What you need to do is provide an area with very good drainage so the substrate can dry out during the warm daytime temperatures.

Humid cool temperatures will kill a russian (I rarely use 'will').

What I do with my guys is keep them indoors 24/7. I'm in San Diego. I find this easier as far as Russians (and egyptians and golden greeks) are concerned. They seem to have very specific tolerances and any deviation does not seem to go well.

There are many people who keep russians outdoors 24/7 in SoCal but many of them seem to pay very close attention to them during the hibernation period such as placeing them in a cooler (cool and dry) or making sure they have a dry hibernaculum (cool and dry).

You can easily keep it outdoors during the day and provide a rubbermaid box filled with hay at night. Bring it in after sunset and put it out in the morning. (i pay my daughter to do this with many of my tortoises)

March to December (for SoCal) should be no problem keeping them outdoor 24/7 if you have an area that drys out during the day.
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]