daveyjones1972
New Member
Does that mean that I should definitely bring him inside?
Re-reading, I see he didn't mention that specifically, but that is what I inferred from the warm weather we've been having for that last couple of weeks. We got up to almost 90. I woke up my Chersina from hibernation about two weeks ago and he's been eating like crazy and very active.I didn't see anything about him eating. I interpreted the story that he has just come out of brumation and they thought the night temperature wss too cold for him.
I would. If you allow him to get cold again with food in the gut, and it stays too cold for too long, that food will rot and it could kill him.Does that mean that I should definitely bring him inside?
I don't think that anyone was thinking that you would be having him inside and having "the run" of your house without being contained in a large enclosure within the house. He would need to be in a large plastic box of some kind in an appropriate temperature room in your house, and not free roaming. Free roaming tortoises are at risk from many possible sources of danger and injury.
If he's going to be inside all night and on cold rainy days, he's going to need a large enclosure. At least 4x8', but bigger would be better. He'll need a heat lamp to warm up on the days when he can't go outside due to temps and weather.First, I wanted to thank everyone again for all of their help with our tortoise questions. I’m sorry if a lack of information in my original post caused any confusion. I thought the cold night was the night I’d posted, not the next, and I was rushing to get the question out there in hopes of a quick response.
Now that he’s inside from about 4:30 PM through morning, I was wondering if anyone might have suggestions about the best way to deal with any pee and/or poo. He pee’d a little last night (clear liquid), and there was some dry, desiccated looking poo, but not much. Ive been using Timothy hay in a large overturned plastic container for his “bed,” but I’m afraid of the hay getting wet since he’s a desert species. We were thinking a doggie pee pad on the floor might work, but I was hoping maybe ya’ll might have a better suggestion.
Also, I wanted to add that we had a healthy physical yesterday, and it seems that other than the need for a bath, he’s in good health. So that’s a relief.
Thanks again!
Davey Jones
I'm in Santa Clarita, so not far from you. Your climate is just a little milder, but very similar.That’s a lovely setup! I noticed you’re in Southern California. Not sure how far South you are, but I’m pretty close to Pasadena. The daytime temperatures here have been fairly decent as of late, and it seems like with any luck we’ll be out of the woods for the evening temperatures in a couple of weeks. I’m definitely going to want to do something similar to your nighttime habitat, but not sure if I’ll be able to get to a project like that for at least a couple of weeks, so I’m still going to need a temporary solution. In the meantime, do you think the little space in the laundry room is a terrible idea as a temporary solution? Would I be better putting him in a big Rubbermaid tub for the night as opposed to the little blocked in space I created for him. If it’s not raining I can leave him outside in his dog house and get a pig blanket, or one of those Zoo Med Habitat Heaters that are like 18” x 18”, but that being said there’s still a few rainy days predicated for next week. Currently on nice days, he’s outdoors from about 8:30 AM when the sun hits the back patio, until around 5:00 PM. By that time he’s usually crashed out.
As far as the night box, what type of wood do you suggest? Also, what sort of humidity levels would you recommend for night and day? Lastly, I was wondering if you run the little heater in back on a thermostat with a temp probe, or does it have a built in thermostat.
Once again, thanks so much for your help!
Davey Jones
They are rigid. You might be able to turn it a bit and get it inside diagonally. If not, you'd have to pop the top off. Or a wall...Thanks for the information. I looked at the plans and they don’t look too daunting. The pig blanket sounds like a decent stop gap for cold nights—at least when it’s not raining. Would you happen to know if the Kane blankets are rigid or have some give? The word blanket would tend to make me think they aren’t solid, but they look quite pretty solid. The reason I ask is that the entrance to the outdoor enclosure isn’t as wide as the 18” blanket.
Thanks again for everything!
-Davey Jones
If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your experience been during the summer? Does your tortoise have an underground burrow, or do they live in an enclosure/house of some sort. I’m a bit worried about the heat once summer rolls around.I have a sully . Agreed with the weather!
In your area, your tortoise will be fine as long as it has some shade from bushes and trees. On really really hot summer days, you can run the sprinklers for a few minutes mid day, make a mud wallow, or run misters. I allow mine to burrow in the summer, but then you have to get them up and out of the burrow in fall and block the entrance. With some creative shovel work, you can usually get them to start burrowing where you want them to, instead of wherever they choose which is almost always a bad spot.If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your experience been during the summer? Does your tortoise have an underground burrow, or do they live in an enclosure/house of some sort. I’m a bit worried about the heat once summer rolls around.