predators?

[DeesBalls]

I live in North Central ohio.. and we have nce summers, around 89-95 usually with the occasional 100 or so as well... (sometimes hotter or cooler, after all it is ohio) any ways, i want to put my tort on my back porch to get some sum/outside time... i have a 50 gallon rubbermaid tub, and want to make that a temporary home, i am just worried about neighborhood cats, and wild squirrels?

what can.should i do in order to prevent them ffrom getting in? or should i just make a top to put on the tub so nothing can get in?

any help is great, least year he had a pen with a movable top but i destroyed that.. (well the winter did )

thanks!

[wrecker45]

Build a new pen.

[DeesBalls]

wow awesome advice, thanks so much for your input....

obviously this will be temporary.

until the mean time, any suggestions?

[pdomensis]

For temporary, get a kiddie pool or a feeding trough. and make a lid with chicken wire or chainlink. For long term, building a nice redwood pen would be a fun project. There are lots of suggestions available with a google search.

Easier solution-get a dog. :-)

[DeesBalls]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

For temporary, get a kiddie pool or a feeding trough. and make a lid with chicken wire or chainlink. For long term, building a nice redwood pen would be a fun project. There are lots of suggestions available with a google search.

Easier solution-get a dog. :-)

^^haha i have a 12 lb yorkshire terrier ahahah! he may be small but he is a territorial little dude.

yea, i do plan on building a nice pen, but right now we might be moving, so i just need something a little temporary until we decide if we will be or not.

i might get a kiddie pool, that may be better than a tub.

thanks,

[sharthun]

Kiddie pool is easy and portable.

[DeesBalls]

very true, ill prolly go with one of them...

although i seen an outside storage bin with lid (like for outside toys and such,) i bet with some simple additions i could have it so it can close, and have lights inside as well.... its a heavy duty plastic, so some low wattage lights shouldnt hurt it too much....

ideas... ideas... lol.

[StudentoReptile]

Kiddie pool idea is probably the best, for a good compromise of: space/welfare for tortoise + small enough/portable for your needs + easy enough to build secure lid for.

How big is this tortoise anyway? Is this the same one you've had? Seems to me he would be large enough by now to not be concerned about cats. IMHO, and those I've spoken to, most cats really aren't too interested in tortoises anyway; they're too slow! And I've never heard of a squirrel bothering any turtle or tortoise either, although I suppose there is a first time for everything.
---
Talking with other keepers, the real preds you gotta watch for are: raccoons, skunks, birds of prey, roadrunners (if you're in the desert) and dogs.

[pdomensis]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Kiddie pool idea is probably the best, for a good compromise of: space/welfare for tortoise + small enough/portable for your needs + easy enough to build secure lid for.

How big is this tortoise anyway? Is this the same one you've had? Seems to me he would be large enough by now to not be concerned about cats. IMHO, and those I've spoken to, most cats really aren't too interested in tortoises anyway; they're too slow! And I've never heard of a squirrel bothering any turtle or tortoise either, although I suppose there is a first time for everything.
---
Talking with other keepers, the real preds you gotta watch for are: raccoons, skunks, birds of prey, roadrunners (if you're in the desert) and dogs.

I was thinnking the same thing about cats. Don't know about Ohio, but where I live skunks and racoons would be my biggest concern.

[DeesBalls]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Kiddie pool idea is probably the best, for a good compromise of: space/welfare for tortoise + small enough/portable for your needs + easy enough to build secure lid for.

How big is this tortoise anyway? Is this the same one you've had? Seems to me he would be large enough by now to not be concerned about cats. IMHO, and those I've spoken to, most cats really aren't too interested in tortoises anyway; they're too slow! And I've never heard of a squirrel bothering any turtle or tortoise either, although I suppose there is a first time for everything.
---
Talking with other keepers, the real preds you gotta watch for are: raccoons, skunks, birds of prey, roadrunners (if you're in the desert) and dogs.

sadly, i dont thnk he is as big as what he should be, and i do take full responsibility for that as an owner. ( hes about the side of a baseball, pic for reference with my hand...) due to the even that last year or so, my care for him has been minimal, and has been pretty pathetic, and i do take responsibilty for that. and i know i did wrong with what ive been doing, but now all family issues are past, time to get things going right direction again

I was thinnking the same thing about cats. Don't know about Ohio, but where I live skunks and racoons would be my biggest concern.

i was just asking to be on the safe side, i didntknow if strays would try to kill if hungery enough, but thinking about it, i always have cat food and other animal food outside for them (i know prolly not the best idea) but again, just being safe. lol....


again, like i said i kow his size is small, he is lil over 2 yrs old now, i feel he should be bigger, and i know im at fault for that.

thanks all.

[StudentoReptile]

Just a note. I had my baby sulcata outside since she was the size of a Jr. cheeseburger from McDs. I had no lids on my pens, and I occasionally had stray cats in the yard, but they never bothered the tortoises, other than seeking warmth inside the night boxes.