I keep Russians outdoors all year in SE Massachusetts and have done so for several years now. I allow them to dig into the earth where and when they see fit. I feed them until they dissappear. They stop eating on their own. I figure that they know how to be tortoises better than I do. I have learned that you must keep the enclosure covered when the weather gets cool. They are VERY good at handling cold, but not cold and wet. I even cover them in the summer if we are going to get more than 2 days of rain. I flip over the water bowls in the winter. I lost and animal last year in the water bowl after emerging from hibernation. I used large 1 inch deep plant pot saucers, but I think the cold made it too hard to escape from even that. THey have no problem with these bowls once they fully warm up. Since they are often dehydrated after the winter I substitute water fruits like water melon instead of bowls of water. This is likely more natural and definitely less dangerous. As they season wears on I switch to a more typical diet.



These animals are from the stans (Afganistan, Terkministan, Karzacstan, etc.). It gets really cold there in the winter but it is a pretty arid region.



Have fun good luck.



Don;t get too bogged down by all these whiny southerners complaining that it's in the 50's and their animals are getting too cold.



Brian



-----
Brian



"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."



1.0 Rhinoceros Iguana

1.0 Argentine Tegu

1.1 Bearded Dragons

1.0 Jungle Carpet Python

1.1 California Kingsnakes

1.1 Children's Python

3.5 Russian Tortoises

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