Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok,

I've posted this a while back about keeping my 3-toed box turtle outside. It hits around low 30s in the night around Houston, TX now. I've kept my turtle still in her rubbermaid pen outside along with TONS of grass clippings and leaves. Do you guys think she'll be ok?

I mean, she's obviously survived years of it in the wild but then again, in the wild, if she got colder she could always dig deeper. I want to cool her down so when spring arrives, she'll get in the mood to lay some eggs.

It gets around mid to high 60s during the day time.
Thanks.

Johnny

oops..the subject title is how cold it is rite now out in Houston, TX....at 10 PM.

They need to be able to dig themselves into the ground deeper than the frost line. If the pen she's in enables her to do that then she should be fine. If she can't dig deeper than the frost line then she'll need to be moved.
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PHRatz

It's Houston...I don't think there will be a frost line!!

They should be fine. Mine are out now and its in the mid 30's, just give them a lot of leaf litter or yard trimmings to burrow in. The deeper the better.

>>It's Houston...I don't think there will be a frost line!!

Thanks Sal LOL I wasn't sure but I know you are. Over here in the west it does get really really cold from the end of Dec. until March, we have a frost line here.
I only know people from Houston, I've never spent a winter there.
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PHRatz

thanks guys...

it's warmed up a bit again recently...it's now around 44 degrees at night.

I took her in for some time when it was around 30s...but she's out again in her tub. Still pretty active, guess she's used to it. I hope moving her in and out won't mess up her biological clock somehow. When it DOES get to be really cold, i'm going to move her in permanently.