outside

[naomij]

as yet taylor has only spent the odd hour or so outside when its not been raining as we work full time and dont trust the weather, been seeing that many still put out there torts regardless as they seem to like the rain etc, i just assumed it was still too cold for my baby lol ( hes nearly 2 lol)

do i put him out in his guienea pig cage whilst out at work, this means no basking light tho? or does he need the light, esp as someone not in from 8am-3pm,
is this too long without his lamp,
when hes bigger we will do his pen with a basking light in the coldhouse etc , but until then as he is so small still, he will stay in the guienea pig cage

what shall i do

[dreamer]

I'm wondering exactly the same thing, getting 2 hatchling hermanns (only a few months old) and i dont know what to do for th best either. Want them outside for the uv but do they need to be in unless its warm, the weather by me is a nightmare. Sorry for jumping on your thread but i'm in the same boat!

[naomij]

thats ok, it is worrying, we want to do the best for them and we know outside is just that but yaylor is not going into a large pen yet, he will be in a v large guienea pig cage, its all set up, just no basking lamp as its outside. last time i put him out he buried himself so must have been cold, i undug him and bought him in when he did this, should i have left him?

is it too cold to be left out all day, can put his cage under the sun umbrella on the table so most of rain will stay off him , but then hes in the shade and wont get the sun.... and if im out at work then he has to stay out no matter what ...

[Mrs Mental]

Hi hunny - to be honest with you I'd say to try to get something built as soon as possible - I dont thinkt he cage would be ideal as if it did rain and it was heavy for a little while there woudln't be any drainage in the cage bottom would there? There were a couple of very cheap and good ideas today on posts - Argos sand pits - that you could use for this year if you dont have the space, time or money at the moment to do a proper enclosure.

Good luck with what you decide and dont forget as long as tortoise has somewhere to go if he doesnt like the rain he'll be fine outside

[purplepixie]

Drill holes in the bottom of the cage, and they will be fine. If in doubt cover the top with plastic of some sort, to stop any torrential rain in. I use a rabbit cage for my small ones, and they should be outside getting all the natural UV from the sun, and bright light.

[naomij]

thank you for the reply, your right, what a dur i am, your right the cage has no drainage!!!

will get hubby to start the build sooner than later

[naomij]

when you say rabbit cage im taking it they have a run also? or is the wooden top off the cage to let the sun in for them?

[tortoiselady]

Awwwwwwwwww bless you, must be a worry, so glad mine is 111 years old and is left to her own devices Good luck to your decision though!

[Mrs Mental]

You could use something like this http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shell...oden-sand.html

[naomij]

11 lol wow thats amazing!!
yes i am such a worry pot over him, i am with the other pets, we have a bulldog, rabbit and a guienea pig, lol

just told hubby he needs to start the pen, suggested he does not have to redo the whole 30ft as the end bit needs digging alot and ha part of an old pond feature and lots of bushes, but the main garden part is about 12-13 ft by 7ft, i am sure this is big enough for tiny taylor for a few years ( correct me if wrong???) we can always extend his pen in a year or so.