Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today, it was 109 degree which is cooler than yesterday. Right now my three toed box turtle is still small so I keep him inside with UVB light, but I'm starting to doubt if it would really be good to keep him outside once he is big enough. I mean it reached 109 degree today and it is bone dry outside. That can't be good for box turtles living outside! Tell me what you think? Do think constantly watering the enclosure outside and providing shelter from the heat is enough to keep them healthy?

Wild box turtles live outside year round.

Unless you are well outside your Three-toed's natural range, you should be able to house the turtle outside, assuming that you provide it with an adequate habitat which includes various options for shade, sun, a water source, cover, etc.
To give you an example, my Easterns live outside here in Central Virginia, where it gets plenty hot (over 100 on occasion), but they have plenty of shady areas in their enclosure as well as a small pond where they can beat the heat.

Yes, I live way out of the range of the three toed box turtle. I live in Northern California in the Central Valley which gets really hot and dry in the summer. Is there a problem?

The next thing you should evaluate is whether or not the climate in your area has any *similarities* to the natural range of a Three-toed, and what you can do to enhance that.

Given that it gets very hot in the natural range of a Three-toed, but tends to be more humid, research ways in which you can provide those humid conditions where you are. Not impossible to do.

Maybe you could rig up a low-to-the-ground mister system of some sort. It's a cheap system if you have a water source to connect with.

I live in Dallas and keep a 3-toed, as well as two Easterns. And what Steph is saying is right on. I provide mine with plenty of shade, plants, logs, and leaves to hide in, and a small pond. Everyone is healthy as a horse, eating great and enjoying life. I know it doesn't get as hot or dry here as it does by you, but last week when it hit 104 degrees four days in a row, I just made sure to spray down their enclosure before I left for work and when I came back.

Hey, thanks for responding everyone!

Does it get really cold at night in your valley? I know that in some areas of central and Southern California, it can be up to a buck twenty during the day and near freezing at night. I wouldn't risk keeping a three toed outside in that climate.

You might consider building some artificial burrows and starting a group of desert box turtles, "Terrapene ornate luteola". They are very hardy, rewarding to work with, and should do well in your area.

Actually, it can get down into the 60's at night...not that bad...but it's pretty dry over hear. We are having one of the worst drought.

You're right, that's not so bad. Like the other said, three toeds should do fine with the heat if you can find a way to overcome the dryness.