Out All Year???

[TortoiseBoy1999]

So I'm trying to raise the money to build a outdoor enclosure for my Leopard and Russian tortoise's (don't worry they will be separated) but should I leave my Russian out all year? It gets pretty cold out Hear in Southern California (like it snows in the winter) so should I bring her in during the winter while she is hibernating? Or leave her out. Thanks guys!!!!

 

[CactusVinnie]

Southern California can be deadly cold, I suppose, if you spend the winter nights with soaked clothes ... Don't worry, they live in areas with lows down to -20 to -30*C, usually. Beware rodents/predators and flooding, that's the most important.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Southern California can be deadly cold, I suppose, if you spend the winter nights with soaked clothes ... Don't worry, they live in areas with lows down to -20 to -30*C, usually. Beware rodents/predators and flooding, that's the most important.

If I bring her in during the winter she won't hibernate right?

 

[dmmj]

Depends on the temps whether or not they will hibernate. So Cal does not get as cold as the russians home range ( mountains of Afghanistan) so any so call weather should be more than survivable. As long as they can burrow down they should survive outside with no problems.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Depends on the temps whether or not they will hibernate. So Cal does not get as cold as the russians home range ( mountains of Afghanistan) so any so call weather should be more than survivable. As long as they can burrow down they should survive outside with no problems.

Ok

 

[killerjello]

I live in Utah, could they hibernate through the winters here? It usually gets down in the 20's Fahrenheit. I'm looking to get one, but not sure yet.

 

[CactusVinnie]

Killerjello,

Not only it can, but it is THE tortoise for your area. Only 20F?? Are you in St. George area? Or you intended to wrote -20F, more likely ? Either way, it doesn't matter for a Horsfieldi if ground diggable enough. As you saw, they live in harsh areas and know what to do about.

 

[Tom]

There is a lady near you with a whole bunch of Hermanni. She has many generations that just live outside year round. Even her babies live outside. The just dig in in their shelters during the cold winters and they are all fine come the warmer weather. She been doing it for many years. Russians are even more tolerant of extreme temps than a hermans, so you should be fine. Just watch out for predators and make sure she has a dry area to retreat to and burrow down in.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

There is a lady near you with a whole bunch of Hermanni. She has many generations that just live outside year round. Even her babies live outside. The just dig in in their shelters during the cold winters and they are all fine come the warmer weather. She been doing it for many years. Russians are even more tolerant of extreme temps than a hermans, so you should be fine. Just watch out for predators and make sure she has a dry area to retreat to and burrow down in.

Ok. Where is this lady?! I want to meet her!

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Bring her in this Winter if you do make an outdoor pen. She needs to go outside in the Spring time so she can experience seasonal changes. She cant go from basking to 100 degree temps to hibernation in a month or two, its a year long process.

 

[kanalomele]

Your Russian should he fine at that temp range, but not for this year. Take this year to plan the enclosure, safety and ability to burrow above any water is very important.

 

[Nay]

Also, read some of the past threads about spending a little time preparing the area for better digging. TerryO has a great one, (And others!)
It made my first experience hibernating outdoors a little easier knowing they could get down deep enough.
Nay

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Ok guys I will do all of this!

 

[mctlong]

It gets pretty cold out Hear in Southern California (like it snows in the winter)

Do you live in the mountains of SoCal? Just wondering because I'm in SoCal as well (in the San Fernando Valley). The last time it snowed in my area was 25 years ago and the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground. Sounds like your area is much colder.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Do you live in the mountains of SoCal? Just wondering because I'm in SoCal as well (in the San Fernando Valley). The last time it snowed in my area was 25 years ago and the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground. Sounds like your area is much colder.

Well we don't get THAT much snow we live in Palmdale (google map) it's in the Antelope Valley, part of Los Angeles