Hi there, new to this forum.
I’m home for winter break. Last winter, I talked at length to my dad about how sulcata tortoises can’t handle below 60 deg F. They are in Miami so the winters don’t get extreme, but it can get below 60.
While we were out tonight, I realized my parents left their sulcata tortoise outside in 48 degree weather! I told my dad and he said something along the lines of “tortoises hibernate he’ll be fine,” which is the exact thing he told me last winter. I thought last winter we had a productive convo but apparently not.
The tortoise was outside until about 1:30am. I brought him in immediately against my dad’s wishes. I asked my mom where the indoor pen was— apparently my dad had thrown it away. She helped me set up a makeshift enclosure.
I think the tortoise might be ok if my mom is more active in caring for him. Apparently she told my dad this morning that it would be too cold for the tortoise but didn’t actually DO anything about it. If I hadn’t said anything the tortoise would have been outside all night (& I pointed this out to her).
When we moved the tortoise in, I asked if they had a heat lamp. They threw it out too. So I made some heating bags with rice and put it against the tortoise. My mom was very against this. She said she touched the shell and it felt fine compared to when she’s touched it before and that he would warm up on his own.
Ofc I yakked on and on about how this could mean death for the tortoise and they need to do a better job or rehome him. Am I overreacting? Would the tortoise have been fine without the heating bags? Could a few hours out in 48 deg weather result in serious health complications?
I’m home for winter break. Last winter, I talked at length to my dad about how sulcata tortoises can’t handle below 60 deg F. They are in Miami so the winters don’t get extreme, but it can get below 60.
While we were out tonight, I realized my parents left their sulcata tortoise outside in 48 degree weather! I told my dad and he said something along the lines of “tortoises hibernate he’ll be fine,” which is the exact thing he told me last winter. I thought last winter we had a productive convo but apparently not.
The tortoise was outside until about 1:30am. I brought him in immediately against my dad’s wishes. I asked my mom where the indoor pen was— apparently my dad had thrown it away. She helped me set up a makeshift enclosure.
I think the tortoise might be ok if my mom is more active in caring for him. Apparently she told my dad this morning that it would be too cold for the tortoise but didn’t actually DO anything about it. If I hadn’t said anything the tortoise would have been outside all night (& I pointed this out to her).
When we moved the tortoise in, I asked if they had a heat lamp. They threw it out too. So I made some heating bags with rice and put it against the tortoise. My mom was very against this. She said she touched the shell and it felt fine compared to when she’s touched it before and that he would warm up on his own.
Ofc I yakked on and on about how this could mean death for the tortoise and they need to do a better job or rehome him. Am I overreacting? Would the tortoise have been fine without the heating bags? Could a few hours out in 48 deg weather result in serious health complications?
