Russian/Hermann tortoise NOR CAL weather

[Dave Dela Rosa]

Hey I've been thinking about getting either a russian or a hermann tortoise from the upcoming convention here in San Jose California. My question is, would I be able to keep my hermann or my russian tortoise in an outdoor enclosure with sufficient substrate for the tortoise to burrow in? The weather here usually is about 60F at night and on winter night it goes as low as 50f but above 40F. Would I still be able to keep the tortoise outside at around 40F 50F if i give it burrow option or should i bring them in for winter nights? When it drops below 50F

 

[RosemaryDW]

Kept outside, your tortoise will likely choose to dig down and hibernate when the days shorten.

Russians are from a very cold climate need to be kept around forty degrees consistently, otherwise they will be wakeful and use up stored energy.

You can hibernate them in a small dorm fridge (I do) or keep them inside and awake.

We also keep a heated night box at sixty five degrees in winter and spring, although I think a Russian would do okay at sixty with with the right enclosure.

I'm not sure about temps for a Hermann's.

 

[Tom]

Hey I've been thinking about getting either a russian or a hermann tortoise from the upcoming convention here in San Jose California. My question is, would I be able to keep my hermann or my russian tortoise in an outdoor enclosure with sufficient substrate for the tortoise to burrow in? The weather here usually is about 60F at night and on winter night it goes as low as 50f but above 40F. Would I still be able to keep the tortoise outside at around 40F 50F if i give it burrow option or should i bring them in for winter nights? When it drops below 50F

There are many ways to do this. My preferred way it to have a large indoor enclosure for night and cold days, and a large outdoor enclosure for fair weather. You can keep them outside full time, but I don't recommend letting them hibernate outside. Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress and many tortoises die because of her fury and folly. Hibernate inside in a fridge for consistent and controlled temperature and conditions. Or keep the tortoise in a large indoor enclosure over winter and don't hibernate, if that suits you.

Here is what I did to help them escape the summer heat, and the cold nights of spring and fall:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/#post-922226
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/#post-1077261
This should work well in your area too.

A couple more threads with tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

About buying at the expo. Be aware that most people that breed tortoises do not start them correctly. For decades we have been dehydrating and killing babies. It takes weeks or months for them to die, so most breeders and sellers don't think it has anything to do with what they've been doing. Not too many breeders have figured this out and they keep doing it the way they've always done it.

Read these for more info on what questions to ask of a seller at the expo:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-incubate-eggs-and-start-hatchlings.124266/

If you can't find a breeder who answers your questions correctly at the expo, you can come back here and buy directly from a breeder who starts their babies correctly.