Heat

[Rexx Doopson]

i'm gone most of the day (around 12-15 hours), and can't leave any heat lamps on due to it being a fire hazard. I'll never be at rest if i left it on when i'm gone. Is there any cheap way to conserve heat? I've been using some closed top ides with tinfoil, but the heat only lasts a little longer, and the tinfoil size is not suitable for the habitat, letting more and more warm air out.

 

[wellington]

What kind of tortoise do you have and what kind of enclosure. Pictures of the enclosure would help a lot. Just to let you know, most likely every one of us leaves lighting and heating on while away.
You might feel better looking into a pig blanket or a reptile radiant heat panel.

 

[Rexx Doopson]

He's a baby leopard. He was living in a zoomed torotise house, but i moved him into 2 renovated cardboard boxes.

 

[Rexx Doopson]

I've had him for about a week now. He's my second tortoise yet my first hatchling.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forum! sorry to go off topic but that enclosure way to dry, baby tortoises need to be moist and humid. if he stays this dry he will get hatchling failure syndrome and his kidneys will stop working from being dehydrated. read this care sheet. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[Yvonne G]

I'd be afraid of a burning hazard too, with all that cardboard. You need to get that baby set up in a suitable habitat. You can make use of a very large plastic tote. There really isn't any fire hazard if you make sure you lights are fastened correctly and safely. Most of us have the same away-from-the-habitat problem, and we get by just fine having the lights and heat on a timer. This is your baby's life we're talking about here. If you don't keep him properly, he's going to get sick and die. Please read the care sheet R/S/T gave you the link to.

 

[Rexx Doopson]

Thanks. But i have a problem hanging the lamps up. How should i do it?

 

[Tom]

You can buy lamp stands from ZooMed or You can build something sturdy from wood. Everyone leaves heat lamps on all day. They just have to be mounted securely. Cardboard and tape is not secure mounting.

You tortoise needs the correct temperatures whether you are home or not.

 

[Rexx Doopson]

Would the zoomed tortoise house be an ok indoor habitat then?

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Would the zoomed tortoise house be an ok indoor habitat then?

not big enough, big plastic containers work really well.

 

[Tom]

Would the zoomed tortoise house be an ok indoor habitat then?

No. Much too small and too open on top. Its not a good design in my opinion. You really need a closed chamber for leopard tortoises. Please read these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[leigti]

You can get a large plastic tote from a place like Home Depot. I got a 54 gallon one. Then you can cut holes in the lid just big enough for the UVB and heat light to shine through., just slightly smaller than the fixture it's self so that the fixture lays on top. There is not a fire hazard if done right. There are pictures of these types of enclosures in the enclosure section.

 

[Rexx Doopson]

Would you mind showing a pic of yours?

 

[Rexx Doopson]

I found this tub/bin. Can it be used?

 

[Rexx Doopson]

Can this tub be used as a baby tortoise enclosure?

 

[G-stars]

What size is it? Pictures can be deceiving. Also for what tortoise?

 

[Yvonne G]

It looks deep enough, but still much too small. You want a large floor space. This gives more room to add hiding place, feeding tile, waterer, and a few plants.

 

[tortdad]

Bigger, much bigger. The more floor space the better. You don't live in a half bath all day so don't force your tort into something so small they can't walk and exercise

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Look into stock tanks, too. Quite affordable, no fire hazard.

 

[cmacusa3]

Would the zoomed tortoise house be an ok indoor habitat then?

I think it depends on the size of your tort, I raised a Sulcata for 4 months in one and now I have a little Leopard in it. If you have it and can make it a closed chamber they work great for a little while, both my torts are super smooth and healthy. No it's no a permanent fix but it will get you by temporarily. In my opinion it's better than the cardboard setup you have now.