I decided to take my temperature gun outside today and get some readings. I was shocked by them and just had to share!
The weather today at 3:30pm in my area of southern Oregon was 55°F according to my weather app.
I used my gun to take these readings:
Grass in the shade- 54°F
Grass in the sun- 75°F
Concrete in the shade- 62°F
Concrete in the sun- 89°F
Pathway bark along a fence (where my leopard tortoise was basking) in the sun- 105°F
My leopard tortoise's shell in that basking spot- 103-104°F
I couldn't believe it! I knew he was getting warm temps from sunning on these colder days but I didn't realize to what extent.
My leopard Levi, lives outside full time and all year long here in southern Oregon. Coming from SoCal last summer I wasn't sure how well it would work out but it's going great! He has his heated tort house, the whole yard to himself and apparently plenty of sun to warm up despite cooler temps
Hope this helps some of guys that are debating on whether or not to put your tortoises outside. Every situation is different I know. When Levi is done sunning he can head into his heated house. But just to know that my tort can reach basking temps over 100° on a 55° day is pretty cool..
The weather today at 3:30pm in my area of southern Oregon was 55°F according to my weather app.
I used my gun to take these readings:
Grass in the shade- 54°F
Grass in the sun- 75°F
Concrete in the shade- 62°F
Concrete in the sun- 89°F
Pathway bark along a fence (where my leopard tortoise was basking) in the sun- 105°F
My leopard tortoise's shell in that basking spot- 103-104°F
I couldn't believe it! I knew he was getting warm temps from sunning on these colder days but I didn't realize to what extent.
My leopard Levi, lives outside full time and all year long here in southern Oregon. Coming from SoCal last summer I wasn't sure how well it would work out but it's going great! He has his heated tort house, the whole yard to himself and apparently plenty of sun to warm up despite cooler temps
Hope this helps some of guys that are debating on whether or not to put your tortoises outside. Every situation is different I know. When Levi is done sunning he can head into his heated house. But just to know that my tort can reach basking temps over 100° on a 55° day is pretty cool..