Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a hatchling Sulcata a couple months ago, at the moment I'm living in Florida but am going to be making a move to Michigan and very curious as to how some of you go about caring for your large Sulcatas in colder climates.

What do you do in the winter times when it's just too cold for them to be housed outdoors? I know there are benefits of them staying outdoors opposed to being indoors year round so I would like to go that route. When the cold weather sets in do they slow down and tend to be less active, even when heated indoors? How big of a space do you suggest, and how do you go about heating and lighting it? Should I plan on building an enclosure for it to move in and out of during the warmer seasons and be housed in during the colder ones? If you do that do they have a tendency to move into there on their own as it starts to get colder, or do they have to be moved in there?

I can't think of anymore questions at the moment, I'm completely clueless as how to go about housing one in those conditions so any comments, suggestions, tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

What part of michigan you moving too? im live in muskegon which is along lake michigan about half way up the lower peninsula. I have two sulcattas. One is 8 yrs old and one is four. I have also inquired on this site about living situations for my tortoises. Since 1999 I have kept them indoors in a 8 by 3 foot horse trough. From about late april to late october they stay outside and have my whole back yard to roam. They are currently 32 lbs and 10 lbs. I now may try and build an enclosure in my detached un heated garage for winters but I want to make sure it is safe

How ironic. I'm actually going to be moving to Muskegon. I was just up there a couple weeks ago, it's very beautiful. I'd love to talk to you about the situation more if you don't mind. My email is Chaosofapen@hotmail.com