Having a problem dealing with heat

[aztortoisemullett]

My Arizona Desert Tort recently got heat stroke, so I've been revising her enclosure to try and keep her cooler. My question is many local vets and tortoise experts out here tell me not to put a dish of water in her enclosure, and to soak her 3-4 times a week, I'm wondering if I should just ignore that since it gets so hot out here?

I'm soaking her every day now and 75-80% of her enclosure is covered, before it was about 50%. In the shade in the middle of the day it's around mid 90's, in her burrow it gets down to the upper 80's, is that still too hot?

 

[Tom]

Most of them get in their burrow by late morning and stay there until late afternoon. If this is the case with yours, and the burrow is only getting into the upper 80's, you should be fine.

Here is how I like to solve this summer heat problem:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

What size is your tortoise? If less than 4" I would soak every day. If more than that, you should be able to soak every other with no problem. I don't think daily soaking will harm anything during your hot dry summers either way.

Yes you SHOULD have a water dish out at all times. And keep it somewhere shady so the water doesn't get too hot.

How is the enclosure covered? What sort of enclosure is it. Laying wood over some cinderblocks on the ground actually makes and oven effect. They need shade from high over head like from trees, bushes or an umbrella.

 

[wellington]

Tortoises should always have water available. Unfortunately, many vets don't have a clue.

 

[aztortoisemullett]

She is under 4 inches, she's about 1.5 years old. Even though the water dish was discouraged I still kept a small one out there. I'm thinking about putting a paint roller thing in there.

Unfortunately I screwed up on the shade now that you say that, it's a kiddie pool enclosure covered with a circular table And chicken wire. I'll have to raise the shade area up above the kiddie pool to provide more air flow. Ugh, I feel awful now.

 

[leigti]

I don't live in Arizona but when it gets hot around here, which it has been the last three weeks or so, I sprayed down the enclosure with water a couple times a day. This drops the temperature in the pan quite a lot. I'm not sure if this will work quite as well as there's not a lot of vegetation however. Just a suggestion, maybe worth a try.

 

[aztortoisemullett]

It's always necessary to have water out here. I can't imagine why this vet would tell me otherwise. That link with the enclosure looks like something I should probably start building.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

I don't think your enclosure allies for burrowing deep enough.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Torts should always have water... not sure what that vet was thinking! Maybe you could also try a plant next to the kiddie pool to provide some shade?

 

[lynnedit]

That's what I am thinking. If you could build an enclosure directly on the ground , the tortoise could dig down as deep as needed to regulate temps.

 

[Tom]

Its too hot for an above ground kiddie pool in AZ. You need to make an enclosure on the ground, in the shade, and dig down at least 12 inches or so and make a burrow. There are many safe ways to make a burrow, but it needs to be in the ground and have some substantial dirt over it. I use a plywood rectangle about 16" long and 12" wide. Attach some 2x4 around 3 edges and then bury it in a hole you dug with a gentle slope leading into it. Face the opening North-ish.

Here is a thread with enclosure ideas:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/


Here is a pic showing the general burrow concept, but go much deeper for summer in AZ:

Add a little water down there once in a while to maintain some humidity and evaporative cooling. My stays around 85 on a 100 degree day.