CHE needed?

[tortoisenerd]

I don't believe in any type of under substrate heating for any type of indoor tort, only pig blankets for very large outdoor torts. It is unnatural for them to get heat from below. Using a heat bulb is a natural way to provide heat and a safe alternative (provided you take the proper precautions against fire hazard). I don't like the idea that it becomes warmer as they dig down nor the potential for overheating. Also, I don't like to keep my tort too warm at night--I like to keep him at the lower end of his day temps, similar to in the wild, although I do believe that keeping babies warmer than adults is necessary as they are fragile. I suggest owners do the research and make their own informed decision as to what they think is the right choice. Plenty of people use heat mats for torts but I disagree with it. I like the idea of radiant head panels to provide heat from above, but they are expensive and would be tough to install on an open top tort table. If you do use a heat mat, you definitely need to have it on only part of the enclosure, and if you can hook up a thermostat or some sort of fail safe for it to kick off over a particular temperature that is ideal. I just don't see the reason to use a heat mat when I heat bulb will provide heat with no negatives, only positives. Also, some torts (like mine sometimes) will chose to sleep in the unheated area. Not much you can do about that besides pick them up and put them where you want them to sleep (mine will then typically go back to where he wants to sleep). Best wishes.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I don't believe in any bottom type heat mats for any tort under 20 pounds.. It's not natural and I have seen and heard about them deforming the plastrons of smaller tortoises. If you don't have a thermostat there's a chance of burning the tort. That's my opinion, maybe it's old fashioned but Mother Nature raised hundreds of thousands of animals and plants using heat from above called the sun and I don't think I am smarter then her so I use heat from above.

 

[chadk]

Good point maggie. But what does the sun do all day long when it shines down on rocks or sand? It heats it up. Even go barefoot on the beach at night after a hot day? Sand can still be warm between your toes.... That said, I'm not a fan of under tank heaters. Mainly because I think it will dry out the substrate too fast.

 

[Tom]

I vote over head only. Until they are big and living outside, then I like the pig blankies.

 

[Whiteshizzle]

Alright, I increased the heating of my house and the aquarium at night sits around 68 F. Thanks all who commented

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Good point maggie. But what does the sun do all day long when it shines down on rocks or sand? It heats it up. Even go barefoot on the beach at night after a hot day? Sand can still be warm between your toes.... That said, I'm not a fan of under tank heaters. Mainly because I think it will dry out the substrate too fast.

Guess I'm kinda dumb here Chad but I am missing your point...

 

[Yvonne G]

Guess I'm kinda dumb here Chad but I am missing your point...

Chad is saying that after shining on a rock all day long, the rock will now provide bottom heat for whoever wants to sit on it. (or the earth)

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Alright, I increased the heating of my house and the aquarium at night sits around 68 F. Thanks all who commented

I don't think you are understanding how a tortoise gets warm. I forget exactly what they are called but they do whats called thermoregulate. They heat themselves up by getting under a hot light then they cool off by moving away from the light. So no matter how warm YOUR room is, it will not warm up the tortoise. He absolutely needs to get under a hot light to thermoregulate their heat. If you don't use a basking light for daytime and another warming light at night you will end up with a sick or dead baby.
You can keep him warm at night by using a $4 black light bulb and I see no reason for you to not use it. I think we are all trying to help you but what I am seeing is that you are not understanding how to keep that baby

 

[Whiteshizzle]

Alright, I increased the heating of my house and the aquarium at night sits around 68 F. Thanks all who commented

I don't think you are understanding how a tortoise gets warm. I forget exactly what they are called but they do whats called thermoregulate. They heat themselves up by getting under a hot light then they cool off by moving away from the light. So no matter how warm YOUR room is, it will not warm up the tortoise. He absolutely needs to get under a hot light to thermoregulate their heat. If you don't use a basking light for daytime and another warming light at night you will end up with a sick or dead baby.
You can keep him warm at night by using a $4 black light bulb and I see no reason for you to not use it. I think we are all trying to help you but what I am seeing is that you are not understanding how to keep that baby

Getting one tomorrow. It was only temp but i guess i forgot to type it =/

Thanks again

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Here's a thread from today that shows great ideas for a humid enclosure:

http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-12969.html