Northerners: what species do you keep?

Nicole M

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Many people here seem to be located in the southern U.S. or in California, and I'm curious about those of us in the North!

What species do you all keep, and where (indoors/outdoors, types of enclosures, etc.)? I keep a Russian myself. She spends her time indoors with regular forays into the great outdoors (our yard).
 

lisa127

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I keep a redfoot and box turtles. I'm in the Cleveland area so there is only about 2 to 3 months of outdoor time. They have indoor enclosures. In nice weather they have half my backyard that is sectioned off from the dogs.
 

Rue

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I am in Canada...the cold part to boot! I have a Hermann's.

I wanted a small species that I could house comfortably indoors for most of the year.

Even this summer (early spring and warmer than normal)...between work...cold days and rainy days...I am only getting to put my baby in her outdoor pen an average of 3 X per week.

Despite that...we are planning a larger outdoor enclosure. When she is older I will be able to leave her out longer...
 

wellington

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Chicago here. Leopards and a Russian. I have a winter heated shed and finished their summer unheated shed that they can come and go from inside out as they please, except at night, I lock them in. Not sure about some of you other northerners, but I get a lot more then 3 months of warm weather. About 5 months of almost every day outside time and another 3 months of spotty warm days for them to go out. In the unheated shed, I do have one Che per tort and a regular 60 watt bulb incase they do need to warm up on those not so hot days. My tort yard faces south and I don't have any big trees to cause shade.
The unheated shed will be getting 3 skylights installed within next couple weeks, which will help heat that shed on sunny winter days.
 

Nicole M

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Chicago here. Leopards and a Russian. I have a winter heated shed and finished their summer unheated shed that they can come and go from inside out as they please, except at night, I lock them in. Not sure about some of you other northerners, but I get a lot more then 3 months of warm weather. About 5 months of almost every day outside time and another 3 months of spotty warm days for them to go out. In the unheated shed, I do have one Che per tort and a regular 60 watt bulb incase they do need to warm up on those not so hot days. My tort yard faces south and I don't have any big trees to cause shade.
The unheated shed will be getting 3 skylights installed within next couple weeks, which will help heat that shed on sunny winter days.
Very nice! I've always wanted to keep leopards! And you're able to house them indoors for about half the year? They do well with that?
 

wellington

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They seem to do very well. Give them enough room, keep them warm, hydrated and fed. I haven't had any problems, no illnesses and even eggs laid in the dead of winter in the heat shed.
 

Jodie

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Spokane Valley WA. I keep Russians, Leopards, and a Sulcata.
The Russians are outside. They have insulated heated boxes with lights for night and cold days. They come and go during the day as they please March through October. Then hibernated for winter.
The Sulcata is also outside in a greenhouse, that has lights for day time. It also has a large insulated, heated box with a light for day time in winter. He comes and goes from the box and greenhouse as he pleases during the day. He walks about in the snow on sunny days. Not for long mind you.
The Leopards are outside and inside. They own 2 bedrooms in my house. They have heated night boxes for night outside. The adults are outside May through September. Then inside for winter. Juveniles and younger go out during the day when it is nice.
 

Linhdan Nguyen

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Maryland. So far I have 2 russians. I don't have enough confidence to hibernate them just yet. I don't really have resources to have them hibernate safely. But I am planning on getting a leopard tortoise (then maybe a redfoot for my boyfriend) when we get more space for them.
And i think from may- september is decent weather to keep mine outside also in MD.
 

MPRC

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5 Redfoots here in Oregon. I think I keep ending up with them dumped on me because they are challenging to keep here. On a related note my dining room is now a petting zoo.
 

naturalman91

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i'm in southern oregon it's not cold and snowy/rainy like other parts of Oregon i keep red foot's. outside during summer/early fall when temps are still nice and inside the rest of the year
 

lisa127

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Chicago here. Leopards and a Russian. I have a winter heated shed and finished their summer unheated shed that they can come and go from inside out as they please, except at night, I lock them in. Not sure about some of you other northerners, but I get a lot more then 3 months of warm weather. About 5 months of almost every day outside time and another 3 months of spotty warm days for them to go out. In the unheated shed, I do have one Che per tort and a regular 60 watt bulb incase they do need to warm up on those not so hot days. My tort yard faces south and I don't have any big trees to cause shade.
The unheated shed will be getting 3 skylights installed within next couple weeks, which will help heat that shed on sunny winter days.
I get about 5 months of weather I'm comfortable with the boxies being outdoors (I don't hibernate them). But only about 3 months that I'm comfortable with the redfoot being out.
 

wellington

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I get about 5 months of weather I'm comfortable with the boxies being outdoors (I don't hibernate them). But only about 3 months that I'm comfortable with the redfoot being out.
A lot might have to do with your yard and how much sun it gets. Even location in the same city can make a big difference. Our other home was really close to downtown and Lake Michigan. Colder springs and falls and even more colder days in summer then where our house is now. Had a lot less sun in my yard too. Now my yard is south facing. We have sun in the torts yard from around 5:30 a.m to 6-6:30 p.m. Further from the lake, so we have hotter temps too. Our winter temps is a little colder where we are now then by the lake.
 

John Franzwa

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I live in Minnesota and keep a Russian and a red foot, I keep them indoors all year round!
 

Prairie Mom

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I have a sulcata . She's far from full grown and already a lot of work in my climate, but I love her. I've already started preserving food for her for next winter. :)
 
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