Cold to the touch?

[Chefdenoel10]

Hi. What does it mean when your tortoise is in her/his night box with a heat panel set for 85-90 degrees...and inside its hot but the tortoises “skin” is cold to the touch?
Does that mean a fever?
Sickness?
Any help or answer would be greatly appreciated
@maggie3fan
@YvonnneG
@Tom

I have re zoned the panel to see if it would help but no..... it’s not working...
The box is “tortoise hot” 85-90 and still my tortoise is cold to the touch????
What the heck does that mean?
There are no drafts either???
I’m at a loss????
and yes, the panel is working...?

 

[Srmcclure]

I hope this isn't the case, but im assuming you've made sure your baby alive...? I didn't know a great way to ask that ? sorry!

 

[TeamZissou]

Did you measure the temperature of the tortoise with an IR gun or something? What was the reading?

 

[Chefdenoel10]

I hope this isn't the case, but im assuming you've made sure your baby alive...? I didn't know a great way to ask that ? sorry!

yes!! Oh god... I am sorry I didn’t reveal that before!! Yes she is a .... well.... large sulcata tortoise
119lbs to be exact...
Yes she’s a girl
And yes I know that because just recently she passed eggs. ?
She is eating fine, sleeping fine, peeing fine... I just can’t put my finger on this new disaster..

 

[Srmcclure]

yes!! Oh god... I am sorry I didn’t reveal that before!! Yes she is a .... well.... large sulcata tortoise
119lbs to be exact...
Yes she’s a girl
And yes I know that because just recently she passed eggs. ?
She is eating fine, sleeping fine, peeing fine... I just can’t put my finger on this new disaster..

Ok good!!! I figured, but just in case!!!

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Did you measure the temperature of the tortoise with an IR gun or something? What was the reading?

yes I tested it
Shays she is 85 degrees
But her skin is just very cold?

 

[Srmcclure]

yes I tested it
Shays she is 85 degrees
But her skin is just very cold?

Well, that is over 10° lower than out skin so maybe thats why it feels so cold to you?

 

[TeamZissou]

It seems OK since she's the same temperature as the heater/surroundings.

Maybe you need to re-calibrate your finger thermometers! ?

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Well, that is over 10° lower than out skin so maybe thats why it feels so cold to you?

???.... nnnoooo.....
Ya know when your a mom ya just have a feeling?
That’s how I feel.
Before tonight she was hot to the touch and now IN A HOT BOX she’s not.
It makes no sense???
Any other suggestions???

 

[Chefdenoel10]

It seems OK since she's the same temperature as the heater/surroundings.

Maybe you need to re-calibrate your finger thermometers! ?

yes... with vodka ! ?

 

[Tom]

Don't go by "feel". Use a temp gun. If the temp gun says 85, then your "feelings" are wrong.

Try this: put your hands in cold water or snow until it hurts, then do it some more until your hands are good and cold, have somebody inside run some Luke warm tap water while you are chilling your hands. Come back inside and put your cold hands in the lukewarm water and it will feel like you are being scalded.

Our hands feel temperature differentials, but they aren't reliable at telling accurate temperatures.

 

[NorCal tortoise guy]

yes!! Oh god... I am sorry I didn’t reveal that before!! Yes she is a .... well.... large sulcata tortoise
119lbs to be exact...
Yes she’s a girl
And yes I know that because just recently she passed eggs. ?
She is eating fine, sleeping fine, peeing fine... I just can’t put my finger on this new disaster..

Wow 119lbs that a big girl!!

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Don't go by "feel". Use a temp gun. If the temp gun says 85, then your "feelings" are wrong.

Try this: put your hands in cold water or snow until it hurts, then do it some more until your hands are good and cold, have somebody inside run some Luke warm tap water while you are chilling your hands. Come back inside and put your cold hands in the lukewarm water and it will feel like you are being scalded.

Our hands feel temperature differentials, but they aren't reliable at telling accurate temperatures.

Thanks! ..... I think? ?
I’ve had my hands in snow all day so I know what you are talking about.?
But I still can’t get over how cold her skin feels??
Temp gun says 87.5

now that three people have said “it’s just ME” — I feel better.
Thanks to all of you guys!
I don’t know what I’d do without you!!!!
(and don’t say, probably kill my tort Tom!) ?

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Wow 119lbs that a big girl!!

Tell me about it. I’ve had two different exotic vets tell me she weighs 119 or 120 lbs. I swear.... ITS ALL MUSCLE! ?

 

[NorCal tortoise guy]

Tell me about it. I’ve had two different exotic vets tell me she weighs 119 or 120 lbs. I swear.... ITS ALL MUSCLE! ?

I know what you mean I’ve got 4 that are all over 120lbs. They pretty much do what they want haha. But nun of my girl are that big.

 

[Yvonne G]

yes I tested it
Shays she is 85 degrees
But her skin is just very cold?

Think about it: your body temperature is 98.6F degrees. Anything cooler than that is going to feel cool/cold to you.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

I know what you mean I’ve got 4 that are all over 120lbs. They pretty much do what they want haha. But nun of my girl are that big.

How do you manage 4!!!?????
I can’t even grasp one!
god bless you!!!
You are my hero! ?????

Tom says that girls only get to be about 80 lbs..
I guess I have part tort .. part amazon?
(They say Amazon’s are be

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Think about it: your body temperature is 98.6F degrees. Anything cooler than that is going to feel cool/cold to you.

Ok.... then....
There’s my answer.
I will call the doctor tomorrow to ask for their help with my new alcohol addiction.
Thanks Yvonne ?

 

[Chefdenoel10]

How do you manage 4!!!?????
I can’t even grasp one!
god bless you!!!
You are my hero! ?????

Tom says that girls only get to be about 80 lbs..
I guess I have part tort .. part amazon?
(They say Amazon’s are beView attachment 317137

they say amazon women are beefy!!

 

[KarenSoCal]

Tom says that girls only get to be about 80 lbs.

Maybe somehow you got a Sudan Sulcata? Where did you get her?