Arawak72
New Member
I currently care for a tortoise that need to be be brought in during the winter and I was wondering which tortoise would be suites to winters where it snows.
Which tortoise species is best suited to winter
- Thread starter Arawak72
- Start date
What kind of tort do you have already? I believe russian tortoises can survive in the winter. Not familiar with any others, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I am sure someone will be by shortly to answer your question, we have an amazing family on here that have the knowledge!
Last edited:
Arawak72
New Member
Thank you! I appreciate your response. I have a sulcata tortoise. I have lots of space and a huge yard. I likely would not get another sulcata unless I moved to Florida or some warmer area as I am in NJ now but I would like to get a small size turtle pair that I could build a nice enclosure for outside.
Being cold blooded, ALL tortoises need sun to keep their inner core warm enough to digest their food. In places on the globe where winters are harsh, and tortoises occur naturally, the tortoises brumate underground until the weather warms up. Areas of the globe with very harsh winters don't have any natural occurring tortoises.
Let's take a look at your neck of the woods for example - no natural occurring tortoises, but box turtles do live there. Across the lower U.S. there are gopher tortoises, Texas tortoises and desert tortoises. And in areas that have colder winters those tortoises brumate in winter. But looking farther north, no tortoises.
If you want a tortoise where you are you have to plan on setting it up indoors with heat and lights for the winter.
Let's take a look at your neck of the woods for example - no natural occurring tortoises, but box turtles do live there. Across the lower U.S. there are gopher tortoises, Texas tortoises and desert tortoises. And in areas that have colder winters those tortoises brumate in winter. But looking farther north, no tortoises.
If you want a tortoise where you are you have to plan on setting it up indoors with heat and lights for the winter.
Arawak72
New Member
Arawak72
New Member
Thank you so much for taking the time to share that information. I can't tell you how immensely helpful that was to read. With that in mind I'll keep that in mind as I continue my search. I have the space to build an outdoor and indoor enclosure and already have 1 for my sulcata indoors.
You mentioned a "pair" they should not be kept in pairs. They should be either solo, or in groups with LOTS of space. They will bully each other a lot if not
As you have already read, there aren't any, is the short simple answer. All tortoises must have heat for winter unless they are a brumating species. To brumate a tortoise, it has to be done right in captivity, not left on their own to do it
And to second the other post, no pairs. Never keep pairs of tortoises together.
And to second the other post, no pairs. Never keep pairs of tortoises together.
The answers you seek are here. Brumation info is here too:
Info For New People. Please Read This First.
Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...
tortoiseforum.org
Arawak72
New Member
I was thinking a pair of hermanns or russian tortoise...would smaller torts also be better in ar least groups of 3 with only one male?
No tortoises should ever be kept as a pair. Trios or quads with one male can work, but they don't always work.
In general, you want a small species that can be housed indoors. Minimum cage size for all the smaller species is around 4x8 feet.
What you have to decide is whether you want a species that brumates or a species that does not. There are no species "suited" to winter outdoors where you are. You have to bring them in to the great indoors over winter and either keep them warm and lt and happy, or set them up correctly and brumate them over the winter months in a cold, but controlled environment.
Arawak72
New Member
Are you in the north? ( and thank you for reply)
@Arawak72 I told you the forum family would come and answer your questions! 
They are great aren't they?
They are great aren't they?
Well said Yvonne!
MaNaAk & Jackie live on the South East end of the UK, I believe....
MollyB
Member
Good question! I live in Utah and found that the baby Sulcata I rescued needed a LOT of humidity that I couldn't provide. He's now with new parents in Louisiana! I would love to see the answers!
All tortoises do bad in pairs.
