Outdoor cut off temperature

[DDLVT]

Hey! Im from SW Virginia and I wanted to know what is you're preference on outdoor temperature cut offs. Oddly cool this week in August in the mid low 70s during day, and mid 60s at night. My Sulcatas are 3y old, and are brought inside at night, but will soon be outdoor 24/7 by a year or so. Summer temps are hot high 90-100 daytime, mid high 70s night. Winter can be unpredictable with lows single digit to negatives. Highs maybe 30s sometimes 20s. Fall a d spring temps can be moderate. 40s to 50s sometimes 60s in the day falling to 40 to 30s at night. Is anyone else in similar climate? I've seen heated outdoor enclosures which I will be building eventually, but like I said before, they come inside during cooler times and at night.

 

[zovick]

Hey! Im from SW Virginia and I wanted to know what is you're preference on outdoor temperature cut offs. Oddly cool this week in August in the mid low 70s during day, and mid 60s at night. My Sulcatas are 3y old, and are brought inside at night, but will soon be outdoor 24/7 by a year or so. Summer temps are hot high 90-100 daytime, mid high 70s night. Winter can be unpredictable with lows single digit to negatives. Highs maybe 30s sometimes 20s. Fall a d spring temps can be moderate. 40s to 50s sometimes 60s in the day falling to 40 to 30s at night. Is anyone else in similar climate? I've seen heated outdoor enclosures which I will be building eventually, but like I said before, they come inside during cooler times and at night.

I had 2.2 adult sulcatas in the mountains of extreme northwestern CT and let them stay outside unless the nighttime temps dropped below 50F. None of them ever had any respiratory problems and that group actually produced the first sulcata babies in North America.

I did not have any heated night boxes at that time, either. They just made pallets for themselves under the trees and shrubs in their enclosures. Often, I would go outside at midnight or 1 AM on cooler nights and feel the bare ground under the tortoises to make sure they were OK. The ground was still warm to the touch even with air temps in the 50's. They were truly masters of thermoregulation.

 

[DDLVT]

I had 2.2 adult sulcatas in the mountains of extreme northwestern CT and let them stay outside unless the nighttime temps dropped below 50F. None of them ever had any respiratory problems and that group actually produced the first sulcata babies in North America.

I did not have any heated night boxes at that time, either. They just made pallets for themselves under the trees and shrubs in their enclosures. Often, I would go outside at midnight or 1 AM on cooler nights and feel the bare ground under the tortoises to make sure they were OK. The ground was still warm to the touch even with air temps in the 50's. They were truly masters of thermoregulation.

Thats interesting, I am glad that you did t have issues with URI or anything like that, that is one of the major factors I worry about with them. I still am goi g to make the an outdoor insulated shed/enclosure for winter once they get too big to be indoors.

 

[Tom]

Hey! Im from SW Virginia and I wanted to know what is you're preference on outdoor temperature cut offs. Oddly cool this week in August in the mid low 70s during day, and mid 60s at night. My Sulcatas are 3y old, and are brought inside at night, but will soon be outdoor 24/7 by a year or so. Summer temps are hot high 90-100 daytime, mid high 70s night. Winter can be unpredictable with lows single digit to negatives. Highs maybe 30s sometimes 20s. Fall a d spring temps can be moderate. 40s to 50s sometimes 60s in the day falling to 40 to 30s at night. Is anyone else in similar climate? I've seen heated outdoor enclosures which I will be building eventually, but like I said before, they come inside during cooler times and at night.

What size tortoise are we talking about? Different advice for a 4 inch baby vs. a 24+ inch adult.

 

[DDLVT]

What size tortoise are we talking about? Different advice for a 4 inch baby vs. a 24+ inch adult.

3 years one is 9lb and other is 7.4lb

 

[Tom]

3 years one is 9lb and other is 7.4lb

At that size and in your climate, they can be outside, in separate enclosures, all summer long right now. You just need a temperature controlled night box for them to use as a shelter for cooler or rainy days, and for every night. Here are two examples:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome!

 

[Renee_H]

My tort has a stable overnight temp year round using Tom’s Box as he linked above. I put her inside every night lock the door and open it in the morning. Idk what your winters are like, I live in SoCal and can keep her temp stable year round using an oil filled radiator.

 

[2wgasa]

3 years one is 9lb and other is 7.4lb

Nothing to do with temperature, but do they live together or separately?

 

[DDLVT]

Nothing to do with temperature, but do they live together or separately?

Currently together, I have read the posts about not housing them together. At this time its not feasible, but in future it will be easier to separate if need be.

 

[2wgasa]

Currently together, I have read the posts about not housing them together. At this time its not feasible, but in future it will be easier to separate if need be.

I was curious about being same age and weight difference. Thanks

 

[Tom]

Currently together, I have read the posts about not housing them together. At this time its not feasible, but in future it will be easier to separate if need be.

It needs to become feasible ASAP. It is doing harm to them every day they are together. It's not good for them. You are already seeing the evidence.

 

[Maggie3fan]

The difference in the sizes generally mean there is bullying going on...You may think they cuddle together or sleep in the same corner, the smaller is not getting enuf food...the bigger one is eating it...some of the bullying is mental, stop laughing...it's really a form of their intimidation...in the wild they would NEVER be together...you don't necessarily see it, but the difference in size screams it...I have kept Sulcata for a lot of years, Tom and the others here have extensive experience in the breeding, keeping and basically the best way to raise a Sulcata tortoise and we only say things that come from experience...we try and give you our experience so your tort doesn't have to suffer...