am i ready

[Mookins]

ok i have a list of whats in my basket ready to buy for my Sulcata's indoor enclosure, please let me know where and when ive gone wrong and if ive forgotten anything....

Red night bulb and holder 60 watt
Heat mat (these go on the side of the viv! unlike with gechos)
Basking light and holder 100 watt
Ceramic bulb? and holder
dimming thermo regulator
substrate- soil,sand mix
thermometor
water bath
plants
hide away

thanks xx

 

[Lasciels Toy]

I always heard heat mats were a no no, although mounting on the side..I've never heard of that, I would imagine most would tell you to just get a CHE and thermostat instead. You also want a flat rock/s for basking/feeding.

 

[Steve_McQueen]

You can skip the red light and just use the CHE. Tortoises see in a different spectrum, and the red can cause them to mistake things for food that aren't. Sand can cause problems, so you might want to use something like cypress mulch instead.

Check out Tom's several threads for all kinds of helpful information.

How To Raise a Sulcata and The End of Pyramiding (it's long, but very well worth it).

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Re: RE: am i ready

ok i have a list of whats in my basket ready to buy for my Sulcata's indoor enclosure, please let me know where and when ive gone wrong and if ive forgotten anything....

Red night bulb and holder 60 watt
Heat mat (these go on the side of the viv! unlike with gechos)
Basking light and holder 100 watt
Ceramic bulb? and holder
dimming thermo regulator
substrate- soil,sand mix
thermometor
water bath
plants
hide away

thanks xx

No red bulb needed
I personally don't use or recommend heats mats either
You can get a basking light and it's holder at Lowes or home depot. The brooder lamps are about $12 and a bulb is only a few bucks.
No dimmer, get a thermostat for the CHE
Yes to the ceramic bub aka CHE, you can also get a $12 brooder clamp lamp for this.
Just plain top soil, no sand
Use a terra cotta saucer for the water dish.. $2.50-$6 based on size
Yes to plants, the more the better
A Hide if you want to, i let mine hide in the plants.

 

[Mookins]

Thanks everyone, well heat mat i was told by local reptile house!! so glad i have you all because id tend to go with your experience....although is it because im in the UK? wall mounted too i thought that was very strange but who am I to judge...will leave it out for now

No red bulb- thats good, wasnt sure how Id fit 3 over the top of the tank lol

No sand just soil fabulous ive read about impaction ...not good

thanks peeps
no doubt will be back soon
xxxx

 

[Ansh]

I didn't see a UV light source on your list. Sorry if I missed it. If your tort is likely to be indoor most of the time you will need a UVB light source as well. All the best!

 

[Mookins]

I didn't see a UV light source on your list. Sorry if I missed it. If your tort is likely to be indoor most of the time you will need a UVB light source as well. All the best!

have chosen a basking light with UV source "Exo Terra solar glo! is that right?
thanks xx

 

[theelectraco]

have chosen a basking light with UV source "Exo Terra solar glo! is that right?
thanks xx

I would get a zoomed Powersun instead. Worth the extra $10-20