Winterizing habitat for warm climates

[aztortoisegal]

Specifically tortoise owners in Southwestern Arizona, is there anything special I need to do for my outdoor habitat, before it starts cooling down for the winter? It does not freeze here, although it can get cold at night. Should I dig a deeper burrow for my six inch Sulcata, or let him figure out what to do? I hear that some people put them in a shoe box wrapped in newspaper and tuck them away for the coldest months to allow them to hibernate. That sounds...scary.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

sulcatas do not hibernate. how cold does it get during winter nights where you live? i just bring my torts inside during the winter.

 

[Tom]

Your tortoise needs a heated night box if its going to live outside. They are a tropical species and do not hibernate like our local temperate species do. Here are some suggestions:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

 

[aztortoisegal]

Thank you both! Let's see, I would say coldest day time temp is about 65, gets down to forties at night. It's barely a winter as far as I'm concerned, for humans anyways.

 

[lismar79]

That would be too cold for your baby. Either bring him in or build the heated night box like Tom suggested.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Too cold outside day or night for a 6" baby....they don't hibernate, he'll need to be set up inside with a basking light, and the works....

 

[aztortoisegal]

Alrighty, I'll be moving him indoors then soon. So, when will he not be considered a baby anymore? I can't tell you when he was born, I can only give his size. Any help on that front that you could offer?

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

he looks about a year old to me. some grow faster then others. on the found i have seen 20 found 3 years olds.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Alrighty, I'll be moving him indoors then soon. So, when will he not be considered a baby anymore? I can't tell you when he was born, I can only give his size. Any help on that front that you could offer?

Naw, his size would depend on his care sorta. I would say he's not a year old yet and he's been kept pretty dry.
I take back what I said about a UVB light for him. As sunny as it is in Arizona, just make sure he gets a few hours of sun a week and you can set him up inside for the cold times and would just need a basking light for warmth, he wouldn't need a UVB bulb...When tortoises are a year old they are 'yearlings' but they're still babies and need special care. To me your guy will be a baby for another year probably. Depends on how fast he grows, I'd feed him twice a day...

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

he looks about a year old to me. some grow faster then others. on the found i have seen 20 found 3 years olds.

20 pound* lol

 

[aztortoisegal]

Thanks! Another piece of advice I was given before I started doing my own research was not to bother feeding him everyday. Every other day was good enough. ((SIGH)) I mix up a bowl of greens and grasses for him everyday.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

In my torts enclosure there is tones of grasses so they find food for them selfs. but i still feed them everyday.

 

[aztortoisegal]

I want my little guy to eventually eat nothing but I grow for him. Unfortunately, most of the year, it's too dang hot to keep anything alive. Say...does everyone recommend the blend of seeds I've been coming across advertised as tortoise blend? I'm sure you're aware of it, someone has to be. It's time to plant if I want anything to survive for a good five months or so. I just had an idea, I better start a new thread for it.

 

[Abdulla6169]

I want my little guy to eventually eat nothing but I grow for him. Unfortunately, most of the year, it's too dang hot to keep anything alive. Say...does everyone recommend the blend of seeds I've been coming across advertised as tortoise blend? I'm sure you're aware of it, someone has to be. It's time to plant if I want anything to survive for a good five months or so. I just had an idea, I better start a new thread for it.

Lots of plants survive heat: aloe, purslane, agave, opuntia, petunias, figs, mulberry, cucumber, melon, and lots of other plants. Just check your gardening zone and pick the correct time to plant!