MinjaKoa
New Member
Hello everyone! Thank you for being so awesome and having a place like this to ask questions, share, and bounce ideas off each other. I have a couple questions. This is our current burrow set up, which I had to stack more brick because it is unfortunately facing SE in Tucson AZ. The highest temp even in 100+ was 89 degrees farenheit with the extra shade and he loves it. He has always loved that corner even when it wasnt adequate enough temp wise.
In the picture I have 3 stacked bricks on the left. I was thinking of creating a wall that is only to the height of the roof and tapers down to ground level in order to help keep the dirt up for insulation And during monsoon season. It would also provided more shade from the afternoon sun before the burrow gets shaded by our house (that was when it hit 89 and only for 1 hour). I was wondering if creating this wall and extra shade might make temperatures get too low in the winter? Last winter, we had several days that got below freezing, but that is very rare. I was also wondering if I plant desert plants that don't need much water at all that he could graze on too if the water might help the dirt not get too cold and help further insulate his burrow during brumation? Ive always heard to water plants right before a freeze because it would help them survive. (Also, the entire corner is sloped down away from the entire burrow so even if it gets watered outside the burrow the water drains away from the burrow. I tested this before the tortoise could use it due to our heavy monsoon rains). If this is a no, how could I help keep temps adequate for brumation outside? The lowest temp I have noticed was 74 when it was in the 60s outside. Thank you so much!
In the picture I have 3 stacked bricks on the left. I was thinking of creating a wall that is only to the height of the roof and tapers down to ground level in order to help keep the dirt up for insulation And during monsoon season. It would also provided more shade from the afternoon sun before the burrow gets shaded by our house (that was when it hit 89 and only for 1 hour). I was wondering if creating this wall and extra shade might make temperatures get too low in the winter? Last winter, we had several days that got below freezing, but that is very rare. I was also wondering if I plant desert plants that don't need much water at all that he could graze on too if the water might help the dirt not get too cold and help further insulate his burrow during brumation? Ive always heard to water plants right before a freeze because it would help them survive. (Also, the entire corner is sloped down away from the entire burrow so even if it gets watered outside the burrow the water drains away from the burrow. I tested this before the tortoise could use it due to our heavy monsoon rains). If this is a no, how could I help keep temps adequate for brumation outside? The lowest temp I have noticed was 74 when it was in the 60s outside. Thank you so much!