Sulcata temperatures

[jnirvello]

I know that I’ve written a thread like this before but it’s been soooo cold in Florida and I’m nervous for my sulcata!!!
I have a small space heater in his room and it’s on throughout the night - I am curious to know what a good night body temperature is???
It’s going down to about 35 tonight (supposedly)

 

[Bee62]

I know that I’ve written a thread like this before but it’s been soooo cold in Florida and I’m nervous for my sulcata!!!
I have a small space heater in his room and it’s on throughout the night - I am curious to know what a good night body temperature is???
It’s going down to about 35 tonight (supposedly)

It is said that the best night temp for a sulcata is 80 F and because of this I think the body temp should not be much lower than 80 F.

 

[Tom]

I know that I’ve written a thread like this before but it’s been soooo cold in Florida and I’m nervous for my sulcata!!!
I have a small space heater in his room and it’s on throughout the night - I am curious to know what a good night body temperature is???
It’s going down to about 35 tonight (supposedly)

What size sulcata, and is it housed indoors?

Generally I like to keep them 80 or higher, especially with humidity. And they still need a 95-100 degree basking area for smaller indoor tortoises. They can sometimes survive lower temperatures, but some get sick and die, and the low temps are not good for the survivors either. There is no "winter" where they are from.

 

[Maro2Bear]

It’s even colder here up north. Our Sully is sound asleep in his night box, all tucked in, art about 85-90. Where do you have your Sully’s room? Inside or outside?

 

[jnirvello]

Yes he is indoors! He’s onky 7 months old and he stays in his cool box when he sleeps but our house is all tile so it gets chilly!

 

[jnirvello]

For some reason I was thinking that 80 was too hot so I’ve been curious to see...

 

[Tom]

Yes he is indoors! He’s onky 7 months old and he stays in his cool box when he sleeps but our house is all tile so it gets chilly!

Cool box? What is the temp in the cool box?

 

[jnirvello]

It’s not a cool box but it’s the dark box in his house away from the light

 

[jnirvello]

His body temp has been about 79-87 last night and today

 

[jnirvello]

So I’ve noticed he hasn’t been eating AS much as usual while it’s been chilly here. I soak him daily to warm him up and he seems to be eating the mazuri when i give it to him. He’s been sleeping more often and hasnt gone to the bathroom much - should I be concerned???

 

[Bee62]

For some reason I was thinking that 80 was too hot so I’ve been curious to see...

No, 80 F is the right temperature, not to high and please not lower.

 

[Yvonne G]

For some reason I was thinking that 80 was too hot so I’ve been curious to see...

Look at it this way: YOUR inner core temperature is 98.6F. Is that too hot?

 

[Yvonne G]

So I’ve noticed he hasn’t been eating AS much as usual while it’s been chilly here. I soak him daily to warm him up and he seems to be eating the mazuri when i give it to him. He’s been sleeping more often and hasnt gone to the bathroom much - should I be concerned???

A tortoise won't eat unless his inner core temperature is AT LEAST 80F degrees, and warmer is better. If he can't get his inner core up to at least 80F then the food won't digest, so they don't eat.

 

[jnirvello]

Oh - that’s interesting when you put it that way... I keep the space heater on as well as his light and his room is at least 77ish (maybe warmer)

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh - that’s interesting when you put it that way... I keep the space heater on as well as his light and his room is at least 77ish (maybe warmer)

So, without a light or some sort of concentrated heat to sit under, your tortoise will be 77ish. They can only be as warm as the environment they're in.

 

[jnirvello]

But how could he be warm without a light or heat?

 

[Bee62]

Oh - that’s interesting when you put it that way... I keep the space heater on as well as his light and his room is at least 77ish (maybe warmer)

Noo ! No light at night. Torts need darkness to sleep. A space heater is also not the right way to keep your tortoise warm. You need asap a ceramic heat emitter. That means no light but warmth and you need 80 F or a little bit higher. 77 is too cold !
Such a thing I mean:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHO7C/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[jnirvello]

I don’t have light on at night. I don’t have a CHE bc I tried using one and I noticed he does not sleep near it. The space heater heats the whole entire room

 

[Bee62]

I don’t have light on at night. I don’t have a CHE bc I tried using one and I noticed he does not sleep near it. The space heater heats the whole entire room

Okay, a Che is right.

 

[jnirvello]

But the CHE is only for a small part right? The space heater keeps the whole room warm....