’t use his house🐢

[ATJ]

How can I get our Desert Tortoise to use his new outside house. The cool weather will be here soon and I need him to go in there like a Roomba😊. Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
ATJ

 

[Sarah2020]

If it can be moved try a new location N E S W ideally they want warmth so ensure sun gets on it but there is ventilation if it gets very hot etc.... Make sure there is substrate inside. Post a pic if required. My tortoise follows the sun and moves around. It will have explored the hide as they are nosy!

 

[wellington]

Put him in it every night and he should be shut it. Then each morning, open the door.
Eventually he should do it on his own as far as going in. But you should still lock him in each night.

 

[ATJ]

If it can be moved try a new location N E S W ideally they want warmth so ensure sun gets on it but there is ventilation if it gets very hot etc.... Make sure there is substrate inside. Post a pic if required. My tortoise follows the sun and moves around. It will have explored the hide as they are nosy!

Thank you for your suggestions😀.

 

[ATJ]

Put him in it every night and he should be shut it. Then each morning, open the door.
Eventually he should do it on his own as far as going in. But you should still lock him in each night.

Thank you for your suggestions 😀

 

[ATJ]

Thank you for your suggestions😀.

What do you suggest for substrate, hay?

 

[wellington]

What do you suggest for substrate, hay?

No, hay is too drying. Dig up some of the ground dirt or you can use coconut coir, orchid bark, or nothing.
Do you have it heated for those cold nights? If he can't naturally burrow, he will need heat.

 

[Tom]

What do you suggest for substrate, hay?

1. Put the box where he wants to sleep, if possible.
2. Put him in the box and shut the door every night.
3. After a couple of weeks of putting him in every night, try putting him halfway in and let him walk the rest. Next night 1/4 in. Next night nose even with the door. Next night 3 inches back from the door, etc... Most of them eventually figure it out.

Having a heat lamp in there will often encourage them to go in at dusk when they can see the light. Mine are set on timers to go off a little after dark.

I would use the native dirt for substrate. This makes clean up easy and avoids the problems with using anything else.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

There are ALWAYS one or more tortoises that just don't figure it out and have to be physically put into the heated houses. And then locked in so that they don't wander back outside

 

[ATJ]

If it can be moved try a new location N E S W ideally they want warmth so ensure sun gets on it but there is ventilation if it gets very hot etc.... Make sure there is substrate inside. Post a pic if required. My tortoise follows the sun and moves around. It will have explored the hide as they are nosy!

No, hay is too drying. Dig up some of the ground dirt or you can use coconut coir, orchid bark, or nothing.
Do you have it heated for those cold nights? If he can't naturally burrow, he will need heat.

Thank you for the suggestions. Yes he has a heating Mat. I believe it’s by revival. It seems nice a cozy in there.

 

[ATJ]

There are ALWAYS one or more tortoises that just don't figure it out and have to be physically put into the heated houses. And then locked in so that they don't wander back outside

Thank you🐢. Hopping he gets it.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thank you🐢. Hopping he gets it.

He may. He may not.
Be prepared to go out into the chilly night and do it yourself.

 

[ATJ]

He may. He may not.
Be prepared to go out into the chilly night and do it yourself.

 

[ATJ]

We tortoise hunt everyday around 4pm😊. He’s such a good hider.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

We tortoise hunt everyday around 4pm😊. He’s such a good hider.

Yes.
I curse out loud looking for them. Standing there in my boxer shorts