Wireless Heater?

yillt

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Hello, I have asked a lot about outdoor living and this SHOULD BE the last question. (Sorry if it's not.)
I am thinking of getting a cold frame or a Cosy Tortoises All-Season Tortoise Houses. Either way, I live in England and my five year old Marginated will certainly need additional heat in the night. I do not have any source of power in my garden and was wondering if there was a heater that was wireless. I was looking at ceramic heaters by exo terra but they need a lamp and therefore wires. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated as I really need this to work. As much as I love having his company, Billy is just getting to big to live in my room and outdoor living seems the perfect solution. Currently he has a very large guinea pig cage indoors which even seems small for him.
 

Tom

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I know of no wireless heating solution that will work for your application. You need consistent thermostat regulated heat for most of every year. Hot water bottles and hand warmers just won't be long lasting or controllable. You will need to run power out there one way or another.

And a guinea pig cage is too small for anything but a small hatchling tortoise. If your tortoise is big enough to live outside, then its certainly too big for an indoor guinea pig cage.
 

yillt

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I know of no wireless heating solution that will work for your application. You need consistent thermostat regulated heat for most of every year. Hot water bottles and hand warmers just won't be long lasting or controllable. You will need to run power out there one way or another.

And a guinea pig cage is too small for anything but a small hatchling tortoise. If your tortoise is big enough to live outside, then its certainly too big for an indoor guinea pig cage.
Would it be preferable if I had a cage/table/enclosure inside for the nights and I would let hi, sit under the heat lamp inside with uvb as well for a couple of hours then I put hi, in his outdoor cage all day where he has access to an insulated hut if it's a chilly day, thank you so much for your help in advance and already.
 

Tom

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Would it be preferable if I had a cage/table/enclosure inside for the nights and I would let hi, sit under the heat lamp inside with uvb as well for a couple of hours then I put hi, in his outdoor cage all day where he has access to an insulated hut if it's a chilly day, thank you so much for your help in advance and already.

My preference for tortoise keeping in my area for smaller species is to have both an indoor and outdoor enclosure. I use the outdoor enclosure when the weather is nice, and I have a totally suitable large indoor enclosure for nights and whenever the weather is not so nice.
 

yillt

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My preference for tortoise keeping in my area for smaller species is to have both an indoor and outdoor enclosure. I use the outdoor enclosure when the weather is nice, and I have a totally suitable large indoor enclosure for nights and whenever the weather is not so nice.
Thank you very much. If a guinea pig cage isn't big enough, what would you suggest? I was going to try a rubber maid (I think it's called that)
 

Tom

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I like a 4x8' table for Testudo species. A 4x8' closed chamber makes it even easier to maintain temps and humidity with a lot less electricity. A closed chamber does not have to be kept humid like what is needed for baby sulcatas. It can be kept with more moderate humidity too. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
 

WithLisa

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England isn't that cold, is it? If you keep Billy outside from March till November and let him brumate in winter I don't think you'll need additional heat at night. It would be a few degrees warmer inside the cold frame than outside and in the wild they also have chilly nights in spring and autumn.
It's more important that they can warm up during day (this might be a problem depending on your climate).
 

yillt

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England isn't that cold, is it? If you keep Billy outside from March till November and let him brumate in winter I don't think you'll need additional heat at night. It would be a few degrees warmer inside the cold frame than outside and in the wild they also have chilly nights in spring and autumn.
It's more important that they can warm up during day (this might be a problem depending on your climate).
So would you suggest keeping him outdoors and just putting him under the heat lamp indoors for a while then putting him back into his outdoor pen (with an insulated cold frame) ?
 

WithLisa

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I don't know, maybe it would be warm enough with the cold frame, you have to give it a try. It all depends on your climate (temperatures and how much sunshine you have).
But I wouldn't worry about the night temperatures as long as it's not freezing.
 

yillt

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Do you mean for indoor use or outdoor? It is not suitable for outdoor use.
Outdoor in a cold frame. My parents won't allow electricity into the garden and I am struggling to find any heaters. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
 

WithLisa

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Those heaters also need an electric socket.

If I were in your spot I would just get the cold frame, set it up and give it a try. In the worst case you have to keep Billy inside a few weeks in spring (and also if the weather is very bad for more than just a few days in summer). Or you can let him brumate longer (from beginning of November till end of March, 5 months should be no problem for him).
 

yillt

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So I have a sudden, unexpected surprise. I have an electric socket!! I just went out in the pouring dark English Winter (what we do for our tortoises) and I climbed behind our three bushes searching for sockets. And behind the second was a little box and behind the flap was A SOCKET!!!!! So now I have a much wider range of heaters available. Is a ceramic heater from expo terra ok? Thank you everyone for your help.
 

DutchieAmanda

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I don't know where you are located in the UK, and I don't know the exact temps needed for your tort, but the UK weather is often similar to the Dutch weather and I don't think I would keep any tort outside here without heating...
Maybe you can share what are normal / possible temps in your location?

EDIT: just read your post about the socket, great! I would use a CHE with a thermostat. Good luck!
 

Gillian M

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I agree with DutchieAmanda. I too would never keep a tort outside in countries like Germany, Holland, the UK, and for that matter Jordan, which is where I live. It's far too cold for torts. These cute little animals need HEAT.;)
 

WithLisa

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I agree with DutchieAmanda. I too would never keep a tort outside in countries like Germany, Holland, the UK, and for that matter Jordan, which is where I live. It's far too cold for torts. These cute little animals need HEAT.;)
That's not true. I've never been to Holland or Jordan, but the warmer parts of Germany and UK are warm enough when the torts have a good cold frame. I know many tortoise keepers in Germany that keep their tortoises outside year round without additional heat.
I've also never used additional heat, although I have a heat lamp and a heating cable. It wasn't necessary, the cold frame is almost always warmer than their natural habitats.

I even know people in Germany without a cold frame and their tortoises still seem to be healthy, but that is too risky in my opinion.
 

yillt

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That's not true. I've never been to Holland or Jordan, but the warmer parts of Germany and UK are warm enough when the torts have a good cold frame. I know many tortoise keepers in Germany that keep their tortoises outside year round without additional heat.
I've also never used additional heat, although I have a heat lamp and a heating cable. It wasn't necessary, the cold frame is almost always warmer than their natural habitats.

I even know people in Germany without a cold frame and their tortoises still seem to be healthy, but that is too risky in my opinion.
I live in London, which is considered the warmest part of England I think. Because of all the cars and lights and pollution. I think I may follow your advice and set up a nice cold frame with additional heating and if he ever needs it, an indoor setup. Ha you everyone for your help.
 

yillt

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I like a 4x8' table for Testudo species. A 4x8' closed chamber makes it even easier to maintain temps and humidity with a lot less electricity. A closed chamber does not have to be kept humid like what is needed for baby sulcatas. It can be kept with more moderate humidity too. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1451566292.268690.jpg
Does this look good? It's like a cold frame/ kennel all in o e and I can still attach a heat lamp in the kennel part
 
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