Urgent - Manouria Freeze Warning - Advice

algoroth1

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I just saw that it may go as low as 38F tonight here in S. Florida. Never happened since I began raising Ponce my 5 and a half year old m.e.e. He's big and lives outside (carapace is more than 14in.), weights 20lbs, and has stayed outside when temps have dropped into the 40's at night because it always warms up during the day. Any risk in letting him stay outside? I assume it would be more stressful to bring him inside, but I'd appreciate any thoughts. thanks!
 

teresaf

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I'm bringing my leopards in. I don't think it's as stressful as being out in the cold. Why take the chance? It's only a few nights. you can always take them out in the morning. If my manouria were outside(almost finished their enclosure but I haven't put them in it) I'd be bringing them in in the evenings and taking them back out in the mornings.

Actually, I change my mind. I would bring them in and not put them back out until it got warmer next week. As I was thinking about it I was wondering if the drastic changes in temperature would make them sick?
 

wellington

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I wouldn't leave him out even in the 40's. Your just taking chances that will cost you lots in money with vet bills or the death of a tortoise. If you don't have an enclosure then just put him in a tote box. Then put him back outside during the day if it gets warm enough.
Because the weather has been making the tropical states colder the last few years, you might want to think about building a heater hide for these times
 

algoroth1

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I'm bringing my leopards in. I don't think it's as stressful as being out in the cold. Why take the chance? It's only a few nights. you can always take them out in the morning. If my manouria were outside(almost finished their enclosure but I haven't put them in it) I'd be bringing them in in the evenings and taking them back out in the mornings.

Actually, I change my mind. I would bring them in and not put them back out until it got warmer next week. As I was thinking about it I was wondering if the drastic changes in temperature would make them sick?
Thanks teresaf. Temperature swings are nothing new for Manouria. The Asian rainforests also have big swings, though I doubt it gets down to the thirties. Appreciate the advice.
 

algoroth1

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I wouldn't leave him out even in the 40's. Your just taking chances that will cost you lots in money with vet bills or the death of a tortoise. If you don't have an enclosure then just put him in a tote box. Then put him back outside during the day if it gets warm enough.
Because the weather has been making the tropical states colder the last few years, you might want to think about building a heater hide for these times
Good points Wellington. Are you also in S. Fl.?
 

Redfool

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I’m in central FL and they’re predicting freeze. My redfoots are in and probably be won’t get out til Sat. Hot house can handle 40 outside stays 65 inside. Anything in the 30s they come inside in totes.
 

teresaf

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I’m in central FL and they’re predicting freeze. My redfoots are in and probably be won’t get out til Sat. Hot house can handle 40 outside stays 65 inside. Anything in the 30s they come inside in totes.
My manoria are in my pantry loose and I have a leopard in my wash sink in the garage and another in a tote...
 

ColaCarbonaria

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Hot house can handle 40 outside stays 65 inside.

I was wondering if you could expand a little bit on your hot house set up. If the Op doesn’t mind or please start a thread. I just want to know if it’s heated, and th thresholds at which it just doesn’t work, like you stated 40 outside 65 inside, I’m in th panhandle and obviously get cooler weather than you guys and want to try a greenhouse, I’ve already got my plastic just need to get pvc and some non freezing weather!
 
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algoroth1

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I was wondering if you could expand a little bit on your hot house set up. If the Op doesn’t mind or please start a thread. I just want to know if it’s heated, and th thresholds at which it just doesn’t work, like you stated 40 outside 65 inside, I’m in th panhandle and obviously get cooler weather than you guys and want to try a greenhouse, I’ve already got my plastic just need to get pvc and some non freezing weather!
I don't mind. Could be useful info.
 

richosullivan

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I just saw that it may go as low as 38F tonight here in S. Florida. Never happened since I began raising Ponce my 5 and a half year old m.e.e. He's big and lives outside (carapace is more than 14in.), weights 20lbs, and has stayed outside when temps have dropped into the 40's at night because it always warms up during the day. Any risk in letting him stay outside? I assume it would be more stressful to bring him inside, but I'd appreciate any thoughts. thanks!

I have a night box with an 80 watt radiant heat panel (you can get them from reptilebasics.com - https://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels) and run it off a thermostat set at 70 - when it's cold like this I lock them in for the night and let them out during the day if the sun is out (even when it's ion the 40's they find some good basking spots and can get good surface temps).
 

MichaelaW

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I have a night box with a miniature oil filled radiator heater set at 75 degrees. We have had three freezes in a row this past week which is unheard of down here in south Texas.
 

Redfool

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I was wondering if you could expand a little bit on your hot house set up. If the Op doesn’t mind or please start a thread. I just want to know if it’s heated, and th thresholds at which it just doesn’t work, like you stated 40 outside 65 inside, I’m in th panhandle and obviously get cooler weather than you guys and want to try a greenhouse, I’ve already got my plastic just need to get pvc and some non freezing weather!

Sorry for the misunderstanding but my hothouse is a concrete block house filled with dirt and heated by two 100w CHEs. From 50 down to 40 I add a Stanfield baby pig mat. It does have a clear polycarbonate roof but in winter it is covered by moving blankets for insulation. It’s not really a greenhouse.
 

TimR

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No, I'm in Chicago IL. I have to keep mine in a heated shed for the whole winter, 4 to 5 months

Sorry to derail the thread again, but I am interested in the heated shed for Chicago winters

I have an MEE that I keep outdoors Spring, Summer and Fall in Northern Virginia, but house indoors over the winter.
I would like to be able to eventually keep it outdoors all year.
What temperature do you keep your shed for your ME, throughout the Winter?
Do you continue to provide regular food and water or do they go into brumation?

Thanks,
Tim
 

wellington

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Sorry to derail the thread again, but I am interested in the heated shed for Chicago winters

I have an MEE that I keep outdoors Spring, Summer and Fall in Northern Virginia, but house indoors over the winter.
I would like to be able to eventually keep it outdoors all year.
What temperature do you keep your shed for your ME, throughout the Winter?
Do you continue to provide regular food and water or do they go into brumation?

Thanks,
Tim
I have leopards. They do not Brumaire so yes, I feed and water every day. I keep the shed thermostat at 80 sometimes 85 when the temps really dip. I use a ceiling fan on low 24/7 to push the rising heat down to tort level. They have a basking uvb for day time only.
 

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