I've had a a russian for the last three months or so that was brought to me after living at least the last 10 years in a small glass tank with a male.
On my property she currently lives outdoors in coastal Northern California, so I've been ferrying her inside when nighttime temperatures drop below 60 (rare but possible this time of year). Normally the temps in her burrow (not yet insulated, but a buried wooden box with hay) stay several degrees warmer with the temp gun. Usually about 65 after dark, but still early in the night. I have a record low/high thermometer that I've been using in the substrate, and it's fairly close to what I see on my temp gun.
During the day, the substrate in the full sun typically hits upwards of 108 to occasionally 115 or so, but the range in her space is wide- the air temp is around 75 late in the day, and still around 80-90 in her pen in the early evening sun.
She tends to be very shy and remain in her burrow, and I want to double check recommendations about temperatures, especially if there are any specific to my area. I have heated night boxes for other species, and we're putting in a new greenhouse, so it's certainly not difficult for me to rectify any issues that need changing.
My main concern would be that it's too cold on average.
I'd like to hibernate her (I'm well aware of the debate about this, and happy to hear any opinions- I've been preparing that setup along with a contingency- she'll be indoors this year if she's not hibernating- in case I can't verify that she's as healthy as I'd like).
So- opinions about N.Cal specific outdoor quarters? Do people have additional basking heat available? Heated night boxes? The cold box I put in her space wasn't used after about a month, so I removed it for more roaming- opinions on that?
Thanks!
On my property she currently lives outdoors in coastal Northern California, so I've been ferrying her inside when nighttime temperatures drop below 60 (rare but possible this time of year). Normally the temps in her burrow (not yet insulated, but a buried wooden box with hay) stay several degrees warmer with the temp gun. Usually about 65 after dark, but still early in the night. I have a record low/high thermometer that I've been using in the substrate, and it's fairly close to what I see on my temp gun.
During the day, the substrate in the full sun typically hits upwards of 108 to occasionally 115 or so, but the range in her space is wide- the air temp is around 75 late in the day, and still around 80-90 in her pen in the early evening sun.
She tends to be very shy and remain in her burrow, and I want to double check recommendations about temperatures, especially if there are any specific to my area. I have heated night boxes for other species, and we're putting in a new greenhouse, so it's certainly not difficult for me to rectify any issues that need changing.
My main concern would be that it's too cold on average.
I'd like to hibernate her (I'm well aware of the debate about this, and happy to hear any opinions- I've been preparing that setup along with a contingency- she'll be indoors this year if she's not hibernating- in case I can't verify that she's as healthy as I'd like).
So- opinions about N.Cal specific outdoor quarters? Do people have additional basking heat available? Heated night boxes? The cold box I put in her space wasn't used after about a month, so I removed it for more roaming- opinions on that?
Thanks!