Danny,
There is one room that is generally warmer than the rest of the house, my south facing spare room. I will use that at night with a space heater nearby. What wattage do you think for the ceramic heater, and as I said I'm thinking about MegaRay for the basking light as it will heat a 30" circle, with 4 torts Ithink I'll need that.

So no gravel, too bad. Easier to clean. Why not?
How do I find suitable topsoil? Walmart? HomeDepot?
I have to make decisions soon. Right now I'm thinking of using an opaque plastic storage box which is 14"x33"x5". Can you give me an idea how to set that up? Heaters/uvb at each end cooler in the middle or cooler at one end uvb/heaters middle and other end. How deep is the substrate, how do I put it in? sand on soil? mixed together? Should I line it with anything?

I know my questions are endless but I don't want to injure or do harm to these guys because I didn't ask the right questions.

Lynn

This post was last modified: 01-15-2008 10:55 AM by lynncharlene.

Gravel is hard to heat up, it will stay cold longer in the cold ends. It will also heat up under the basking lamp and get to hot.
Sand and soil won't heat up to hot or get to cold at night.
Either of those places you should be able to find top soil or a Garden center/plant shop. Just make sure you get organic top soil.
The soil and sand should be mixed 70/30 soil to sand. You won't be able to get more than a 2 inch layer in something thats only 5 inches deep. No need to line the storage box.
I'd go with the heat/UV lamp at one end. The hide should be at the cool end. In the middle I'd add a regular 2 foot florscent light. You can never have to much light on Testudos. I'd put the ceramic heat emitter in a reflector over the cool end. That will come on only at night after the light have gone out.

Danny

[quote=egyptiandan]

Sand and soil won't heat up to hot or get to cold at night.
Either of those places you should be able to find top soil or a Garden center/plant shop. Just make sure you get organic top soil.
The soil and sand should be mixed 70/30 soil to sand. You won't be able to get more than a 2 inch layer in something thats only 5 inches deep. No need to line the storage box.
I'd go with the heat/UV lamp at one end. The hide should be at the cool end. In the middle I'd add a regular 2 foot florscent light. You can never have to much light on Testudos. I'd put the ceramic heat emitter in a reflector over the cool end. That will come on only at night after the light have gone out.


Danny,
How do I attach the light to plastic? I will be doing this by myself. What is a reflector? and what do you mean "over the cool end?" I'm trying to imagine the set up but without a lid, heck even with a lid I can't visualize the above. I'm in a very small town with limited resources for supplies. I will have to get nearly everything at Walmart, Home Depot, or online. There is no place to go within 150 miles to get help with this so you guys are it....If I need to order things online I have to hurry and choose because he could send the babies as early as later this week.

lynn

This post was last modified: 01-15-2008 11:23 AM by lynncharlene.

Lynn, here´s a link to a thread with some ideas for a Hermann's Enclosure.

I started with a coconut fiber substrate and ended up using 100% TopSoil wich is better for moisture (although a little harder to keep clean).

Thanks for the link, got lots of ideas.
Lynn

Well you won't be using the lid so we just have the open tote.
Here's the reflector lamps http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/12-3...46969.aspx
you can find these at walmart, get the one's with the ceramic socket.
Okay your looking at the tote stretched out the long way, for the demonstration purposes the right side will be the warm end. Hang the heat/UVB over this end. The left side will be the cool end. The hide goes on this end. The heat emitter will be over the left end, above the hide.
The florscent light will be inbetween the 2 reflector lamps.

Danny

Hi Lyn

if your house is really cool at night I suggest a ceramic heat emitter fixed up to a thermostat. You do not want light at nighttime.

Your torts need a place where they can hide when they want, my torts like a small box or empty food packet. Sometimes they like to feel snug and safe in a hiding place but they won't be really shy!

Well you won't be using the lid so we just have the open tote.
Here's the reflector lamps http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/12-3...46969.aspx
you can find these at walmart, get the one's with the ceramic socket.
Okay your looking at the tote stretched out the long way, for the demonstration purposes the right side will be the warm end. Hang the heat/UVB over this end. The left side will be the cool end. The hide goes on this end. The heat emitter will be over the left end, above the hide.
The florscent light will be inbetween the 2 reflector lamps.

Danny

How high does the emitter have to be and how high does the heat/uvb have to from the torts? I may have to get a higher sided tub.
lynn

no light at all during the night?

No, no light at night Lynn
Your going to have to adjust the heights of the light and the heat emitter to get the right temperature at ground level.

Danny