Heating q's for new home

[SIMBER]

I'm gearing up to make a new home for Bruce, our hermann tortoise.

He'll be getting a much longer UV strip light than the one he has now but I'm also looking into giving him improved heat.

currently he has a red heat lamp but I am thinking of changing to one of these:

so that I can give him a more natural day / night.

I'm now thinking about the following: Habistat Day / Night Dimming Thermostat

info- http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...istat-dimming-thermostat-day-night-26744.html

can I use the thermostat with the Exo Terra Heat Wave Lamp?

been looking on this site: www.reptiles.swelluk.com for supplies etc

and before I start with the build of his new home, which is basicly going to be 4 sides, in other words: not fully enclosed.

Should I really be looking into a fully enclosed home / vivarium?
The home will be indoors, I'm in England.

Cheers

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi,
I would go with a regular bulb that throws light and heat for during the day. Unless your night time temperatures go below 16C, than you don't need any heat at night. If it does go below 16C at night, than yes the heat emitter will be great for at night.

Danny

 

[RTfanatic]

It certainly does go below 16C/60F at night many nights during the winter, and will be down below 0C/32F at least a few nights during the winter. But within a week's time the low could range between those lows. So I'm curious whether anyone knows of some kind of thermostat that could make sure the ceramic heat emitter will come on nights it needs to, but not come on nights it's going to be in the upper ranges.

 

[egyptiandan]

Any of the reptile thermostats should work just fine. Just set it for 60F and it will come on if it gets below that temperature.

Danny