Day and night, highs and lows, what temperatures are you keeping your Indotestudos in?
The Tortoise Trust says for elongata:
"Daytime environmental temperature should be maintained in the 26 - 30°C region during summer (78 - 86 °F). In winter, daytime temperatures can be reduced to 24 °C (75 °F) . At night, temperatures can be reduced to around 18 °C (65 °F)." - http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/celongata.html
But that strikes me as too cold in the winter. I provide a 'warm up' spot of 85F in the day and a warm hide of 80F at night (which is sometimes used). Perhaps this is not beneficial.
Given the wide range distribution of elongata, I can't really get a sense of what their natural temperature variation should be (and there is no locale information known for Canadian captives like mine anyway). The little literature on their habits in the wild I've been able to find doesn't address temperature. Given that they are known to occupy the burrows of other animals for significant portions of time, ambient temperatures will be somewhat mitigated - but what should those burrow temperatures even be?
So, experienced keepers: what temperatures do you use if using indoor enclosures? Do you really have a big cool down in the winter? What temperatures do your outdoor enclosures experience without added heat? When do you use heated night boxes (or do your climates not require them at all)?
The Tortoise Trust says for elongata:
"Daytime environmental temperature should be maintained in the 26 - 30°C region during summer (78 - 86 °F). In winter, daytime temperatures can be reduced to 24 °C (75 °F) . At night, temperatures can be reduced to around 18 °C (65 °F)." - http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/celongata.html
But that strikes me as too cold in the winter. I provide a 'warm up' spot of 85F in the day and a warm hide of 80F at night (which is sometimes used). Perhaps this is not beneficial.
Given the wide range distribution of elongata, I can't really get a sense of what their natural temperature variation should be (and there is no locale information known for Canadian captives like mine anyway). The little literature on their habits in the wild I've been able to find doesn't address temperature. Given that they are known to occupy the burrows of other animals for significant portions of time, ambient temperatures will be somewhat mitigated - but what should those burrow temperatures even be?
So, experienced keepers: what temperatures do you use if using indoor enclosures? Do you really have a big cool down in the winter? What temperatures do your outdoor enclosures experience without added heat? When do you use heated night boxes (or do your climates not require them at all)?