Re: outdoor housing

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Posted by Terry on June 23, 2001 at 14:10:17:

In Reply to: outdoor housing posted by David on June 22, 2001 at 23:39:40:

Hi David.
Build the pen in an area that recieves morning and late afternoon sun. But is fairly shady during the hottest hours.
Build the biggest enclosure you can, so the tortoises can move around and choose between sun and shade.

Plant shade bushes in the enclosure such as hibiscus, mature hibiscus offer a nice shady retreat. The leaves and flowers are edible too, I'd plant 3-4 at least.

Let the grass grow long in some areas to provide even more cover.

And provide a nice hide box/shelter in a dry shady part of the enclosure.

As long as you make sure that there is always plenty of shade available, they should be fine.
They'll retreat to the shade during the hottest hours.

I live in Hawaii and house my Russians outdoors, year round.
I built their enclosure up by the house, the house wall is the back wall of the pen.A hedge grows all along that wall, and that's where they spend the hottest hours, under the hedge.

Provide srubs etc and plenty of shaded areas and they'll be fine.
Check out these links for more info:

http://www.tortoiselife.co.uk/dietandgarden.htm

http://www.turtlecafe.net/habitats.htm

http://www.russiantortoise.net/

Terry.

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: Hi David. : Build the pen in an area that recieves morning and late afternoon sun. But is fairly shady during the hottest hours. : Build the biggest enclosure you can, so the tortoises can move around and choose between sun and shade. : Plant shade bushes in the enclosure such as hibiscus, mature hibiscus offer a nice shady retreat. The leaves and flowers are edible too, I'd plant 3-4 at least. : Let the grass grow long in some areas to provide even more cover. : And provide a nice hide box/shelter in a dry shady part of the enclosure. : As long as you make sure that there is always plenty of shade available, they should be fine. : They'll retreat to the shade during the hottest hours. : I live in Hawaii and house my Russians outdoors, year round. : I built their enclosure up by the house, the house wall is the back wall of the pen.A hedge grows all along that wall, and that's where they spend the hottest hours, under the hedge. : Provide srubs etc and plenty of shaded areas and they'll be fine. : Check out these links for more info: : http://www.tortoiselife.co.uk/dietandgarden.htm : http://www.turtlecafe.net/habitats.htm : http://www.russiantortoise.net/ : Terry.

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