Lovely enclosure there. We inherited our 80+ year old California Desert tortoise 20 years ago from my husband’s parents. She was purchased at a pet store in the 60’s when it was legal. (She is registered) She sleeps in our old plastic cat crate that my husband puts dirt and moss in. He modified it and closed the side slots but we leave the front cage uncovered for air. She stays in an outside addition to our home that has no heating. It is perfect for her and if temps do drop below 40 then we bring her in for the night. It is very convenient and she does really well. Thank you for all of the tips! We love our tortoise and feel so blessed to have had her for so long. 🤍
Wow! What a fun story! Another older tortoise! I love that she has everything she needs! She's a part of your family and you understand her needs. I'm sure she loves you guys! I love stories like this! Thank you so much for sharing! Your story may help others in creating spaces for their tortoises. Thank you for watching my videos and thank you for this awesome comment!
Thank you so much for your videos. I have been watching them for a few years. I have 2 desert tortoises in an approved enclosure. I live in Vail AZ East of Tucson. Its higher than Tucson and can get quite chilly and often snows a few times a year. I bring my youngest tortoise inside my home into a cool closet when there's a really cold period of weather. My 40-year-old desert tortoise has a deep burrow he extended over the years I can no longer reach him when he hibernates. I have a heater in there that only kicks in at around the low 60s that keeps the top of his burrow from freezing. He also likes to warm up next to it when he starts to come out of hibernation. I put s screen over the entrance during the coldest months to prevent rodents from getting in there when he's sleeping.
Thanks for watching my videos. I love that you are sharing this! So basically you are doing what I do in that you deal with each tortoise based on their size and needs. Many variable involved with each home, space and overall setup including the age and size of the tortoise. I love that you place a heater on top of his burrow! And the screen over the entrance is perfect! I may mention these things in a future video! Thanks again for watching my videos and we'll enjoy our babies once again in the spring!
They kinda go in and out before a complete hibernation. Since if they're out sunning and look interested in eating i feed them. It's typically good for them to not eat about 2 weeks prior to full hibernation but they sorta handle that by slowing down. All of my babies only hibernated a couple months at age 2. Longer as they age. Also temps of course dictate hibernation and their slow down. Thanks for your question. I'm here if you have other questions. You can also friend me on fb Kris Ginger Vegas
Coming from The Tortoise Guy that is quite a compliment! Thanks for watching. I love that we love our torts! I always miss them this time of year. Thanks again. See you around!
My desert baby is in a burrow outside. At what temperature rate is it dangerous for them to be outside and sleep in. I also have a thermometer on the inside and outside of this burrow to keep track. Thanks again and I love your content 🥰 please keep making more !!
Best to keep it 40 to 60 and make sure there is no water to avoid freezing. Also best to cover the opening with mesh or screen to keep any rodents out. Very good that you have a thermometer both inside and outside. You can always bring him inside and store in a cool dark quiet place in a box if it gets too cold outside. Thank you for watching!
Hi! I just had a question about my tortoise. If they eat and then they immediately go to hibernation the next day because of this crazy weather it got so cold so quick, will he be okay or will the food rot in their stomach? What can I do so that doesn't happen? Thanks again
It should be fine because they will most likely come out a couple more times as the weather goes up and down in temps before settling into the cold. I was worried as well but then saw a couple of them sunning today. I recommend to not feed anymore due to the cold weather. They should regulate themselves on any plant food if they need it. Tortoises do much better with all of this than other reptiles. So again, dont worry but just keep an eye out. You should see him go in and out of hibernation before settling for the long winter hibernation. Thank you for your question! Enjoy your Tortoise!
Yes but I'd cover the burrow entry once you know they aren't coming out til spring to ensure rodents or predators can't get them. Outdoors is ideal as long as they're protected. Sounds like your little one is protected. Good parents always worry. ❤️
No lights during hibernation. I keep them in complete darkness in the winter hibernation period. Dark, cool and quiet place. 40-60 degrees. The babies under 2 years old are a different story though. I used the UV and heat lamps on the little ones when I kept them indoors and the first year in the backyard. They are all over 2 years old now so I dont plan to use lights on them anymore. They can regulate their body temperatures with the sun. The UV light provides what the sun rays give them that are important for growth and shell development and the heat lamp provides warmth. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching! Enjoy your tortoise!
Lovely enclosure there. We inherited our 80+ year old California Desert tortoise 20 years ago from my husband’s parents. She was purchased at a pet store in the 60’s when it was legal. (She is registered) She sleeps in our old plastic cat crate that my husband puts dirt and moss in. He modified it and closed the side slots but we leave the front cage uncovered for air. She stays in an outside addition to our home that has no heating. It is perfect for her and if temps do drop below 40 then we bring her in for the night. It is very convenient and she does really well. Thank you for all of the tips! We love our tortoise and feel so blessed to have had her for so long. 🤍
Wow! What a fun story! Another older tortoise! I love that she has everything she needs! She's a part of your family and you understand her needs. I'm sure she loves you guys!
I love stories like this! Thank you so much for sharing! Your story may help others in creating spaces for their tortoises.
Thank you for watching my videos and thank you for this awesome comment!
Thank you so much for your videos. I have been watching them for a few years. I have 2 desert tortoises in an approved enclosure. I live in Vail AZ East of Tucson. Its higher than Tucson and can get quite chilly and often snows a few times a year. I bring my youngest tortoise inside my home into a cool closet when there's a really cold period of weather. My 40-year-old desert tortoise has a deep burrow he extended over the years I can no longer reach him when he hibernates. I have a heater in there that only kicks in at around the low 60s that keeps the top of his burrow from freezing. He also likes to warm up next to it when he starts to come out of hibernation. I put s screen over the entrance during the coldest months to prevent rodents from getting in there when he's sleeping.
Thanks for watching my videos.
I love that you are sharing this! So basically you are doing what I do in that you deal with each tortoise based on their size and needs. Many variable involved with each home, space and overall setup including the age and size of the tortoise. I love that you place a heater on top of his burrow! And the screen over the entrance is perfect! I may mention these things in a future video!
Thanks again for watching my videos and we'll enjoy our babies once again in the spring!
The tortoises still eat before hibernation? I have a 2 year old and still learning
They kinda go in and out before a complete hibernation. Since if they're out sunning and look interested in eating i feed them. It's typically good for them to not eat about 2 weeks prior to full hibernation but they sorta handle that by slowing down.
All of my babies only hibernated a couple months at age 2. Longer as they age. Also temps of course dictate hibernation and their slow down.
Thanks for your question. I'm here if you have other questions.
You can also friend me on fb Kris Ginger Vegas
Great video!
Coming from The Tortoise Guy that is quite a compliment!
Thanks for watching. I love that we love our torts! I always miss them this time of year.
Thanks again. See you around!
My desert baby is in a burrow outside. At what temperature rate is it dangerous for them to be outside and sleep in. I also have a thermometer on the inside and outside of this burrow to keep track. Thanks again and I love your content 🥰 please keep making more !!
Best to keep it 40 to 60 and make sure there is no water to avoid freezing. Also best to cover the opening with mesh or screen to keep any rodents out.
Very good that you have a thermometer both inside and outside.
You can always bring him inside and store in a cool dark quiet place in a box if it gets too cold outside.
Thank you for watching!
check out this link for further info on domestic mojave desert tortoises www.azgfd.com/wildlife/nongamemanagement/tortoise/coldweathercare/
Hi! I just had a question about my tortoise. If they eat and then they immediately go to hibernation the next day because of this crazy weather it got so cold so quick, will he be okay or will the food rot in their stomach? What can I do so that doesn't happen? Thanks again
It should be fine because they will most likely come out a couple more times as the weather goes up and down in temps before settling into the cold. I was worried as well but then saw a couple of them sunning today. I recommend to not feed anymore due to the cold weather. They should regulate themselves on any plant food if they need it.
Tortoises do much better with all of this than other reptiles. So again, dont worry but just keep an eye out. You should see him go in and out of hibernation before settling for the long winter hibernation.
Thank you for your question!
Enjoy your Tortoise!
Is it safe for them to brumate outside with their burrow being actively protected from rain and excessive cold?
Yes but I'd cover the burrow entry once you know they aren't coming out til spring to ensure rodents or predators can't get them. Outdoors is ideal as long as they're protected. Sounds like your little one is protected. Good parents always worry. ❤️
Do u keep lights on them during the day?
No lights during hibernation. I keep them in complete darkness in the winter hibernation period. Dark, cool and quiet place. 40-60 degrees.
The babies under 2 years old are a different story though.
I used the UV and heat lamps on the little ones when I kept them indoors and the first year in the backyard. They are all over 2 years old now so I dont plan to use lights on them anymore. They can regulate their body temperatures with the sun.
The UV light provides what the sun rays give them that are important for growth and shell development and the heat lamp provides warmth.
I hope this answers your question.
Thanks for watching!
Enjoy your tortoise!