The Tortoise Table

Hi I just want a bit of advice during this lovely weather.
Tortilla has an outdoor enclosure as well as an indoor one. The outdoor enclosure doesn't get the sun until about 12noon through until 8pm ish. If i'm around during the day i'll put him outside around noon after he s had a few hours under his heat lamp indoors. My question is this, when I leave for work at 8am, am I ok to put him outside knowing he'll have to wait 4 hours till he gets any Sun?
Thanks

Hiya Teddy.
Can I just ask if he would have anywhere to shelter if the sun didnt come out or it rained. I know Nina has a little house where hers can go into if they need but they are brought inside every night.
Hopefully she will be along soon to show it to you.

Lin

Hi Teddy,
If it is nice and warm in the shade in the enclosure (like you would be comfortable in a t-shirt there), then I would say it was fine, especially if he has warmed up indoors under a lamp for a bit before you put him out. And tortoises can still get some UVB outdoors even in the shade. He probably won't be as active until he gets a bit warmer when the sun is on him, but it should be fine. I do agree with Lin, though -- that you need to be sure that there is somewhere he can go for shelter if it rains, or if he just fancies a snooze. I suppose you could have a test run on a weekend when you aren't at work, and see how he gets on outdoors in the shade, and then take it from there.

Nina

Hi and thanks for both your replies.
He had a roof slate he seems to like going underneath, he also has a horizontal terracotta plant pot he goes in and a large plastic bell cloche which I 've cut him a couple of doors in so he can go through it. I don't think I d leave him outside and go off to work if there was any chance of rain but whilst we are having this dry warm weather it feels bad keeping him indoors.
I think I may adjust his timer so his light comes on at 6am to give him 2 hours to warm up then put him out at 8, what do you think?

That does seem a much better idea by having the extra couple of hours.
Go for it. If it turns bad then just keep him nice and snug the next day.

Lin

Great, I 'll give it a go tomorrow, thanks

Beautiful day in the SE today and I bet he is loving it.

Lin

pretty much same question i was wondering myself... thanks everyone else for answering. generally found a lot of useful info about tortoise here which i couldn't get anywhere else. thanks again. i'm also working and unfortunately i often have to leave him alone. thanks https://delicerecipes.com/tender-juicy- ... it-recipe/

Hi Arth and welcome to The Tortoise Table. We're so glad you are finding the website and forum useful, and just ask away if you have any questions or problems -- that's what we're here for.

Cheers,
Nina