Russian Tortoise Care in Virginia?

Lucky The Tortoise

New Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2017
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
Florida I guess
I might be moving to Charloettesville within the year. I know it's colder in Virginia than it is in Florida, and they actually have seasons, but what would I need to change? Is it less humid there? Is there anything I need to do (more feeding, misting, etc) different each season? Even though it's still a chance that I'll move, I want to make sure Lucky is able to come with me. Also, If I do move, it will be around either this December or next June. Any owners in Virginia willing to help?
 

daniellenc

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2017
Messages
2,084
Location (City and/or State)
Maryland
I’m in Maryland not far from VA. Depending on your cage you may have issues with heat and humidity in the winter, but in a closed table there’s really no difference. It’s warm mid April to mid to late October. November and December get chilly and January-March are down right cold and sometimes snowy.
 

samta23

New Member
Joined
May 26, 2018
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
Virginia
How old is your tort? Young russian torts need humidity from 50-70% but that tapers off for juveniles and adults. I live in Virginia and with my AC set at 78, even with an open table, I have 52% humidity (without misting) in the warm area and closer to 60% in the darker/shade area of the table. Humidity does drop quite a bit by the time winter season rolls in though. However, as long as you have a warm humid hide for your tort to go into at night, I wouldn't worry about humidity at all.
 

ethan508

Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2016
Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
Northern Utah
I keep my adult russians outside in Utah (except wintertime), and we have very low outside humidity (25-50%). Do keep a water dish (mine is more like a very shallow pond) available so they can soak when needed. If you keep your torts indoors then electrical heating (lights, CHE) is very drying. In a Utah winter, electric heat could drive my indoor humidity down to ~10%. So I have to be more careful to add moisture, increase soaks, and/or enclose the indoor container to keep the moisture to a more healthy level.
 

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