Sunning in the cold?

[Dobby The Tortoise]

I live in San Marcos, TX and it's been in the 30s/40s for a while now and I wanted to ask, is it okay to let dobby go on my balcony or downstairs in the grass for a while to get some natural sunlight? Or is it just too cold for him to be out?

 

[Tom]

I don't sun mine below about 60. When I do sun them in colder weather, I use black tubs that get hot in the sun and I use a temp gun to check the tub temp and their carapace temps frequently. I would not put them on the ground in 30-40 degree weather.


My larger tortoises have heated boxes and they can come in and out at will during the day, but they don't come out often or for very long when its cold.

 

[wellington]

What kind of tort and how big/old. For a baby, no, I wouldn't, too cold. If the area where the sun hits the ground gets to be warm enough, then yes, for older ones. Be sure though, that they are out of any wind. This is when a infrared temp gun comes in great for measuring the actual ground temp.

 

[Dobby The Tortoise]

He/she will be 3 years old in April and is 7 inches long.

 

[Dizisdalife]

He/she will be 3 years old in April and is 7 inches long.

At that age and size I would not bring him outside at 30/40F even if sunny. I live in San Marcos, CA and we don't get 30's in the daytime. My sulcata will come out on a 50F, sunny day to bask and graze and then go back into his heated shed. He is not liking this cold weather we are having.