Just How Long Can Summer Estivation Last for Outdoor Russians?

[Ruexiki]

Hello all! This is my first post. I have learned a lot from the forums. I adopted my adult Russian tortoise this spring and I live in Southwest USA, very hot desert environment. He lives in an outdoor enclosure in my backyard. 😊

In June, when the weather got above 100 degrees he went into hiding one night and I have not seen him for over a month! It's now end of July. I don't believe he escaped as the enclosure is built to prevent escape, and my yard is sealed off anyway and I have not seen him gotten out. I have tried digging for him under his hide where I last saw him, but can't find him after digging 6-8 inches. He may also possibly have dug himself under a plant shrub he likes to sleep under, however it was not possible for me to dig under the plant roots. I am hoping he is down there. I still make sure there is water everyday, and there are many plants in the enclosure for him to eat if he does decide to wander out, though I have not seen him out yet despite checking early mornings and later evenings when it is cool. It has rained a couple times this summer and I thought for sure I'd see him the following mornings or evenings, but no luck yet.

I have read all about summer estivation however cannot find exactly just how long they can stay under. I've read on other threads that they might stay buried from June to October for the entire summer! 😓 What has been your experience for those who have outdoor-living Russian tortoises in hot & arid climates? How deep can they dig? All I can do now is wait until he hopefully comes out in the Fall, but some reassurance would be very helpful! Thanks so much!!! 🙏

 

[Tom]

When I had Russians outdoors, I dug them up, if needed, every single night and had them sleep in their safe quarters. Head count, every night.

Russians are known escape artists and very creative about it. I would go find your tortoise and make sure you still have a tortoise.

To avoid this problem going forward, make an underground retreat that stays cooler than surface temps, and your tortoise shouldn't go into aestivation. I'm in the desert too. Temps are 100+ here from June through September too. Its 105 outside right now. Mine never aestivated. None of my species do.

 

[Ruexiki]

When I had Russians outdoors, I dug them up, if needed, every single night and had them sleep in their safe quarters. Head count, every night.

Russians are known escape artists and very creative about it. I would go find your tortoise and make sure you still have a tortoise.

To avoid this problem going forward, make an underground retreat that stays cooler than surface temps, and your tortoise shouldn't go into aestivation. I'm in the desert too. Temps are 100+ here from June through September too. Its 105 outside right now. Mine never aestivated. None of my species do.

Thank you for your reply!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Did you manage to dig your tortoise up?

 

[Ruexiki]

Did you manage to dig your tortoise up?

No, I tried digging under his hide but didn't find him. And the 2nd place I think he's under is under a flower bush and there are lots of roots so I couldn't dig under. I've read that Russians like to bury themselves under roots of plants that make it hard to find them. Do you know how deep can they dig?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Mine doesn't dig much. He just shimmers down and his shell is always a little visible. Maybe @Tom can answar your question. If I were you I would try to find him. I try to prevent estivation and dig my tortoise up every night and put him to his shelter.

 

[Ruexiki]

Mine doesn't dig much. He just shimmers down and his shell is always a little visible. Maybe @Tom can answar your question. If I were you I would try to find him. I try to prevent estivation and dig my tortoise up every night and put him to his shelter. What kind

Mine doesn't dig much. He just shimmers down and his shell is always a little visible. Maybe @Tom can answar your question. If I were you I would try to find him. I try to prevent estivation and dig my tortoise up every night and put him to his shelter.

Thanks for your answer. Prior to this thread, I have been instructed to allow him to engage in their natural behaviors, much as possible, and solely living outside: digging under his hide, brumation etc, including estivation if they feel natural to do so… However I see different owners have various preferences on winter/summer care. Do you mean you put yours inside every night or what kind of shelter do you mean?

 

[Ruexiki]

Thank you for your reply!

Hi Tom may you please clarify

When I had Russians outdoors, I dug them up, if needed, every single night and had them sleep in their safe quarters. Head count, every night.

Russians are known escape artists and very creative about it. I would go find your tortoise and make sure you still have a tortoise.

To avoid this problem going forward, make an underground retreat that stays cooler than surface temps, and your tortoise shouldn't go into aestivation. I'm in the desert too. Temps are 100+ here from June through September too. Its 105 outside right now. Mine never aestivated. None of my species do.

Hi Tom may you please clarify what type of “quarters” you had set up for your Russians each night indoor or outdoors? Did they sleep in it each night all year?

 

[Tom]

Hi Tom may you please clarify

Hi Tom may you please clarify what type of “quarters” you had set up for your Russians each night indoor or outdoors? Did they sleep in it each night all year?

Summer daytime high here are typically over 100 degrees. I made a semi-underground shelter for them. I put a radiant heat panel on the top of the lid so I could give them a little night heat in spring and fall.







Nothing beats going underground for temperature stability, but a simple insulated night box like the one in this thread will work just fine too:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Do you know how deep can they dig?

They typically only dig down a few inches. In extreme weather, hot or cold, I've seen 18 inches, but that is rare. Deeper than this is certainly possible, but I've never seen or heard of that.

Thanks for your answer. Prior to this thread, I have been instructed to allow him to engage in their natural behaviors, much as possible, and solely living outside: digging under his hide, brumation etc, including estivation if they feel natural to do so… However I see different owners have various preferences on winter/summer care. Do you mean you put yours inside every night or what kind of shelter do you mean?

Who gave you those instructions? How's that working out for you? Emulating some parts of the natural world is a good idea. Other parts of their lives need to be managed in a captive environment. There is a lot of bad tortoise care info out in the world. Its hard to know who to listen to sometimes. Please feel free to ask questions. Make us explain why we make the assertions we make.