Lizby
New Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2016
- Messages
- 1
Hi There!
I live in Oregon, and I'm considering adopting a young (under a year) Sulcata tortoise from a friend. Before I just dive in, I'm trying to learn as much as possible, and make sure that I can commit to taking care of the little guy for many years to come.
I'd build a tortoise table for him in my house while he's little, but my question is this - when he's bigger, and it's time to build him a nice big habitat in my backyard, is he going to be okay in the Oregon humidity (it rains for about 9 months out of the year here, though we only get a couple of light snow days each year - pretty mild winter)?
From the basic things I've started reading about Sulcata tortoises, people seem to be saying that the adults don't do well in humid weather. Is that true?
So, with all the Oregon rain, obviously I'd need to build a covered shelter outside (when he's an adult), have an adequate heat lamp and protection from the elements, those types of things, but is that enough? What about in the winter, when it rains every day here in Oregon, and it gets really cold?
Can a Sulcata tortoise thrive in the backyard, when he gets bigger, if I provide the right shelters and heaters for him, or is he simply not well-suited for the Oregon climate? I want to find well-informed answers, and not simply adopt him "just because he's cute", so I'm mapping out the next few years of tortoise care and considering all my options.
Any help or advice you have would be so much appreciated! Anyone have outdoor Sulcatas in a rainy part of the country? How do you do it? Do your tortoises live outside in shelters, or do you have an indoor setup even when they're adult and gigantic?
With tortoises in general, because I'm really curious now, thinking about all of this - are there some species that are perfect for Oregon? Some that love the rain and moisture, but are still land tortoises, not aquatic turtles?
Thank you all so much for your time!
I live in Oregon, and I'm considering adopting a young (under a year) Sulcata tortoise from a friend. Before I just dive in, I'm trying to learn as much as possible, and make sure that I can commit to taking care of the little guy for many years to come.
I'd build a tortoise table for him in my house while he's little, but my question is this - when he's bigger, and it's time to build him a nice big habitat in my backyard, is he going to be okay in the Oregon humidity (it rains for about 9 months out of the year here, though we only get a couple of light snow days each year - pretty mild winter)?
From the basic things I've started reading about Sulcata tortoises, people seem to be saying that the adults don't do well in humid weather. Is that true?
So, with all the Oregon rain, obviously I'd need to build a covered shelter outside (when he's an adult), have an adequate heat lamp and protection from the elements, those types of things, but is that enough? What about in the winter, when it rains every day here in Oregon, and it gets really cold?
Can a Sulcata tortoise thrive in the backyard, when he gets bigger, if I provide the right shelters and heaters for him, or is he simply not well-suited for the Oregon climate? I want to find well-informed answers, and not simply adopt him "just because he's cute", so I'm mapping out the next few years of tortoise care and considering all my options.
Any help or advice you have would be so much appreciated! Anyone have outdoor Sulcatas in a rainy part of the country? How do you do it? Do your tortoises live outside in shelters, or do you have an indoor setup even when they're adult and gigantic?
With tortoises in general, because I'm really curious now, thinking about all of this - are there some species that are perfect for Oregon? Some that love the rain and moisture, but are still land tortoises, not aquatic turtles?
Thank you all so much for your time!