hiya, i've got a 4 year old herman called jack. he lives on my home made tortiose table. i've read that you sholud keep them out side. but surely it would be to cold for him, plus at the min it has stop raining for days. please help as i want to keep him the best i can.

Hi,
Some torts dont mind the rain,some of mine always go out when it rains. they key is to give them somewhere to warm up in the morning,mine have a basking area in their outdoor shelter that comes on in the mornings,this lets them warm up sufficiantly to last most of the day, The best thing to do is give him the choice of going in or out! with lots of shelter if needed!

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KERRY
0.0.6 Hermanns Tortoises
0.1.0 Hamster
1.0.0 Dalmatian puppy!

As long as you have a heated area, something like a dog house/mini shed with a warm basking spot they should be fine.

Also in their bed area make sure its got very deep substrate, my lil shed has loads and loads of hemp, to help them thermoregulate.


Also make sure that the garden area has good drainage, as damp isn't really good for tortoises, play sand mixed in with the soil helps drainage, as does having like a layer of gravel/pebbles underneath (nan told me that one :P)


Saying that, my tortoises come in at night, mainly coz i can't keep an eye on them, and my eldest follows me indoors..so they go in their tortoise table at night, then out again in the morning


Katie

Even if it is overcast still put your tortoise out. On colder days to touch my tortoises are still warm.

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i have a sheltered bit for when my tortoises are outside and it is cold but i dont have any lighting or heating in this!

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Do you not give them any heat in the mornings?

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KERRY
0.0.6 Hermanns Tortoises
0.1.0 Hamster
1.0.0 Dalmatian puppy!

no, i used to keep them outside and bring them inside of a night time but i was told tht the weather should be fine for the tortoises n e way so i didnt add n e lighting and heating! I know that sounds bad but they seem happy enough nd active enough!

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he's only ever lived in a tank/table will it be okay to put him outside now?
i've been told they are dig is this true? what about in the winter?

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08 leo's normal and cwd for sale

this is the problem i had with my tortoises but mine are not hermanns.
I now keep mine outside and they had only ever lived indoors with daily access to outdoor enclosures.
They are active, eating well and when the weather is colder they go into their hutch!(this is outside!)

As for the winter - most people hibernate the torts for this or bring them inside!

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well i think my aim will be to get without side living next summer.
when the weather is nice i take him outside for a few hours. but as we haven't had much sun this year it has been hard.

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08 leo's normal and cwd for sale