How cold is too cold for my Sulcata

[Lovebrickuk]

Hi all ,
I have an almost 11 month old Sulcata weighing 226g, his shell is almost 5 inches long..
I live in England North Devon and the weather here is getting colder now, Usually Winnifred spends a couple of hours per day outside but now the weather has turned colder (12° today and 9° forecast for next week) I am not sure how long or if I should put him out at all ?
I have been bringing him in after an hour to warm him up before putting him out again.. is this necessary?
Please help
Many thanks

 

[Maggie3fan]

I only know degrees...BUT...if you are asking how cold is too cold, it's probably too cold... He's too young to go out in the cold, maybe not below 70-75...don't do the warm up and out thing anymore until your weather warms up.

 

[TammyJ]

Wow. Sounds deadly cold to me but I live on a tropical island.
BUT that must be way too cold for a sulcata too!
Experts here will advise you.

 

[Lovebrickuk]

I only know degrees...BUT...if you are asking how cold is too cold, it's probably too cold... He's too young to go out in the cold, maybe not below 70-75...don't do the warm up and out thing anymore until your weather warms up.

 

[TammyJ]

ahhhh......?

 

[Lovebrickuk]

70-75 is summer time for us.. if we're lucky !!
Winnifred needs enrichment.. He can't be stuck in a box all day surely ☹
When he is out he runs around , eats weeds
seems happy, as soon as he stops or goes to hide I bring him in ?
Next week will be too cold , but 12° here is mild for this time of year.
Need to understand what people in the UK do with sulcatas at this time of year for enrichment if he is to remain indoors .

 

[Yvonne G]

Winnifred is going to have to have a dedicated space. Some people fix up the basement/cellar so it can be heated, some people turn over a whole bedroom to the tortoise. Personally, I have a shed for my sulcata. It's about 10'x10', insulated and heated. I open his door every morning and close him in every night. He comes out even on the coldest days with frost on the ground, but when he realizes there's no sun or warmth, he goes back into the shed. BUT!!! he's over 100lbs, so his inner core doesn't cool down as quickly as a smaller tortoise's does.

Bear in mind that even though it's 70-75F, when a tortoise is in the sun and sheltered from the wind, his shell gets a lot warmer than that.

 

[TeamZissou]

Sulcatas need to be kept above about 26-27C at all times. Soon your tortoise will need a very large heated enclosure. A healthy sulcata can reach 25 lbs at 2 years old. I cannot imagine keeping a sulcata in your climate with the amount of space and cost involved to properly house it.

Here are some threads for reference on how large they can get:

Donald is One Year Old

Donald hatched during the first week of August 2019, not sure of the exact day though. So for his first Birthday I gave him a cactus feeder He loved it and ate 3 pads today along with everything else.He measures a tad under 9 inches and weighed in today at 4 pounds 7.7oz

tortoiseforum.org

Donald is 2 Years Old

He is doing fine. We didn't do anything special to celebrate the occasion, he's spoiled enough already. Some pics from yesterday and today.He is 16 3/4 inches and weighs 26 pounds 10 oz He must be content where he is. The barrier at one end of his enclosure is just a 5/4 x 6 decking board. and...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Lovebrickuk]

Winnifred is going to have to have a dedicated space. Some people fix up the basement/cellar so it can be heated, some people turn over a whole bedroom to the tortoise. Personally, I have a shed for my sulcata. It's about 10'x10', insulated and heated. I open his door every morning and close him in every night. He comes out even on the coldest days with frost on the ground, but when he realizes there's no sun or warmth, he goes back into the shed. BUT!!! he's over 100lbs, so his inner core doesn't cool down as quickly as a smaller tortoise's does.

Bear in mind that even though it's 70-75F, when a tortoise is in the sun and sheltered from the wind, his shell gets a lot warmer than that.

 

[Lovebrickuk]

Thankyou Yvonne for replying to my post ?
I have enough land to build/house Winnifred in the future (I have a garage that I'm planning to make Sulcata proof) but not sure what age I should be leaving him in there?
100lbs my goodness!! What a whopper!!
Thanks x

 

[jeff kushner]

Since the OP is taken care of I can admit that I'm still stuck at " but I live on a tropical island.".....................

Calm down jeffrey.....

God I love Negril & Westmoreland parish..................one of those places I've been multiple times & where it just feels "right".

 

[Tom]

Hi all ,
I have an almost 11 month old Sulcata weighing 226g, his shell is almost 5 inches long..
I live in England North Devon and the weather here is getting colder now, Usually Winnifred spends a couple of hours per day outside but now the weather has turned colder (12° today and 9° forecast for next week) I am not sure how long or if I should put him out at all ?
I have been bringing him in after an hour to warm him up before putting him out again.. is this necessary?
Please help
Many thanks

Ground temps where sulcatas come from are 27-29C all day every day all year long. A cold winter day might only reach an ambient temp of 32C, but most days are in the range of 36-45C which is why they spend most of their lives underground where its not so hot. These are the temps they need.

Your climate is totally unsuitable for a sulcata even in summer. This is why I recommend people in climates like yours not buy them. The tortoise absolutely needs to be stuck in a box in your climate, but the box should be a large closed chamber of at least 122x244cm, and this will be outgrown in another 6-12 months. A 5 inch baby in 12C weather is a recipe for sickness or death.

Any of the Mediterranean species can thrive in your summers, and then hibernate through your cold winters, and they require a fraction of the space that the third largest tortoise species on earth requires.

You have bit off a lot here. It is more than most people can chew. We will try to help you as much as we can, but I want to be realistic about what you are facing in the next few years. Outside in cold weather is not an option. The means heating an enormous indoor space for them all year long. There are many ways to accomplish that, but none of them are cheap, easy, or fun.

 

[Lovebrickuk]

Ground temps where sulcatas come from are 27-29C all day every day all year long. A cold winter day might only reach an ambient temp of 32C, but most days are in the range of 36-45C which is why they spend most of their lives underground where its not so hot. These are the temps they need.

Your climate is totally unsuitable for a sulcata even in summer. This is why I recommend people in climates like yours not buy them. The tortoise absolutely needs to be stuck in a box in your climate, but the box should be a large closed chamber of at least 122x244cm, and this will be outgrown in another 6-12 months. A 5 inch baby in 12C weather is a recipe for sickness or death.

Any of the Mediterranean species can thrive in your summers, and then hibernate through your cold winters, and they require a fraction of the space that the third largest tortoise species on earth requires.

You have bit off a lot here. It is more than most people can chew. We will try to help you as much as we can, but I want to be realistic about what you are facing in the next few years. Outside in cold weather is not an option. The means heating an enormous indoor space for them all year long. There are many ways to accomplish that, but none of them are cheap, easy, or fun.

Ok calm down, don't think you have read my post entirely!!
My Sulcata does not live outside he lives inside in a heated humid box larger than the dimensions you have mentioned.
He is happy and active and eating the appropriate food.. I rescued Winnifred from a horrendous breeder that had no idea !!
I am doing my best to accommodate Winnifreds needs and when outside (closely watched only 1hr at the moment at 30min intervals) he comes alive enjoys the weeds and enjoys his walks. Unfortunately I cannot change the weather in England or the fact that people breed Sulcatas here all I can do is look after our beloved tortoise the best I can.
So instead of maybe jumping on your soap box and shouting the odds you might just take a little step back and understand how hard people like me are trying not to just accommodate but trying damn hard to make our tortoises happy here.
Do you think Winnifred would of wanted to Die in a cold box with no love or humidity being fed red peppers OR
here with my family being feed luxurious weeds living in appropriate temperatures/humidity in a box for the majority of the day with a brisk walk outside to entice his wilder side?
Come on the choice obvious.

 

[Tom]

Ok calm down, don't think you have read my post entirely!!
My Sulcata does not live outside he lives inside in a heated humid box larger than the dimensions you have mentioned.
He is happy and active and eating the appropriate food.. I rescued Winnifred from a horrendous breeder that had no idea !!
I am doing my best to accommodate Winnifreds needs and when outside (closely watched only 1hr at the moment at 30min intervals) he comes alive enjoys the weeds and enjoys his walks. Unfortunately I cannot change the weather in England or the fact that people breed Sulcatas here all I can do is look after our beloved tortoise the best I can.
So instead of maybe jumping on your soap box and shouting the odds you might just take a little step back and understand how hard people like me are trying not to just accommodate but trying damn hard to make our tortoises happy here.
Do you think Winnifred would of wanted to Die in a cold box with no love or humidity being fed red peppers OR
here with my family being feed luxurious weeds living in appropriate temperatures/humidity in a box for the majority of the day with a brisk walk outside to entice his wilder side?
Come on the choice obvious.

I did read your post and I don't know why you think I'm not calm. I answered your question too. Simply, this tortoise will need to be maintained indoors until your summer temps return, and even then it is a bit too cool.

I think it is unanimous here that we are all glad you saved this tortoise from a worse situation, but as I said before, you've got some serious challenges coming your way if you keep this tortoise. I'd like to be able to help you meet those challenges.

 

[Lovebrickuk]

I did read your post and I don't know why you think I'm not calm. I answered your question too. Simply, this tortoise will need to be maintained indoors until your summer temps return, and even then it is a bit too cool.

I think it is unanimous here that we are all glad you saved this tortoise from a worse situation, but as I said before, you've got some serious challenges coming your way if you keep this tortoise. I'd like to be able to help you meet those challenges.

Firstly I am well aware of my challenges and secondly at no point was I thinking of giving Winnifred away !
Thankyou for offering to help me meet those challenges (that is all I wanted in the first place)
but really I think I will ask for help.elsewhere.
Have a good day.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Firstly I am well aware of my challenges and secondly at no point was I thinking of giving Winnifred away !
Thankyou for offering to help me meet those challenges (that is all I wanted in the first place)
but really I think I will ask for help.elsewhere.
Have a good day.

Hey hey...settle down. I think you have seriously misunderstood Tom. He is one of our Sulcata experts and he was simply trying to help you to understand what you have ahead with keeping Sulcata in your climate. You do not have to talk to him if you don't want to, but don't run away there's many others to help you...me for instance. I keep Sulcata in the Pacific Northwest, it rains and snows and ices...the Sulcata tortoise that I have now is almost 40 lbs and lives in my tort shed. Here is some reading for you so you can understand Sulcata needs...welcome

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

 

[Wpagey]

. A cold winter day might only reach an ambient temp of 32C, but most days are in the range of 36-45C which is why they spend most of their lives underground where its not so hot.

Hi Tom, I'm wondering where this information comes from. I've looked into temperature data from many parts of the Sahel where the Sulcata lives in the wild, and the overnight lows commonly reach into the 60'sF--much lower than the 32C, (89.6F) often stated on this forum. Please feel free to check the links below to verify that I'm not just making this up. This forum (and your advice) is the most consistently accurate place I've found in our tort journey, but this inconsistency in temperature information keeps coming up, and I'd like to learn more.

agadez weather - Google Search

timbuktu weather - Google Search

omdurman weather - Google Search

djenne weather - Google Search

gao weather - Google Search

Faya-Largeau weather - Google Search

fada weather - Google Search

Etc.

 

[Emmawilly]

Hi all ,
I have an almost 11 month old Sulcata weighing 226g, his shell is almost 5 inches long..
I live in England North Devon and the weather here is getting colder now, Usually Winnifred spends a couple of hours per day outside but now the weather has turned colder (12° today and 9° forecast for next week) I am not sure how long or if I should put him out at all ?
I have been bringing him in after an hour to warm him up before putting him out again.. is this necessary?
Please help
Many thanks

Hello there. I'm in South Devon, Plymouth with a 12 year old Sulcata. Tom's right, it's a tricky challenge to balance the conditions for a sully in our climate.
Mine is a lot older and bigger than Winnifred so perhaps bear that in mind. Mine lives in a heated shed, with a heated inner box. The shed is opened morning and closed at night and he goes in and out all day. What I've observed is that he'll go out and munch the grass, go back in to warm up and then come out an hour later. This routine continues on most days unless raining and cold and then he stays inside. I use a reptile heated mat, and a radiant heat panel plus a lamp. I can send you the links of what I've bought if that helps you when your sully is older and bigger and you want to accommodate her outside full time.
The mat and panel are connected to thermostats and keep the inner box at about 28 degrees, 35 degrees under his lamp. When the weather dips towards zero, I turn on an oil filled radiator to heat the shed too. My shed is poorly insulated so in colder weather, this is an expensive but necessary option. Last December, before I had all his inner heating sorted, I spent nearly £100 on additional heating for Dec and Jan. Something to bear in mind!
Rodney is a good size so does wander around the garden which is enclosed but for a smaller sully, you'd want a run or a contained smaller area so you can keep track, plus she'll get cooler more quickly. When she gets bigger, she'll trash your garden... We still have battles keeping Rodney out the veg patch where he just bulldozes through any of the raised beds to reach what he wants.
Another thing I got was a cheap camera, 20quid from Argos to spy on the tortoise. This has given me great peace of mind.
Also from Argos, get a kids blue plastic paddling pool for when Winnifred gets bigger, this is great for easy bathing.

We will move next year. I'll be changing his accommodation. I've read a lot of recommendations on here for different housing options. I think I'll stick with outside but better insulated. The inner hut has worked well for us so far.

If I was choosing a tortoise again I would go for something smaller and more manageable, but it's too late now as I've fallen in love with the silly, stinky huge bugger. Good luck with yours.

 

[Lovebrickuk]

Thankyou Emmawilly for your information,
Would like to keep in touch.

 

[Emmawilly]

Of course. Please do. Zolasmum is also around here, think nearer Okehampton. She had a well travelled older tortoise. We plan to meet up at some point. Keep to keep in touch with devonian tortoise enthusiasts, we're a rare breed ?
I got mine a year ago. His previous owner, kept him pretty cold, around 10 degrees throughout winter, through ignorance rather than malevolence. I'm not sure how he survived, even though Sully's are pretty resilient. I joined this forum and sought advice on heating and lighting options until we had him at the right temps. Tom was one of the fellas who advised me. Plus Yvonne, Maggie and others.
In terms of winter food I'm buying 'readigrass' as his staple. You can get it at equestrian supply place or even amazon! A huge bale for around £15. Worth it for when Winnifred gets bigger.
Welcome and keep asking questions until you are happy with Winnifred's habitat.