Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When they ar larger and kept outside what do they do in the winter I am in texas.I will have a heated shelter for them.Will they just go outside when they ant to and go out graze.Also when they are young how do you create a moist hide,I soke them everyday,so do they still need a humid hide.They are 3 weeks old.Two sulcata tortoises.

First of all, in winter, they should have a warm, safe "house" or shed to retreat to whe it's cold. I recommend giving them "outside time" as often as possible, year round. As for soaking, I know that many people will disagree with me here, but my three sulcatas do not soak at all. Every couple of days, I go out with a water hose and spray them down. The reason this is so effective is that Sulcatas are a desert species from the Sahara, and they absorb much of their water through their skin. Soaking them (in my humble opinion) gives them an excess of H2O, causing them to have runny stool and discomfort for them and you. Occasional dousing with water is generally sufficient. In winter, we douse them less than in summer, to simulate the drought conditions in the sahara in winter. They are very happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. But make sure they have a warm,, safe spot to get out of the cold. Mine have a 9' X 13' house that is kept between 70 and 90 degrees year-round, and about 3 times that much space outside. You might want to consider something like that, since that way they're not in your house that way. (They can bust through drywall quite easily when they're bigger--lol) Good luck with your sulcatas
menagerie