It's getting pretty cold down here by AZ standards and I have decided to build a heated hide box for my 8" Sulcata's. I really want to stay away from CHEs after hearing all the horror stories about them and would like to get a heat mat. Does anyone know of a cost effective heat mat?
Heat Mats?
- Thread starter Devils42
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Greetings and welcome. Haven't really read about many/any "horror" stories involving CHE's, especially if hung properly. Many on here will tell you that CHEs are really the way you want to go. A properly installed CHE, coupled with a thermostat, will sure a good all around proper temp for your sully. As far as a heat mat, some people do use "pig blankets" - again, coupled with a thermostat. One of the popular mats is manufactured by Kane.
Heres a link to http://www.kanemfg.com/livestock-heating/ the Kane info.
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Other than the CHE falling down. It seems that the one failure of any type of heater would be with the thermostat. As in getting WAY too hot or not working at all.
Welcome to the Forum. Here is a night box design that uses a heat mat and a radiated heat panel. All the equipment needs is described.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
If you're going to use it for a very young tortoise, I wouldn't use a heat mat. They don't understand the concept of moving off it if they get too hot.
I use pig blankets from Osborne Industries; been using them for over 25 years.
http://www.osbornelivestockequipment.com/stanfield-heat-pads/farrowing-head-pads
I use pig blankets from Osborne Industries; been using them for over 25 years.
http://www.osbornelivestockequipment.com/stanfield-heat-pads/farrowing-head-pads
At what age would you suggest switching to heat mat from CHE?
In my night box, I use a Kane mat and a oil filled radiant heater on a thermostat.
I'd wait until the tortoise is big enough to live outside safely.
At that point you could use a radiant heat panel on the ceiling of your box.
Hey guys thanks for the responses, I plan on using reflective insulation to make sure there are no cold spots. I'm now leaning towards a radiated heat panel like the one mentioned above. If there are any other tips please let me know.
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Here are several examples of good ways to do it:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
I would not use a CHE in an outdoor night box.
I would also keep 8" sulcatas indoors on cold nights and days for one more winter, and move them outside full time with a heated night box in spring.
