Minimum temperatures outdoors for EBT?

K1LOS

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What's a recommended air temperature range for bringing my captive bred EBT outdoors? Last summer I built a 4x8' pen, and we would bring the turt indoors every evening. Now it's spring and I'd like to start bringing it outside again, but I worry it's still too cool for a turtle that hasn't acclimatized to cooler temps. The indoor enclosure ranges from 25 to 30C, should I only bring it outdoors in the same temperature ranges? I just want to give as much outdoor time as possible since we already have a short season here.
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Im not a box turtle expert but are we talking bout a baby or adult? Im sure an EBT can handle temps in the 60’s just fine.. as long as its sunny and not a cold rain. They are native to the Northeast
 

K1LOS

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Im not a box turtle expert but are we talking bout a baby or adult? Im sure an EBT can handle temps in the 60’s just fine.. as long as its sunny and not a cold rain. They are native to the Northeast

Good question, I should have included that. This is a sub-adult, 3.5yr old.

I agree a wild turt can obviously handle a broader spectrum of temperatures, but their are gradual changes and not sudden changed when moved from one location to another. My concern is if this turt is only accustomed to a min of 25C, and I take it outside in 17C weather, that might be a bit of a shock. Had he hibernated out there, that same 17C might feel like a nice spring day. Maybe I'm way off.
 

Relic

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Box turtles (in the wild) are well experienced with sudden temperature changes, and adapt quite well with them. It is usually a sudden drop in temperatures. Not unusual in my neighborhood to get a 30-40 degree drop in 12 hours. But the hybrid housekeeping - especially since it eliminates the "long winter nap" - might require a little common sense precautions. Since yours has been warm all along, a sudden exposure to chilly weather might trigger a desire to brumate. Might not. All my experience (except for hatchlings) has been outdoor housing 24/7/365. I would guess - emphasis on "guess" - that temps above 15 C would be safely enjoyed with no negative effects, especially sunny days. I would be more worried about cooler temps in the fall when the daylight shortens and the natural instinct to dig under would be more easily provoked.
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Even on a 60 degree sunny day with no wind.. the temps in the sunny area are gonna be a lot warmer than 60. So imo anything 60 and above on a sunny calm day would be fine for them
 

K1LOS

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Okay, sounds like I've been overly conservative on this. Consensus seems to be that as long as it is over 60F (15C), and the sun is shining, the turt should be ok out there. That's good news, I look forward to getting him some extra outdoor time.

Wish I could do full time outdoors, but it gets far too cold here for that.
 

jeff kushner

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You may choose to build a "safety space" by erecting a warm area as Mark shows us in this thread;

Just tossing out ideas....

good luck!
 

Maggie3fan

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I keep numerous box turtles in the Pacific Northwest. I live in a semi rural area with nighttime predators. My box turtles have tort tables inside so they are protected at night. In the day time...over 70 degrees...all my box turtles are in one large outside pen with swimming, then back inside by 7pm.
This is one of my blind box turtles. She was my very first box turtle...she's drinking in her soaking water...Just how I do it...
100_6932.JPG
 

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