No outside power. Enclosure advice

[happy.rat.family]

Hi all! I have a sulcata named Turtwig. I've had him for 3 years. I believe he's 4 years old but i'm not sure. I found him and when looking for his owner no one came forward so I've been taking care of him. I live in the Phoenix area. Have a house with a nice backyard and an enclosure for him. But the problem is I have no outside power as my house is older.

At night when it gets below 60, I'm not sure what I can do for him. I know he needs a heated space, but I'm not sure how to provide it. Given that I don't have power outside in my house, I'm looking for any suggestions. Is there a way I can make solar work? If so that would be amazing, but i don't know much about solar.

According to Phoenix weather reports, the coldest night this year was January at 36 degrees F. I want to get him a doghouse, so he is protected from the elements. But will that keep him warm enough? I'm assuming no. I'm assuming I need something with power to keep him warm enough. Anyone know how cold is too cold for a Sulcata.

Right now, he's small enough that I can pick him up and move hi. inside if I have to, but I'm looking for a long-term solution. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!
Turtwig will stay healthy if his body temperature won't fall far below 80F. This means that he needs a night house heated to this temperature and free access to heated area during the day.

Dog kennels are usually bad insulated and too tall to be effectively heated. You will need to build a special tortoise night box like this: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/single-tortoise-night-box.181515/

I guess, installing solar panels and battery will be more expensive and less reliable than hiring someone to install electric cables to his pen.

Maybe it's possible to build him a night box attached to the house and connect to electric wiring in the house. Or you can dedicate him a space inside (laundry room, guest bathroom, a section in a garage etc.). In any case, you will need to make sure he stays locked in a heated area at night (some tortoises learn how to use night boxes, some needs to be lured or moved in a cart from time to time). During day time you'll have to supervise him and take him to warm up whenever he tucks in the shade waiting for summer.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The lack of a power outlet might not be as big a deal as you think it is.
I had no power either. I removed an indoors power receptacle, drilled a hole through the cement wall and installed a waterproof GFI receptacle outside in line. Directly on the other side of the cement block wall.
While this may or not be something that most handy people can do. Or should try to do without basic electrical experience, it's certainly something a professional electrician could do. And it shouldn't be very expensive.

 

[Yvonne G]

Build him a insulated night box up next to the house. There are two options:

Build the night box next to a wall that has an outlet in the room next to that wall. Punch through the wall and splice in electrical to that outlet. Then protect the outside with an outdoor outlet cover. (I hired an electrician to do this for me and it only cost $15O)

Or build the night box as close to a door or window as possible and run a heavy duty extension into the house. I've done this too, and have a couple going now that have been there over 10 years.

 

[happy.rat.family]

Hello and welcome!
Turtwig will stay healthy if his body temperature won't fall far below 80F. This means that he needs a night house heated to this temperature and free access to heated area during the day.

Dog kennels are usually bad insulated and too tall to be effectively heated. You will need to build a special tortoise night box like this: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/single-tortoise-night-box.181515/

I guess, installing solar panels and battery will be more expensive and less reliable than hiring someone to install electric cables to his pen.

Maybe it's possible to build him a night box attached to the house and connect to electric wiring in the house. Or you can dedicate him a space inside (laundry room, guest bathroom, a section in a garage etc.). In any case, you will need to make sure he stays locked in a heated area at night (some tortoises learn how to use night boxes, some needs to be lured or moved in a cart from time to time). During day time you'll have to supervise him and take him to warm up whenever he tucks in the shade waiting for summer.

Thank you! We are going to move his enclosure next to the house so it won't be far from electricity. I'll have to get an electrician to do since work. I appreciate the advice! ☺

 

[happy.rat.family]

The lack of a power outlet might not be as big a deal as you think it is.
I had no power either. I removed an indoors power receptacle, drilled a hole through the cement wall and installed a waterproof GFI receptacle outside in line. Directly on the other side of the cement block wall.
While this may or not be something that most handy people can do. Or should try to do without basic electrical experience, it's certainly something a professional electrician could do. And it shouldn't be very expensive.

Oh nice! I might not be handy enough to do it, but i might be able to find someone who is. Thank you!

 

[happy.rat.family]

Build him a insulated night box up next to the house. There are two options:

Build the night box next to a wall that has an outlet in the room next to that wall. Punch through the wall and splice in electrical to that outlet. Then protect the outside with an outdoor outlet cover. (I hired an electrician to do this for me and it only cost $15O)

Or build the night box as close to a door or window as possible and run a heavy duty extension into the house. I've done this too, and have a couple going now that have been there over 10 years.

Wow that's awesome that it worked for over 10 years! I might do that just depending on the electricians price. Thank you so much

 

[Tom]

Wow that's awesome that it worked for over 10 years! I might do that just depending on the electricians price. Thank you so much

Just remember that dog houses are designed for dogs, and they don't work well for tortoises. You need an insulated box with a low ceiling and a closable door.

 

[jaizei]

Do you have an outside electrical panel? And if so, is it close to where you could put his enclosure? Ideally, you would have someone add a separate circuit for his heating equipment.

 

[happy.rat.family]

Do you have an outside electrical panel? And if so, is it close to where you could put his enclosure? Ideally, you would have someone add a separate circuit for his heating equipment.

Hi! That's actually what we are thinking about doing. I just got a quote on it. Sadly I was quoted $800 for this. I might still have to do it, but dang, it's a lot of money.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Until you fix this problem...if you need heat for him immediately...fill a couple of mayo jars with hot water, wrap a towel around them and place them in a box next to the tort temp solution but easy enuf

 

[wellington]

Hi! That's actually what we are thinking about doing. I just got a quote on it. Sadly I was quoted $800 for this. I might still have to do it, but dang, it's a lot of money.

Unfortunately you will have to do something. He can't go unheated. His temps in the night box you need to build for him needs to never go below 80.

 

[happy.rat.family]

Until you fix this problem...if you need heat for him immediately...fill a couple of mayo jars with hot water, wrap a towel around them and place them in a box next to the tort temp solution but easy enuf

Good idea. Luckily he is still small so I can bring him in the house at night

 

[happy.rat.family]

Unfortunately you will have to do something. He can't go unheated. His temps in the night box you need to build for him needs to never go below 80.

You are right. I can still bring him inside at night currently. I guess I didn't realize how expensive an enclosure can be.

 

[wellington]

You are right. I can still bring him inside at night currently. I guess I didn't realize how expensive an enclosure can be.

Oh yeah, tortoises are not cheap pets, specially the larger ones. As long as you can still carry him, you can bring him in the house but do not let him roam the floors. Be sure the area you let him sleep inside is 80. But you will need something else, shed or night box by next winter most likely.

 

[jaizei]

Hi! That's actually what we are thinking about doing. I just got a quote on it. Sadly I was quoted $800 for this. I might still have to do it, but dang, it's a lot of money.

What was included in the quote? I can probably give you an idea of whether it was a reasonable amount for the work or high.

 

[happy.rat.family]

What was included in the quote? I can probably give you an idea of whether it was a reasonable amount for the work or high.

A 20 amp circuit, 60ft wire in conduit and a GFCI weatherproof receptacle.

I was thinking about just flipping an inside outlet to face outside. But a lot of our outlets are not grounded since we're have an older house. I don't know much about electrician work, so I'm wondering if it'd be safe to do that. Also I assume the heated night box will draw a lot of energy from the house if I do it that way.

 

[happy.rat.family]

Oh yeah, tortoises are not cheap pets, specially the larger ones. As long as you can still carry him, you can bring him in the house but do not let him roam the floors. Be sure the area you let him sleep inside is 80. But you will need something else, shed or night box by next winter most likely.

It would seem so . I want to provide him a home since I know there are so many without homes. But we are a paycheck to paycheck family. Other than enclosure set up and vet bills, what are the other major expenses?

Any reason he shoulding be roaming the floors, other than general tortoise mayhem?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Any reason he shoulding be roaming the floors, other than general tortoise mayhem?

Check this thread out, it lists pretty much all scenarios and reasons:

Should My Tortoise Be Allowed To Roam around on the Floor of my Room?

Ascott said: To let a tort roam our habitats or not? Always a question that will offer up a bunch of opinions, stories of what happened to some, stories of how dumb it is and success stories....so if you see the trend here, it is that folks do alot of different things based on their own lives...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[wellington]

It would seem so . I want to provide him a home since I know there are so many without homes. But we are a paycheck to paycheck family. Other than enclosure set up and vet bills, what are the other major expenses?

Any reason he shoulding be roaming the floors, other than general tortoise mayhem?

There is a link posted above for reasons to not roam floors of homes.
Being you are in AZ, the expense won't be as bad as for those in colder states.
Mainly heat provided when needed and humidity in warmer months by sprinklers or misters and to cool it down some when you are having record breaking temps.