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How long can i keep my turtles outside in the sun and is there anything else i should or shouldnt do??

Unless you have an outdoor pond with shade, sun and no possible way for them to get out or anything else to get in, I'd say don't take them outside. I know some people do but I wouldn't risk it. There are too many opportunities for them to get hurt or for them to run away, and they can move pretty quick.

If you do have all that, I'd say you could leave them out for the summer at least.

If you do the move outside, make sure that they have a place that is in the shade that they can go to get out of the sun when they want. That is the only thing that I would add. I don't take mine outside either.

yea im thinking about make a place for them to stay in the summer...i will check out the habitat-outdoor section on the forum to get ideas..thanks guys

My RES is outside all day. She loves the sun. We bring her in at night so she can be with the family (hubby & I). She loves basking and has a spot under the rocks she can go for shade. Hubby put her on a dolly so the tank can be moved fairly easily -- I'll put photos up soon.

Ella

ellarn wrote:My RES is outside all day. She loves the sun. We bring her in at night so she can be with the family (hubby & I). She loves basking and has a spot under the rocks she can go for shade. Hubby put her on a dolly so the tank can be moved fairly easily -- I'll put photos up soon.

Ella

Do you put your turtle outside in it's glass tank? That's not a really good idea if you are doing this because the sun can heat the water drastically through the glass and end up cooking your turtle.

She's not in glass -- she's in a huge clear plastic tub. I would be very afraid of breakage of glass. Her water temperatures are constantly 73-75 without a heater. We may have to make revisions come winter -- but right now that's a long way off. It's a wonderful life in Hawaii.

With my turtle I take him outside for about 20 minutes when it gets in the 70s. I lay down in the grass with him and pick a spot that has half shade half sun so that if he wants shade he can run over to it. I will not let him out of my sight so for 20 minutes it is a constant watch dog on my end. He likes to just sit out there and bask or he'll wander around chasing bugs. Soon though once I get the stock tank cleaned he'll be out there in the enclosed area so I don't have to watch him when I take him outside for play time and sun time.

Ellarn, I don't think a plastic tub is appropriate to use (at least the ones I have seen). Direct sunlight could sharply increase the water temperatures.