Outside Colorado enclosure for our Greek ???

[Tort momma]

hi. our 3 year old Greek "Diesel" is going outside to his new habitat. We are trying to create an enclosure for winter, but not sure it's possible for Colorado. I have searched on this forum for ideas, but again not sure if it will work in Colorado's winter.
Pig blankets and lights ...... confusing. Worried about him being smart enough to come in out of the cold.
Is he old enough?
I also read somewhere Greeks don't hibernate. Truth?
What is the recommended lowest temp? I was told 50-55...seems right. So if there is a warm enclosure would that stay at the same 70 or so like in the house?

We will build the wooden enclosure in this area, where sun will hit it most of the time. The one thing about colorado. Sun shines 360 days a year!!

 

[GBtortoises]

First it is important to know what subspecies of "Greek" that you have. They are not all the same and do not all have the same environmental requirements. Many of the Middle Eastern and Southern subspecies only hibernate for a very short period, if it all in some areas in their native habitat. Northern races, primarily Ibera Greeks, Testudo (graeca) ibera do hibernate, many for as long as 7 months in their native environment. Not all subspecies are evolved to hibernate for long periods. But in captivity none of them need to be hibernated at all. It comes down to being the personal choice of the keeper. There is no realistic reason to hibernate a tortoise in captivity that benefits it's health or survival. In the wild it's a very different story. Tortoises that inhabit temperate climates must hibernate to survive winter weather conditions that typically bring long periods of cold, diminished sunlight and sparse if not completely non-existent food sources. None of this adversity exists in captivity unless the keeper allows it to. A tortoise can safely be kept awake and active indoors throughout the winter by maintaining normal summer-like temperatures, humidity levels and day light duration and intensity. Under these conditions a tortoise remains active, healthy and thriving. Hibernation on the other hand is difficult on a tortoises body. It needs to have enough fat reserve and hydration to get it through the hibernation period. The conditions that the tortoise is hibernating in will directly affect it's health and well being. Those conditions must be consistent with very little change throughout the hibernation period. Even slight changes in temperature cause tortoises to move in hibernation. Dry conditions can affect the tortoises hibernation and wet conditions can be deadly. There is no real need to for someone keeping a pet tortoise, or a few of them to hibernate their pet. Breeders (like myself) find some advantages in hibernating tortoises through the winter. But things can go wrong from time to time even for well experienced keepers too.

Your tortoise is "smart enough" to come in out of the cold! As well as do everything else on it's own that it needs to survive. In the wild it has no restraints and can find what it needs to survive in any season. But in captivity it can only has access to the resources that you provide it. That is why it's extremely important to know what it needs and when at all times.

If you decide to hibernate, first find out as best as possible the geographical region that your tortoise is from, ideally it's subspecies. 50-55 degrees is much too warm for hibernation. In that range temperate species tortoises are in a semi-active state. It's not cold enough to completely stop activity but not warm enough for it's body to function at normal activity levels. That is the worse place for them to be. They either need to be completely active or fully in hibernation. A better hibernation temperature range is 38-44 degrees with 40-41 being ideal. Humidity during hibernation is also very important. It cannot be too dry but also should not be allowed to get too wet.