I totally chickened out!

[JeffG]

I have been keeping my 24 month old Burmese stars outside 24/7 here in central Arizona for about a year now. My plan was to keep them outdoors for the rest of their lives, but the weather forecast for this weekend is for temperatures in the low to mid 20's, with possible rain. These are the coldest temperatures for our area since 1971. I got scared, so even though I have a well heated shelter that these guys sleep in every night, I decided to bring them into the garage at least for the weekend. this is what I set up for them in about 10 minutes. I will be adding a Powersun MVB tomorrow, but for now, it's just 2 CHE's. Feel free to mock me. I know they would be fine where I had them, but GEEZ! the low 20's!!!!!!

 

[wellington]

I don't blame you one bit. I would do the same. Smart move i think, you'll be able to sleep. You don't need to put a mvb on them. They get enough sun, that a few days without it won't hurt anything. If you don't have one, I wouldn't go buy one.

 

[kathyth]

I would have done the same!
That's a great "10" minute set up

 

[JeffG]

I already have a couple MVB's that aren't being used, so no big deal. These guys have already been spending most of their time inside their shelter outside so I think an MVB might be good for them. I can't tell you how much more relaxed I am knowing they are inside. The coldest it will get in that space is about 60, but they are all hanging out around the CHE's where it is closer to 90. Just a bunch of heat whores if you ask me.

 

[Neal]

I'm with you. I've got all the stars inside during the night. They have a heated box outside, but I just don't want to risk anything at all with them.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like it's been a lot colder this year than previous years.

 

[JeffG]

Neal, seriously, this weekend we are supposed to have the coldest temperatures since 1971! That's 42 years ago! It's not an exaggeration! It's freakin cold right now!

 

[immayo]

I agree it's way too cold! T Rex and I are gonna be safe inside, warm in our beds!!

 

[RedfootsRule]

Whenever it goes under 40 in florida, my torts come in. Locked in a heated hide with bricks or no; I'd be sweating in bed all night if not....

People have that myth of "global warming"; I say its global extremism....The winters are getting colder, and the summers are getting hotter.

 

[Neal]

Yeah, I'm thinking I might go grab the bigger tortoises and bring everything in for the next few nights. My heated boxes are a few years old and are not as good as they were originally....

 

[wellington]

While you guys are getting unusual cold temps, we in Chicago are getting unusual warm temps. 50 tonight at some point and into tomorrow 55, with possible 60 on Saturday. Unfortunately, rain is with it. Hunker down for a few days and your warm temps will be back. I only have 30's to look forward to after our warm streak

 

[Tom]

It's been way colder than normal all winter here too. It hate it!

You are no chicken Jeff. You are a smart man. I WAAAAAYYYY over build my outdoor boxes just for these sort of nights. Bringing in several hundred pounds worth of sulcatas is just not an option.

 

[wellington]

It's been way colder than normal all winter here too. It hate it!

You are no chicken Jeff. You are a smart man. I WAAAAAYYYY over build my outdoor boxes just for these sort of nights. Bringing in several hundred pounds worth of sulcatas is just not an option.

Come on Tom. You should have those torts trained to walk single file any place you want them to go. Your slacking

 

[waterboy]

Yea im really glad i built that box like yours this year Tom.Its been getting below freezing 3 or 4 times a week over the last month. we mostly only see 4 to 7 days a year. Even though my box is super insulated i check it atleast 3 times a week if not more. It is always a nice 80+ even when i checked it at 2am. This is definitely the coldest year i can remember in a long time.

 

[Tortoise Hub]

It's been getting pretty cold here I don't blame ya. They look great btw. No close up pics?

 

[Tom]

It's been way colder than normal all winter here too. It hate it!

You are no chicken Jeff. You are a smart man. I WAAAAAYYYY over build my outdoor boxes just for these sort of nights. Bringing in several hundred pounds worth of sulcatas is just not an option.

Come on Tom. You should have those torts trained to walk single file any place you want them to go. Your slacking

Well they don't necessarily go single file everyday, but they do go where I want them to every night. Right into their night box. I just lift the ramp/door cover into place and latch it until morning.

 

[RedfootsRule]

All of my red foots go into a locked enclosure every night for predator safety, and there is one female that insists on hiding in the corner under a hibiscus...She has never once gone in at night independently. Of course, I just moved here with them 3 months ago, so maybe she will learn eventually .