My outdoor Marginatas are finally starting to slow down. Nights have been 35-40F with daytime temps still warm 70's
Our Russians have been inactive about a month now.
Our Russians have been inactive about a month now.
Slowing Down for Winter
- Thread starter KQ6AR
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Sound like everyone's are going down for the winter.
Hi,
Sorry for the slow reply, I never bring my adult tortoises in the house. Only the hatchlings are indoors. 18 babies this year.
Sorry for the slow reply, I never bring my adult tortoises in the house. Only the hatchlings are indoors. 18 babies this year.
techiegrl said:
Oh, I would be interested in your husbandry as well. Also for the Russians, although I know this thread is under Marginata torts!
What are their enclosures like? Do they have a heated shed? Do you let them hibernate outside?
What are their enclosures like? Do they have a heated shed? Do you let them hibernate outside?
Hi Guys,
First thing to take into consideration is my climate. I'm in USDA zone 9. Our soil doesn't freeze more than an inch or so, in our coldest weather.
My Russians, & Marginatas are housed under the same conditions in separate yards. They have dry houses outdoors with dirt floors so they can dig deeper if the weather gets colder.
I pack the houses with Timothy hay for insulation. We don't use any type of heater, other than passive heat from the daytime sun. The Russians dig deep, 6"-8" where we live, & I don't worry about them. A friend in Oregon lost a hatchling a couple of falls ago, It turned up in the summer healthy as can be.
The Marginatas don't seem to dig as deep as the Russians do. If I lived in a colder climate that would concern me. I would probably put a heat mat on top of the insulation with a thermostat to keep it above freezing.
Forgot to answer the other question. You don't have to hibernate if you don't want to.
First thing to take into consideration is my climate. I'm in USDA zone 9. Our soil doesn't freeze more than an inch or so, in our coldest weather.
My Russians, & Marginatas are housed under the same conditions in separate yards. They have dry houses outdoors with dirt floors so they can dig deeper if the weather gets colder.
I pack the houses with Timothy hay for insulation. We don't use any type of heater, other than passive heat from the daytime sun. The Russians dig deep, 6"-8" where we live, & I don't worry about them. A friend in Oregon lost a hatchling a couple of falls ago, It turned up in the summer healthy as can be.
The Marginatas don't seem to dig as deep as the Russians do. If I lived in a colder climate that would concern me. I would probably put a heat mat on top of the insulation with a thermostat to keep it above freezing.
Forgot to answer the other question. You don't have to hibernate if you don't want to.
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