What’s too cold?

[cwall3366]

How cold is too cold? My 3 yr old sulcata will be outside this weekend in his home with his heat light. It will be in the lower 40’s! Will he be ok?
Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Yvonne G]

Nope! You've got to provide a heated shelter so he can be kept at 80F or above, day and night.

 

[Tom]

How cold is too cold? My 3 yr old sulcata will be outside this weekend in his home with his heat light. It will be in the lower 40’s! Will he be ok?
Thanks in advance for the help!

79 is too cold. Like Yvonne said, 80 or above. If the day time high isn't reaching into the 70s and sunny, then the night box should be 86 ish. 80 is the minimum when the weather is favorable and they can bask in the sun to warm up each day.

Heat lamps are not safe or effective ways to warm them when they are larger. Heat lamps are great for small babies housed indoors, but outdoors they burn the carapace and don't work to warm them effectively.

Here is an example of how to make a night box:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Here is another example with a different heating strategy:

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org