Torts outside

[steeley]

Has anyone else got any torts outside in suitable accommodation at the moment,or is it just me.
Weather Forcast for tomorrow is for up to 18 hours of snow,snowing at the moment.
Must add that the tort house is fully heated with digital roomstat,lights and back up heater on a frost stat.Temps vary from 30c to 5c in different parts.
Currently 5 are a sleep including our new born from March 2012 and 3 are awake.All of them are left to their own ways and go down and wake up naturally.
Touch wood not had any problems in the last 5 years and all are healthy and laying eggs.

[TillyTortoise]

I've got tortoises out in the shed.. they are doing alright

[Charlottealotoftorts]

Mine are in permanent outdoor accommodation too. I wonder whether they will build a snowman......?

[wigwamman]

it seems that you have covered all the possibilities.
good luck and let us know how things progress.

[burnt toast]

I have some that arent hibernating for various reasons, outside in heated accomodation... its been snowing here since mid afternoon & one of them has been laying eggs!!!

[lynnedit]

Steely, sounds like it works well for you. So you don't officially wind them down, just let them do it on their own, or not? Do you continue to offer food to those who want it?

[Catwoman63]

Mine are indoors, although they do have a heated shed outside, just in case with all the snow we are going to get , i cant get in the shed lol, so they are all nice and warm in various places in my house, except ofcourse the 2 still in the fridge x

[steeley]

Yes I just let them wind down of there own accord.One has been down since late September.They seem to go down at different times,some also astivate in the summer.i don't seem to have any problem with weight loss.
I feed the ones that are awake,just not as much as they can't get to their outdoor enclosure and spend more time under their lights.
Off to dig them out now.
I have some pictures of their enclosure in my albums.
Ps they get vet checked every year by Hannah Bould.

[Catwoman63]

Just taken a look in your photo album. So their enclosure keeps nice and warm by the looks of it. Mine have an insulated shed (and another being built in spring) with outside tortoise garden, but i suppose i baby mine a bit and bring them indoors, ive got 2 in a 4ft table in my sitting room and 1 that has come out of hibernation a few weeks ago and she is currently in a 4ft viv in my bedroom (my bearded dragon is in a viv in my bedroom as well) and my oldest 2 are in hibernation. I have all my reptiles checked by Lyn Stokes of Lawton & Stokes.

Oh and ive enquired about another old adult female on preloved, well actually 2, one in Wales and 1 in Bristol, both big beauties, i'm haggling the prices. x

[steeley]

Yep no problems keeping it warm,it is double skinned with plenty of celotex insulation between the skins.
On cold nights the Perspex is covered with celotex,so the temps hold up very well,not too bad cost wise to run as the thermostats are programmable so it has a night set back temperature.