- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
- 29
Earlier in the year we purchased a home in Eastern San Diego. This is our first winter season here. Because we are in eastern county, it gets very hot during the summer and very cool during the winter (in comparison to the rest of southern california).
My Leopard has always lived outdoors in a 12x12 enclosure. He has a shaded area, many warm basking spots and a ramp that leads to a wooden house that has a heat pad on one side. Currently its been about 45 at night and I have been bringing him into our guest bathroom in the evening where he has access to a heat lamp. Our weather here is often confused- it was 91 on Thanksgiving (with night time temps still reaching 40-45) and is supposed to be raining today through Wednesday.
I noticed a couple nights I had left him out, he was not sleeping on his heat pad. He wanted the non heated side. The heat pad has a sheepskin cover on it, and a beach towel on top of that, so I know its not too warm. I have also tried just having the sheepskin cover on it, without a towel, and he still seems uninterested.
I am an animal keeper by job, but my focus is on native species, which includes our native tortoise species, however they hibernate.
I am wondering what night time temps are okay for a leopard tortoise? Should I bring him in every night, or is he okay as long as it warms up during the day? Also, are there any small outdoor/weather safe heat lamps?
Thank you!
My Leopard has always lived outdoors in a 12x12 enclosure. He has a shaded area, many warm basking spots and a ramp that leads to a wooden house that has a heat pad on one side. Currently its been about 45 at night and I have been bringing him into our guest bathroom in the evening where he has access to a heat lamp. Our weather here is often confused- it was 91 on Thanksgiving (with night time temps still reaching 40-45) and is supposed to be raining today through Wednesday.
I noticed a couple nights I had left him out, he was not sleeping on his heat pad. He wanted the non heated side. The heat pad has a sheepskin cover on it, and a beach towel on top of that, so I know its not too warm. I have also tried just having the sheepskin cover on it, without a towel, and he still seems uninterested.
I am an animal keeper by job, but my focus is on native species, which includes our native tortoise species, however they hibernate.
I am wondering what night time temps are okay for a leopard tortoise? Should I bring him in every night, or is he okay as long as it warms up during the day? Also, are there any small outdoor/weather safe heat lamps?
Thank you!