New Desert Tortoise in San Diego

[robc]

Hi:

My wife and I recently adopted a Desert Tortoise in San Diego, CA. We love him, but have concerns as far hibernation (we are not sure what to do) or how to make a proper shelter.

Any tips in these areas would be much appreciated.

We think he may be around 50. He mostly eats romaine lettuce, aloe vera and hybiscus roses. He stays in our back yard (in a dog house at night, but we want to build a better shelter, tips appreciated). We have a garage we could use for hibernation, but are not sure if that's the way to go

.

How do we know when to start hibernation? Should we instigate it or just let him do his own thing?

Robc

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ. May I ask why do you want to hibernate your CDT you don't have to . And if you haven't had it a full year you shouldn't hibernate it . I have AZ desert torts and yes I hibernate mine but it's my choice . But I want you to understand you don't have too . It will not harm any tort if you don't . And if your tort has any hidden problems hibernation can kill the tort!

 

[Blakem]

My Russian tortoise can also hibernate, but I haven't allowed him to do so in the 3 years he's been in my possession. I am not yet knowledgable enough in the area. I simply keep temperatures no lower than the 75 degrees area. If temperature does not drop, as it would if they were to hibernate, their body does not think it's going into hibernation. Sorry if that's confusing. Others will give you more advice.

Why did you get this desert tortoise if you don't know really anything about it? I'm just curious, not trying to be rude.

 

[ascott]

Beautiful tort....how has the tort spent prior years? Overwintered (awake) or brumated? Where did you acquire the tort from (family, friend, rescue)? I know you said you adopted, but sometimes there is prior care information??

Has the tort shown any slow down signs (reduced food intake, in the burrow/hide more)?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Rob, and welcome to the Forum!

I have always advised new tortoise-keepers to keep the tortoise up the first winter. Because the tortoise is new to you, you don't know if he's conditioned to withstand the rigors of hibernation (brumation). It's not hard to keep them up. I have one that I can't allow to brumate due to a cyst on her nose. She's in a 4'x8' cinder block shelter with a plywood roof and on the car port. I have about 3" of cypress mulch on the floor, a pig blanket for her to lay on and a couple of hanging lights - one that simulates the sun (mercury vapor bulb) and one for night time heat (black incandescent bulb). The temperature inside this enclosure stays at about 65 or 70F even on the coldest nights, and about 75 or 80F during the days.

If you want to go ahead with brumation for the tortoise, don't offer food anymore this year. If he eats grass on his own, that's ok. They usually stop eating about 2 weeks prior to actually going to sleep. You should have a cool, dry spot for the tortoise. If he gets wet while he's asleep and cold, he may not wake up in the spring. You can box him up in shredded newspaper and place the box in a back bedroom closet with the door shut. You want a place that stays below 50F and above 40F. Or, if his outdoor shelter can be kept dry when it rains, and if it won't allow him to get down to freezing, it would be ok to leave him in his shelter.

 

[robc]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ. May I ask why do you want to hibernate your CDT you don't have to . And if you haven't had it a full year you shouldn't hibernate it . I have AZ desert torts and yes I hibernate mine but it's my choice . But I want you to understand you don't have too . It will not harm any tort if you don't . And if your tort has any hidden problems hibernation can kill the tort!

We got the tort in a rescue. We get information from various sources and some say to hibernate. Thanks for the response.

 

[robc]

My Russian tortoise can also hibernate, but I haven't allowed him to do so in the 3 years he's been in my possession. I am not yet knowledgable enough in the area. I simply keep temperatures no lower than the 75 degrees area. If temperature does not drop, as it would if they were to hibernate, their body does not think it's going into hibernation. Sorry if that's confusing. Others will give you more advice.

Why did you get this desert tortoise if you don't know really anything about it? I'm just curious, not trying to be rude.

We got the tort as a rescue. My wife wanted one. We get information about caring for it from various sources and some say to hibernate. Thanks for the response.

 

[robc]

Beautiful tort....how has the tort spent prior years? Overwintered (awake) or brumated? Where did you acquire the tort from (family, friend, rescue)? I know you said you adopted, but sometimes there is prior care information??

Has the tort shown any slow down signs (reduced food intake, in the burrow/hide more)?

We got the tort in a rescue. Little is known about him, someone dropped him off with little info. We get information from various sources about caring for him and some say to hibernate.

As it gets cooler (here in San Diego), he does not seem quite as active, maybe sleeps more, but he still seems hungry when I feed him.

Thanks for the response.

 

[robc]

Hi Rob, and welcome to the Forum!

I have always advised new tortoise-keepers to keep the tortoise up the first winter. Because the tortoise is new to you, you don't know if he's conditioned to withstand the rigors of hibernation (brumation). It's not hard to keep them up. I have one that I can't allow to brumate due to a cyst on her nose. She's in a 4'x8' cinder block shelter with a plywood roof and on the car port. I have about 3" of cypress mulch on the floor, a pig blanket for her to lay on and a couple of hanging lights - one that simulates the sun (mercury vapor bulb) and one for night time heat (black incandescent bulb). The temperature inside this enclosure stays at about 65 or 70F even on the coldest nights, and about 75 or 80F during the days.

If you want to go ahead with brumation for the tortoise, don't offer food anymore this year. If he eats grass on his own, that's ok. They usually stop eating about 2 weeks prior to actually going to sleep. You should have a cool, dry spot for the tortoise. If he gets wet while he's asleep and cold, he may not wake up in the spring. You can box him up in shredded newspaper and place the box in a back bedroom closet with the door shut. You want a place that stays below 50F and above 40F. Or, if his outdoor shelter can be kept dry when it rains, and if it won't allow him to get down to freezing, it would be ok to leave him in his shelter.

Thanks for the info, appreciate it!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[Ciri]

I always hibernated my desert tortoise. If he was sick would I keep him awake until he was treated by a veterinarian and well enough to hibernate. I always get pre-and post-hibernation checkups with a reptile specialist veterinarian so that I don't risk losing an animal during hibernation.That's just what has worked for me.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has excellent info compiled by reptile specialist veterinarians who care for the museums desert tortoises and other reptiles:

http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/tap_tortcare.php

You're also very fortunate to be in San Diego, as the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society is a great organization:

http://www.sdturtle.org/public_documents/sdtts_goodandbadgardenplants.pdf#!care-sheets/c217k

This is a brochure listing lots of really healthy foods for desert tortoises:
http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/tortoise/documents/NativePlantsforDesertTortoises_2008.pdf

a good source of seeds (they even have a desert tortoise wildflower mix):
http://shop.nativeseeds.org/pages/seeds

I hope I'm not overwhelming you with information.

Good luck with your desert tortoise.

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[puffy137]

When the Virgin Galaxy came down in the Californian Desert I was scouring the desert in the hopes that no poor tortoise had been hit by the debris.

 

[bouaboua]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[robc]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it!

It's getting to be about 50 degrees at night here in San Diego, CA. We built him (our Adult desert tortoise) a shelter made of a very large pot set on it's side with dirt and rocks inside. There is some insulation on the top. We are worried he will be to cold at night. Do we need to bring him inside at night?

 

[tortadise]

Welcome

 

[Ciri]

It's getting to be about 50 degrees at night here in San Diego, CA. We built him (our Adult desert tortoise) a shelter made of a very large pot set on it's side with dirt and rocks inside. There is some insulation on the top. We are worried he will be to cold at night. Do we need to bring him inside at night?

Are you trying to hibernate your tortoise, or keep him awake?

 

[RobinRae]

Hi:

My wife and I recently adopted a Desert Tortoise in San Diego, CA. We love him, but have concerns as far hibernation (we are not sure what to do) or how to make a proper shelter.

Any tips in these areas would be much appreciated.

We think he may be around 50. He mostly eats romaine lettuce, aloe vera and hybiscus roses. He stays in our back yard (in a dog house at night, but we want to build a better shelter, tips appreciated). We have a garage we could use for hibernation, but are not sure if that's the way to go

.

How do we know when to start hibernation? Should we instigate it or just let him do his own thing?

Robc

 

[RobinRae]

Hi! I have a new desert tortoise as well and we are in Encinitas.... It is cold and cloudy and will be for the next several days... When I check on my tort outside he is normally very active and eats well but when it's cold he just sits inside his outdoor house and does nothing. Should I bring him indoors where it is warmer? He's 15 years old.

 

[TeamZissou]

Hi! I have a new desert tortoise as well and we are in Encinitas.... It is cold and cloudy and will be for the next several days... When I check on my tort outside he is normally very active and eats well but when it's cold he just sits inside his outdoor house and does nothing. Should I bring him indoors where it is warmer? He's 15 years old.

Robin, these threads you're replying to are 4 and 7 years old. If I were you, I would start a new thread to ask your questions.