As you are all aware the weather here in the UK is extremely hot at the moment. Where i live was the hottest place in the UK yesterday!
Please can i remind everyone to make sure their tortoises are bathed daily especially the babies and juveniles as they can dehydrate if not looked after properly in this heat. Make sure water bowls are checked regularly, the terrecota ones soak up the heat quicker than plastic ones. Larger tortoises appreciate a sprinkling with the hose pipe and also soaking down enclosures helps to keep them cool, you dont need to drown them just a gentle sprinkle will ensure they are kept cool. All our pets suffer this heat like we do and its our job to make sure we make it as comfortable for them as possible.

Ali
TPG

Im glad you mentioned this Ali, i was concerned yesterday to find that Sammys shelter had reached 30 degrees...and that was the coolest part! The poor mite had no where to cool down and its lucky i work from home to notice this straight away. I brought her indoors for a bit to give her time to cool. She doesnt appreciate a dunking in the water whilst in the sun!

I maybe need to rethink her enclosure set up and am now wondering where i could buy a small square of insulation to put under her roof and keep the heat out...any ideas?

Hi,

Are there any bushes in Sammys shelter at all. My lot tend to take refuse under bushes and trees in the garden. It's still warm, but because it's not completely enclosed it does permit air movement. Just a thought - if the shelter were in the shade - this would stop the shelter heating up so much - but not sure if this is possible at all?

HTH
Darren

I can move it around as its portable so the shade can be followed! Although its quite heavy when theres only me at home so its easier to take her indoors. Because the base is made up of seed trays its not really possible to have dense bushes growing in it although there are some clover plants etc. It is priority to make a more permanent outdoor home!

Hi,
If it is hard to move the enclosure then maybe you could put a towel over part of it to give extra shade, i do this with my babies enclosure. If you could make a more permanent outside enclosure then this would be better as tortoises will always thrive more outside in natural daylight.

Ali
TPG

The pics of her outdoor enclosure are on the members gallery. Her hut is quite robust with a felt roof but it seems to be attracting the heat a hell of a lot. I will try the towel and see how that goes.

Thanks.