Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,

Looking for some guidance and maybe a shove in the right direction. I live in the Savannah, Georgia area and am considering a turtle or tortoise for my backyard. I would prefer it stay outside year round. Just looking for some suggestions so I can research further.

Thanks again.

I'm unfamiliar with Savannah's climate could you tell me
average:
summer high
summer low
winter high
winter low
humidity

from experience if a tort can handle the average summer high and average humidity than you can keep that tort. (you will just have to tailor you yard to accommodate him Ex: sulcatas need a heat source in the winter.
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1.1.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Y.B.S.
1.3.1 Russian Tortoises
0.1 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family

Temperatures range from low 30's (f) in winter to high 90s in summer. We get approx 50 inches of rain per year. Humidity is high.

>>Temperatures range from low 30's (f) in winter to high 90s in summer. We get approx 50 inches of rain per year. Humidity is high.

The winters where you live would be too harsh for nearly any specie. You would have to build a heated shed outdoors, or bring them in for the winter. Cold blooded animals (all reptiles) can not regulate their temperature as well as we can. That is partially why it is extremely rare to find any reptiles naturally occuring below the freezing point.

I believe you are listing night time lows and daytime highs.

>>Temperatures range from low 30's (f) in winter to high 90s in summer. We get approx 50 inches of rain per year. Humidity is high.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

>>All,
>>
>>Looking for some guidance and maybe a shove in the right direction. I live in the Savannah, Georgia area and am considering a turtle or tortoise for my backyard. I would prefer it stay outside year round. Just looking for some suggestions so I can research further.
>>
>>Thanks again.

I think that the easiest to keep would be an eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina), especially one that is from your immediate area. If it is legal of course. You would still have to create an appropriate habitat with ground cover and water area.

The people at Agama International, based in Alabama, specialize in raising and breeding their reptiles outdoors year round. Here's a link to their russian tortoise habitat.

www.agamainternational.com/pages/russian_tortoise.htm

I keep russians, and have found them very tolerant of temps from about 40F to over 105F. They can tolerate humidity, but they can't be damp. It's very humid here in Missouri, but when kept in an outdoor pen that doesn't allow standing water (aside from a shallow bowl), has dry areas for basking, and has a dry area within their hide box, they have done well living outdoors from late March to around October (sometimes early November) each year. I'm not confident that I could create a suitable spot for hibernation with the hard clay soil around here, so I bring them indoors for the winter.

Your winter sounds far less severe, and you might be able to create something for your russians that allows outdoors living year-round.

Hi Bradtort,

Your Russians are beautiful, with really smooth shells. In view of what you said about the necessity for a dry environment, what are your views on the subject of humidity/hydration on pyramiding. The RussianTortoise.org site recommends (for indoor enclosures) keeping the hot end moist (damping down the substrate every day so that it is moist but not wet), and the cool end dry. This is what I've tried to do, and also to avoid any cool damp conditions (which outside in England is not an easy thing to do!).

Nina

>>Hi Bradtort,
>>
>>Your Russians are beautiful, with really smooth shells. In view of what you said about the necessity for a dry environment, what are your views on the subject of humidity/hydration on pyramiding. The RussianTortoise.org site recommends (for indoor enclosures) keeping the hot end moist (damping down the substrate every day so that it is moist but not wet), and the cool end dry. This is what I've tried to do, and also to avoid any cool damp conditions (which outside in England is not an easy thing to do!).
>>
>>Nina

When my russians are outdoors (around 7 months a year), the environment is humid enough, plus they get a water bowl, and if it's really hot, maybe a soak every few weeks. When they are indoors and awake (2-3 months), they get weekly soaks.

I just make sure they don't have to rest on wet soil at anytime when outdoors. This allows them to tolerate the wide range of temps. I'm surprised at how often they like to stay out on the grass in a cool rain. But they can go into their dry hide box anytime they want.

I try to avoid pyramiding by providing all-around good husbandry. Varied diet, adequate hydration, ample heat, large enclosure. And within the enclosure try to provide a range of heat and humidity, so they can select what suits their needs.

Sounds like the perfect recipe for happy, healthy torts!

Nina

illegal in GA. (boxies)

>>>>All,
>>>>
>>>>Looking for some guidance and maybe a shove in the right direction. I live in the Savannah, Georgia area and am considering a turtle or tortoise for my backyard. I would prefer it stay outside year round. Just looking for some suggestions so I can research further.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again.
>>
>>
>>I think that the easiest to keep would be an eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina), especially one that is from your immediate area. If it is legal of course. You would still have to create an appropriate habitat with ground cover and water area.
>>
>>The people at Agama International, based in Alabama, specialize in raising and breeding their reptiles outdoors year round. Here's a link to their russian tortoise habitat.
>>
>>www.agamainternational.com/pages/russian_tortoise.htm
>>
>>I keep russians, and have found them very tolerant of temps from about 40F to over 105F. They can tolerate humidity, but they can't be damp. It's very humid here in Missouri, but when kept in an outdoor pen that doesn't allow standing water (aside from a shallow bowl), has dry areas for basking, and has a dry area within their hide box, they have done well living outdoors from late March to around October (sometimes early November) each year. I'm not confident that I could create a suitable spot for hibernation with the hard clay soil around here, so I bring them indoors for the winter.
>>
>>Your winter sounds far less severe, and you might be able to create something for your russians that allows outdoors living year-round.
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Sulcatas are the perfect backyard tortoise. A heated house will get them through the winters and they are such neat tortoises but they do get big and do need space.

>>All,
>>
>>Looking for some guidance and maybe a shove in the right direction. I live in the Savannah, Georgia area and am considering a turtle or tortoise for my backyard. I would prefer it stay outside year round. Just looking for some suggestions so I can research further.
>>
>>Thanks again.
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

You are looking for a backyard turtle or tortoise. You've had suggestions to get a Sulcata. I have a Sulcata and this tortoise won't be right for you.

To start with, Sulcatas are a semi-desert African species. Their ideal temperature is 85F. Your Savannah, Georgia climate is too cool for a Sulcata to remain outside for 1/2 the year. They do not hibernate and will require heated indoor quarters from late fall, during winter and through spring months.

And they grow very, very big, very quickly. Within 5 years, your Sulcata will reach 20 to 50 lbs. They are also very aggressive and powerful diggers, pushing through every weak crevice and tunneling 2 to 3 feet deep down under any buried fence or wall.

You asked for a turtle or tortoise to keep year round in your backyard. A Sulcata will not meet your intentions. You should consider a box turtle instead. The species is native to your region. It will naturally hibernate 4 months or so under a 1' to 2' mound of leaves dumped into its enclosure.

Sulcatas main activities in life are eating, pounding away at any and every obstacle, eating and most of all, eating. Box turtles are less aggressive. In fact they are much more personable and will become bonded to you in time.

I suggest you Google "Box turtle care" and you will find a lot of info to help you make your choice.

Good luck to you, turtles and tortoises are great pets if you have the right ones for you.

After I posted my message about your keeping a turtle or tortoise in your backyard, I checked your State of Georgia regulations and found that it is not legal for you to keep a box turtle or any other native species of animal as a pet.

What that means is that you may legally only keep non-native species of turtles or tortoises. I suggest you post a new message specifically asking for recommendations on "Cold Climate Tolerant Turtles and Tortoises".