How Much Dirt?

[Beeivis]

Hi made a new enclosure for this winter out of a storage tub and all is good, she likes it, but she can't seem to settle down in there. I hear her constantly scratching against the plastic as if to go deeper and so I wonder if I don't have enough dirt in there for her. ?? Right now there is about 5 inches. I guess I'm going to try putting more in but any thoughts on that? Thanks -Charlotte

 

[Yvonne G]

You're talking about a desert tortoise in her hibernation enclosure, right? I don't like to use plastic for desert tortoises to hibernate in, preferring cardboard. The plastic retains condensation, while the cardboard does not. A nice cardboard box with a whole Sunday paper laying on the bottom, then the tortoise, then fill up the rest of the box with shredded newspaper and fold the flaps over. Place the box in a cool quiet place where the temperature will stay about 45F all the time. She'll soon settle down.

 

[Beeivis]

Hi Yvonne, I don't really have a spot where it will stay 45. I'm in so. cal and today it was 80 and it's up and down constantly. It is finally supposed to be 40's all next week at night. Anyway, I did the plastic because her enclosure has always been outside and she doesn't like the brick house I made her. She wants to be in some bushes but I can't figure out a way to protect that from the rain so.....I'll keep an eye on the condensation--the lid comes off easily enough. It has holes in the bottom for draining too. I check on her every day through hibernation pretty much. She never used to burrow down too much in her old house she grew up in, but she seems to want that now. That's why I'm thinking I don't have enough dirt in there.

 

[Tom]

Where does this box sit?

 

[Gabriel Luna]

I have the same situation with my berlandieri

 

[Beeivis]

The box is in a planter that she hangs out in. It's a little above ground level under some lemon bushes against a wall.

 

[Tom]

The box is in a planter that she hangs out in. It's a little above ground level under some lemon bushes against a wall.

That is not going to work. Its too warm. You tortoise will burn through its fat reserves too quickly and the fluctuating temperatures will keep turning the tortoises systems on and off, when they need to stay off for the next couple of months.

You need to find or make a consistently cool dark place for your tortoise to hibernate properly. Above ground, outside in a plastic box is likely to result in sickness or death.

I use a refrigerator for all my hibernators. Another member here has success using an old chest freezer that no longer works, sitting in a shed on the shady side of her house. That can work too. I used to do it that way before I got a working fridge.

 

[Beeivis]

Thanks Tom. I also have a created a wall of bricks around the enclosure, and some potted plants sit around it as well to create another layer of insulation, so i do get that it needs to be a cool space. It is in the shade all day also for this time of year. I like the idea of an old freezer chest, especially because I have one! She has been in my family for 40 years and seems to be quite healthy with what we have been doing so far. Her house for most of that time was a brick house, also just a little above ground level so it couldn't flood.

 

[Gillian M]

Hi, Charlotte. Don't worry: torts take long to get used to anything new.

 

[Yvonne G]

Outside just isn't going to work. I'm sure you have a back bedroom with a closet. Put the box in the closet and close the door. It will cool off in there quickly with the door closed where the heat from the house can't warm it up.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom. I also have a created a wall of bricks around the enclosure, and some potted plants sit around it as well to create another layer of insulation, so i do get that it needs to be a cool space. It is in the shade all day also for this time of year. I like the idea of an old freezer chest, especially because I have one! She has been in my family for 40 years and seems to be quite healthy with what we have been doing so far. Her house for most of that time was a brick house, also just a little above ground level so it couldn't flood.

I used my old unplugged chest freezer because it kept temperatures more stable and low during the winter warm spells. When we had those week long 80 degree spells in January, I'd put ice blocks in there to keep temps down around 50. It worked well for me.

Although Yvonne had success, I found that anywhere inside my house was much too warm. I don't like the cold, so I keep my house in the 70s in winter. I suppose this will depend on each person's area and thermostat setting. Outside in the cold garage is where I hibernate my animals that need it.

 

[Gabriel Luna]

Can we use a big dark rubbermaid type plastic box, inside a kind of closet below my stairs?

I have two torts, one small, and he dont have any problem, I put like 10cms of dirt, then dry bushes and leaves, and he just kind of burrow on the bushes.

My big tort, just dont like it very much, he open his eyes with any light or noise he can hear.

 

[Tom]

Can we use a big dark rubbermaid type plastic box, inside a kind of closet below my stairs?

I have two torts, one small, and he dont have any problem, I put like 10cms of dirt, then dry bushes and leaves, and he just kind of burrow on the bushes.

My big tort, just dont like it very much, he open his eyes with any light or noise he can hear.

What is the temperature in the big dark rubbermaid type plastic box, inside a kind of closet below your stairs?

Only your thermometer can answer this. I find 50 degrees to be just right for DTs. 45-55 is the acceptable range in my opinion.

 

[Gabriel Luna]

I need to get a thermometer then.

I ask mainly because the material of the box, the torts can brumate on that box, or a cardboard box is better?