I've had my first-ever tortoise, Elsa (a 4-year old Hermann's) for 7 months, so this is her first summer here with us in hot, humid South Louisiana. One of the reasons I got this species is the temperatures and humidity in their native home (the Balkans: think Greece and areas east of there) is not too unlike ours. Nevertheless, I'm a little nervous. It doesn't matter how much shade you have: the air temps are in the 90s. The thermo-hygrometer in her "cool" hide currently reads 91* F and 72% humidity.
She is eating like a champ and practically running laps around the inside perimeter of her 8 x 12 foot "Summer Villa." Despite a 5" sight barrier, she sometimes tries to climb out- she slides down and occasionally tips over but rights herself quickly. Although she has the same water dish she had in her indoor enclosure and it's always full, I saw some grainy urates on her food slate last week so we've been giving her cucumber with all her meals to increase hydration (that's the only reason we ever give her cucumber- for its water content). The temps get down into the 70s at night, even if they were in the 100s during the day.
What are the signs of hyper-thermia (over heating) in a tortoise?
Does anyone ever bring their tortoise back into an indoor enclosure for a day or so if the outdoor temps are going to be exceptionally high?
She is eating like a champ and practically running laps around the inside perimeter of her 8 x 12 foot "Summer Villa." Despite a 5" sight barrier, she sometimes tries to climb out- she slides down and occasionally tips over but rights herself quickly. Although she has the same water dish she had in her indoor enclosure and it's always full, I saw some grainy urates on her food slate last week so we've been giving her cucumber with all her meals to increase hydration (that's the only reason we ever give her cucumber- for its water content). The temps get down into the 70s at night, even if they were in the 100s during the day.
What are the signs of hyper-thermia (over heating) in a tortoise?
Does anyone ever bring their tortoise back into an indoor enclosure for a day or so if the outdoor temps are going to be exceptionally high?