[emma_mcraf]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

I think a good idea is to make sure that there is some proper deep shade inside the coldframe somewhere. You might not be around to open the lid. Something like an upturned plastic washing up bowl with a hole for entry and exit. It can still get very warm in there but there won't be any direct convection from the sun's rays.

Soil in the bottom of the coldframe is good but they won't always dig.

The way my outdoor enclosures work there is always a wire mesh cover. This is because of magpies and cats. Without the mesh cover, magpies will attack small tortoises and cats like somewhere warm such as a coldframe. Younger cats will play with a smaller tortoise and can cause damage. But keepers in places where there are no magpies or seagulls often don't need mesh covers.

All my outside enclosures have mesh lids too - as Jonathan says, it keeps away birds of prey and cats and stops cats using the soil as a litter tray!!