Re: African spurred tortise (sulcata) Hibernation?

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Posted by Georgia on November 20, 1999 at 17:09:56:

In Reply to: African spurred tortise (sulcata) Hibernation? posted by Chris on November 20, 1999 at 10:46:03:

: HELLO,
: I have a 3 year old sulcata approx. 13 inches. it has
: spent its first year outside this year and is very
: healthy with great appetite.
: My question are: Does the sulcata have a hibernation period.
: If it does not, can it adapt.
: What kind of outdoor temperatures can it
: stand in the winter (Phoenix, AZ.).
: Do I need to bring him back inside?
: please respond soon, thank you for your time,
: Chris
:
:Chris....We have a three yr. old sulcata that has spent the last seven months outdoors 24/7. They do not hibernate, as you now already know. Ours is continuing to stay out now. We have him/her in a dogloo with a pig blanket on the floor and ceramic heat lamp hanging from the ceiling. The temps have been dropping here in the evening to about 50 degrees. Buster does just fine. The dogloo is under a covered patio and we cover the door of the dogloo at night and also wrap a blanket round the house. The temp stays around 75 degrees. We keep a thermometer in there and check it around 11:30 PM and again around 5:00 AM. These past two weeks we have kept the lamp and blanket on 24/7 but uncover the door during the day. Our temps have been around 65-70 during the day. He/she comes out grazes and then goes back to the warmth. We had drizzle the last two days. He/she still comes out but won't stay out as long. If the temps drop we'll place some grass clippings, cactus, hibiscus leaves and clover just inside his/her house so he/she won't have to leave. So far it has been working out. We'll see as the winter goes on.

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Re: African spurred tortise (sulcata) Hibernation? Michelle 05/20/00 (0)

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: : HELLO, : : I have a 3 year old sulcata approx. 13 inches. it has : : spent its first year outside this year and is very : : healthy with great appetite. : : My question are: Does the sulcata have a hibernation period. : : If it does not, can it adapt. : : What kind of outdoor temperatures can it : : stand in the winter (Phoenix, AZ.). : : Do I need to bring him back inside? : : please respond soon, thank you for your time, : : Chris : : : :Chris....We have a three yr. old sulcata that has spent the last seven months outdoors 24/7. They do not hibernate, as you now already know. Ours is continuing to stay out now. We have him/her in a dogloo with a pig blanket on the floor and ceramic heat lamp hanging from the ceiling. The temps have been dropping here in the evening to about 50 degrees. Buster does just fine. The dogloo is under a covered patio and we cover the door of the dogloo at night and also wrap a blanket round the house. The temp stays around 75 degrees. We keep a thermometer in there and check it around 11:30 PM and again around 5:00 AM. These past two weeks we have kept the lamp and blanket on 24/7 but uncover the door during the day. Our temps have been around 65-70 during the day. He/she comes out grazes and then goes back to the warmth. We had drizzle the last two days. He/she still comes out but won't stay out as long. If the temps drop we'll place some grass clippings, cactus, hibiscus leaves and clover just inside his/her house so he/she won't have to leave. So far it has been working out. We'll see as the winter goes on.

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