Activity in the AZ summer

[ainfalt]

I am wondering if my tortoise's activity should decrease as the heat increases here in Arizona. He is about 30 lbs & 8 yrs. Outside all the time. I've tried digging him a burrow but he wanted nothing to do with it. I made him a shelter and he went into it sometimes but the place he really likes to go is up on the concrete on the patio. There is a great deal of shade up there and a cardboard box that he likes to go into. He loves that box so much that I felt bad taking it away from him. Since it has been getting so hot lately he hasn't been out hardly at all. I've been giving him soaks in the bathtub once or twice a week. I'm just wondering if this slow down is normal.

 

[Millerlite]

Tortoises in the wild even hide from the hot sun in the wild, they will come out early mornings or evenings and avoid the heat, even for a reptile it's to hot lol

 

[Dizisdalife]

If you put the shelter you built on the concrete where he likes to go he may use it. Especially since the box is gone. My sulcata hides from the mid-day sun, and the heat here is no where near as hot as Arizona.

 

[ainfalt]

I haven't taken the box away because I feel bad since he loves it so much. From what I've seen he hasn't been going out at all to eat on his own. So I've been carrying him out to the grass so he can get his water & greens I put out for him. I feel like he should be going out there on his own.

 

[danielle]

They really do slow down in the AZ heat. Mine come out first thing in the morning and then in the late afternoon also. Don't worry about where they lay. As along as they have shade they will lay wherever they want. Sometimes mine are on the patio, under one of the trees, in their house, under a bush, in a corner, or under a chair. I have given up on trying to figure them out. I also still "force" soak them at least 3 times a week. Mine are also around 30 lbs and I will do this until I can't pick them up.

 

[AZtortMom]

I take my babies out too and the wonder a little bit, but mainly hide behind the cactus and in the tall weeds or in their hides


Life is good

 

[Tom]

I'm not in AZ, but our summers are near 100 degrees most days. We get up to 110-115 pretty regularly. Underground is the best place for them to be during this kind of heat. Here is what I did. It works really really well.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-28662.html

 

[ainfalt]

I saw this and it is so awesome! But I cannot build that because I'm only renting this house. I will keep doing what I'm doing & add more soaks. Thanks to all!