Self-regulating temperature when asleep?

Joma

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Hello. My family just got a Golden Greek a few weeks ago that was in need of a home. He?? (still need to figure this out :) is about 5 years old. As we live off grid, on solar (passively solar heated and active solar for power) we have had to be creative with the enclosure heating situation. We do not have the capacity run a high wattage basking light. However, the 4x3 table we have built is in our window and so during the day, it is well passively heated (ranges between areas with 75 and those with 90 on a sunny day). However, on a cloudy day our house (and the tortoise enclosure) can drop down to 60-65. To combat this without using a basking lamp, we have a low watt heat pad under one of the hides that keeps it toasty (at about 75 inside on a cloudy day). My question is: if Eugie goes in the heated hide during sunny days it may get up to 100 degrees in there. After he is asleep, if this is too hot for him, will he wake and move to one of the cooler, unheated hides? Just interested in the degree to which these guys can self regulate temperature, especially when they sleep. On a side note, we do have a UVB bulb as we can run its 13 watts on our solar system and we live in New Mexico, so most days are sunny ones. Thank you all.
 

wellington

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Is the 13 watt uvb a coil type bulb? The tubs are U shaped? Those have been know too cause eye problems and I wouldn't use it.
@HermanniChris i think can help you on the rest. Btw if you can get him outside 3-4 days a week for about an hour each you won't need a uvb bulb for indoors.
 

Minority2

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Hello. My family just got a Golden Greek a few weeks ago that was in need of a home. He?? (still need to figure this out :) is about 5 years old. As we live off grid, on solar (passively solar heated and active solar for power) we have had to be creative with the enclosure heating situation. We do not have the capacity run a high wattage basking light. However, the 4x3 table we have built is in our window and so during the day, it is well passively heated (ranges between areas with 75 and those with 90 on a sunny day). However, on a cloudy day our house (and the tortoise enclosure) can drop down to 60-65. To combat this without using a basking lamp, we have a low watt heat pad under one of the hides that keeps it toasty (at about 75 inside on a cloudy day). My question is: if Eugie goes in the heated hide during sunny days it may get up to 100 degrees in there. After he is asleep, if this is too hot for him, will he wake and move to one of the cooler, unheated hides? Just interested in the degree to which these guys can self regulate temperature, especially when they sleep. On a side note, we do have a UVB bulb as we can run its 13 watts on our solar system and we live in New Mexico, so most days are sunny ones. Thank you all.

What type of heating pad are you using?

Kane heating mat and reptile basics heating panels are the only safe large surface heating devices that I know of. A generic pet branded heating pad for example have been known to cause burns to tortoises and lizards. The two options I mentioned however, do require high wattage to operate correctly I'm afraid.

An adult Greek tortoise also requires at least an 8 x 4 ft enclosure. A 5 year old should be old enough to be housed permanently outdoors. Make sure the outdoor enclosure is escape and predator proof.
 

Joma

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We are using zoo med repitherm 16 Watts. We have put it underneath a half inch piece of cement board that we used to make the enclosure, and about 1.5 inch of substrate. The idea is that the cement board and the substrate defuses and also holds the heat.
 

Joma

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The bulb is
Is the 13 watt uvb a coil type bulb? The tubs are U shaped? Those have been know too cause eye problems and I wouldn't use it.
@HermanniChris i think can help you on the rest. Btw if you can get him outside 3-4 days a week for about an hour each you won't need a uvb bulb for indoors.

Humm. I hope this response gets to you. The bulb is a zoo med retpisun 10 uvb mini compact. I don't think it is a coil. We plan to have him outside during the day in the summer. But in the winter, because we are desert and at elevation, it is far too cold between about November and about March. Even between March and October the weather can turn very suddenly (mountain climate). What is the lowest temp they can go outside for during the day for about 45 minutes to get their sunlight?
 

Maro2Bear

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Hello. My family just got a Golden Greek a few weeks ago that was in need of a home. He?? (still need to figure this out :) is about 5 years old. As we live off grid, on solar (passively solar heated and active solar for power) we have had to be creative with the enclosure heating situation. We do not have the capacity run a high wattage basking light. However, the 4x3 table we have built is in our window and so during the day, it is well passively heated (ranges between areas with 75 and those with 90 on a sunny day). However, on a cloudy day our house (and the tortoise enclosure) can drop down to 60-65. To combat this without using a basking lamp, we have a low watt heat pad under one of the hides that keeps it toasty (at about 75 inside on a cloudy day). My question is: if Eugie goes in the heated hide during sunny days it may get up to 100 degrees in there. After he is asleep, if this is too hot for him, will he wake and move to one of the cooler, unheated hides? Just interested in the degree to which these guys can self regulate temperature, especially when they sleep. On a side note, we do have a UVB bulb as we can run its 13 watts on our solar system and we live in New Mexico, so most days are sunny ones. Thank you all.

Very cool that you are off the grid and using solar passive and active! I have a few solar panels that charge a bank of deep cell batteries. Then a DC to AC converter. Convenient when we lose power. Good luck with your tort. Taos is a great spot....if you are going off the grid,
 

Joma

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Very cool that you are off the grid and using solar passive and active! I have a few solar panels that charge a bank of deep cell batteries. Then a DC to AC converter. Convenient when we lose power. Good luck with your tort. Taos is a great spot....if you are going off the grid,
Lol. Taos is where I live :)
 

Minority2

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We are using zoo med repitherm 16 Watts. We have put it underneath a half inch piece of cement board that we used to make the enclosure, and about 1.5 inch of substrate. The idea is that the cement board and the substrate defuses and also holds the heat.

The basking area should still be around 95-105F. If your current heating pad is getting these temperature readings with the cement board in place then it may be fine. Though a Stanfield or Kane heating pad would have additional safety measures already in place. I would still suggest frequently checking your tortoise's shell for damage when soaking just in case.

The bulb is


Humm. I hope this response gets to you. The bulb is a zoo med retpisun 10 uvb mini compact. I don't think it is a coil. We plan to have him outside during the day in the summer. But in the winter, because we are at elevation, it is far too cold between about November and about March. Even between March and October the weather can turn very suddenly (mountain climate).

Those are also classified as compact florescent bulbs. They're unsafe just like the coiled bulbs are. Don't use them.

Linear florescent bulbs are what you want. Examples linked below:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/arcadia-desert-12-uvb/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQU8HAO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

You may require additional solar panels and batteries to power your dedicated indoor setup in the winter.
 

ZEROPILOT

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You would think that tortoises will automatically figure out that one area at night is warm and one area is too cold. But not all of them do.
Three winters ago, it got cold here and I had to go outside every night and place 6 of my then 8 tortoises into their heated night houses because they were sitting out in the open. Exposed.
So having a hot area during the day that is warmer than the rest of the enclosure at night doesn't mean that they will gravitate towards that area on their own.
You may have to do it for them.
 

Joma

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You would think that tortoises will automatically figure out that one area at night is warm and one area is too cold. But not all of them do.
Three winters ago, it got cold here and I had to go outside every night and place 6 of my then 8 tortoises into their heated night houses because they were sitting out in the open. Exposed.
So having a hot area during the day that is warmer than the rest of the enclosure at night doesn't mean that they will gravitate towards that area on their own.
You may have to do it for them.
 

Joma

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Thank you. This is what I wanted to know. I will let him use his brain .... until I think mine may work better lol.
 

Joma

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Thank you! I think our temps are mostly good and I will aim to get him outside as much as possible. It is not possible to just add solar panels to accommodate Eugie. Our system is more complicated than that.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Thank you. This is what I wanted to know. I will let him use his brain .... until I think mine may work better lol.
Tortoises do almost everything out of instinct. They actually are capable of learning very little. (In my opinion)
I know I might catch Hell for saying that.
I'm sure someone has a tortoise that can operate a Jet Ski......
 

Minority2

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Tortoises do almost everything out of instinct. They actually are capable of learning very little. (In my opinion)
I know I might catch Hell for saying that.
I'm sure someone has a tortoise that can operate a Jet Ski......

In my experience, I find tortoises to be selfish, greedy, and insensitive creatures that are incapable of holding still long enough for me to capture a steady picture. One of my youngest kept chasing me outside and attempted to take a bite out of the hood of my macro lens. He sucks.
 

Joma

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Tortoises do almost everything out of instinct. They actually are capable of learning very little. (In my opinion)
I know I might catch Hell for saying that.
I'm sure someone has a tortoise that can operate a Jet Ski......

Oh. Mine will be able to operate a jet ski by the time he’s 40 . Joking. I will look out for the sucker. Perhaps a better question to ask is what are the temperature tolerances ( not necessarily “perfect” but rather realistic) - upper and lower and for how long.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Oh. Mine will be able to operate a jet ski by the time he’s 40 . Joking. I will look out for the sucker. Perhaps a better question to ask is what are the temperature tolerances ( not necessarily “perfect” but rather realistic) - upper and lower and for how long.
I keep Redfoot....And I live in steamy SW Florida.
That's a question for someone else.
 

wellington

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The bulb is


Humm. I hope this response gets to you. The bulb is a zoo med retpisun 10 uvb mini compact. I don't think it is a coil. We plan to have him outside during the day in the summer. But in the winter, because we are desert and at elevation, it is far too cold between about November and about March. Even between March and October the weather can turn very suddenly (mountain climate). What is the lowest temp they can go outside for during the day for about 45 minutes to get their sunlight?
Yes, that bulb can cause eye problems. If you have it running length wise side too side, horizontal it should be fine. If you are hanging it vertical it will cause problems and stop using it.
For the heat pad, it should not cover the whole bottom of the hide. He should be able too move off of it but still be able too remain in the hide. Tortoise are more accustomed to their heat coming from above not below so he may not regulate well.
 

Joma

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Yes, that bulb can cause eye problems. If you have it running length wise side too side, horizontal it should be fine. If you are hanging it vertical it will cause problems and stop using it.
For the heat pad, it should not cover the whole bottom of the hide. He should be able too move off of it but still be able too remain in the hide. Tortoise are more accustomed to their heat coming from above not below so he may not regulate well.
Thank you. I will run the UVB lengthwise then. And yes, my first instinct was to "half place" the hide over the heat pad...but then it was a cloudy day and felt cold. I will reorganize it to half the hide is over the pad and half is removed. Appreciated.
 
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