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Long story short...I have two 50 pound sulcatas, one female who arrived in June and a male who arrived in October. The female was completely impacted with dirt and gravel, had been attacked by the male and had been stabbed by a human three times. The male got loose twice and was picked up after being hit by a log truck. (skipped him out like a hocky puck but no serious injuries) He was taken to our local aquarium by some well intentioned folks and the owner then called and asked me to pick him up. She couldn't care for them but didn't want to part with them. The female had already run up a substantial bill and after some negotiation I was to keep the female and house the male till spring. Well he has been housed indoors with uvb mercury vapor bulb and a heat emitter in an indoor room on hay. Same with female only another room. The owner finally came to get him on wednesday and called this am to say he is dead. I was stunned. He was fine a few days ago. She put him in an outdoor pen and the temps were at 40 degrees during the night. He had a plywood box with a plastic door and a light bulb for heat! I think the temp shock killed him or he ate something toxic. She thinks I am responsible although she says he was eating and fine when he came home. Would two nights at forty degrees kill him? could toxic plants have done it that fast? I didn't think she was going to take him and put him in the same pen as before since he had been indoors all winter. Our day temps have only been 55 degrees. I really feel I let him down.
The female by the way is fully recovered with the exception of needing some more strength in her back legs. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks

some people......that could absolutly kill one. expecially because the temp. never got back up so it kept getting colder. dont feel bad you did what you could. what you need to look at is that when he left your care he was in good shape. are you responsible for a package that you send if ups dosent handle it properly?

Sulcatas should never be exposed to temperatures below fifty degrees for any extended period, extended being defined as any length of time over twelve hours (and even twelve hours could guarantee at least a nose cold). These animals come from Sub-Saharan and Sahelian Africa. They do not exprience such low temps there.

It is a shame that a proud beast who survived a collision with a logging truck and a knife in the hands of a malicious sicko was taken out by an irresponsible keeper. That person should not be allowed care access to a cockroach, let alone a tortoise. I am so consistently disappointed by individuals who fail to keep up with even the most basic of animal maintenance. As human beings, we have the responsibility to ensure the protection of these animals, as we are the only ones in a position to do so. They are in our care by our doing, and it is the keeper's responsibility to ensure no harm comes to their charge. Sorry to rant about this, but it just angers me to limitless extent when some entirely preventable tragedy occurs. I mean, it's one thing to lose an freshly imported animal to disease and stress. It is another thing entirely to lose an otherwise healthy animal to environmental mismanagement.

T.G.

Thank you for your information. I have contacted animal control but I doubt that will do any good. I will not be allowing this person any contact with the female and if we go to court ,so be it. I really enjoy rescue work but the people problems can be overwelming.
On a lighter note...the female is trying her best to climb into my boxers dog bed!! My dogs seem a bit conserned! Does anyone else have a sulcata that wants a big cuddly bed of her own? LOL
Thanks again for the support, both now and in the past.

I disagree somewhat with the below paragraph. Sulcata's do experience very cold temperatures in their native environment as the desert areas where they are found can get quote cold at night and then inversly hot during the day.

They avoid both by using their extensive burrows.

We have kept a large herd here in Texas for years without supplemental heat and rarely experience anything resembling illness. At first we bought into the standard idea for this species but a little research quickly showed us the error in our thinking. We have had sulcatta's awaken on a 32F morning and breed in the afternoon. For prolonged cold they burrow or simply mound hay over them to keep the wind off of them.

>>Sulcatas should never be exposed to temperatures below fifty degrees for any extended period, extended being defined as any length of time over twelve hours (and even twelve hours could guarantee at least a nose cold). These animals come from Sub-Saharan and Sahelian Africa. They do not exprience such low temps there.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

the tortoise in question was taken from an indoor enclosure that was never below 70 degrees and put outside in 45 degree day temps and 38 degree nite temps. I lasted two and a half days. Didn't have a burrow or time to dig one. But your info is interesting... neat to know they are that resistant if given a chance.
No one has mentioned plant poisoning...would he succumb to a toxic plants that quickly? We have alot of buttercup in the grass around here. I guess I'll never know what happened for sure. Seems such a waste. Thanks to everyone for your ideas.

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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

I'll chime in to agree with Chris. I have had sulcata in my SoCal backyard for ten years without supplemental heat and they are laying eggs! Like Chris said. Nothing that resembles a disease.

During our very cold (sometimes sub-freezing) weather they lay low and avoid the extremes, that is all.

>>I disagree somewhat with the below paragraph. Sulcata's do experience very cold temperatures in their native environment as the desert areas where they are found can get quote cold at night and then inversly hot during the day.
>>
>>They avoid both by using their extensive burrows.
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>>We have kept a large herd here in Texas for years without supplemental heat and rarely experience anything resembling illness. At first we bought into the standard idea for this species but a little research quickly showed us the error in our thinking. We have had sulcatta's awaken on a 32F morning and breed in the afternoon. For prolonged cold they burrow or simply mound hay over them to keep the wind off of them.
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES