Heating the enclosure for cold weather

[cgcortezrn]

Heating pads placed on wall of enclosure vs on the floor.

 

[PollyAda]

Heat sources should usually be above as tortoises shouldn't be heated from below. What species of tortoise do you have?

 

[Yvonne G]

I built an insulated shed for my sulcata - a shed because I'm old and it was hard for me to clean out a top opening box. I just walk right in to my shed with my rake and broom.

At first I mounted the pig blanket on the wall right next to the corner the tortoise preferred to sleep in, but I wasn't happy with the heat coming off the wall, so I mounted it on 2 x4s, set it on the floor, then attached the two by four to the wall with 'L' brackets so the tortoise couldn't move the pad.

My tortoise was about 120lbs and the shed was big enough that he could get off the pad if he wanted. I never use pads on the floor for young/small tortoises. They don't seem to understand they can move off the heat

To make sure the ambient temperature in the shed is warm enough I have a 250 watt CHE (on a thermostat) hanging about a foot off the 6' ceiling.

 

[wellington]

What species and how big?
The safest way to heat with a pad on the floor is to have heat above too. Both on a thermostat. This way they won't burn their plastron laying there too long trying to get their carapace warmed.

 

[cgcortezrn]

Heat sources should usually be above as tortoises shouldn't be heated from below. What species of tortoise do you have?

I have a sulcata and a leopard tortoise.
They are both 5 years old

 

[cgcortezrn]

I just spent a good part of the summer making a large outdoor habitat for them. Big oblong shape split down the middle. Then a wood shed they climb up the ramp to the enclosure. Making them each a side. Now I need to know how to keep it warm inside. I need to know what and where to buy heated mats. I have the infrared heating lamp. 150W for the big 35# sulcata and the 75W for the small 8 # leopard.

 

[Tom]

I just spent a good part of the summer making a large outdoor habitat for them. Big oblong shape split down the middle. Then a wood shed they climb up the ramp to the enclosure. Making them each a side. Now I need to know how to keep it warm inside. I need to know what and where to buy heated mats. I have the infrared heating lamp. 150W for the big 35# sulcata and the 75W for the small 8 # leopard.

We need pictures and a size of the wood shed.

Heat lamps should not be used over larger tortoises. Colored heat lamps shouldn't be used over tortoises at all. They are not effective, and will also slow burn the top of the carapace.

If this is a whole big shed, then you will need at least one radiant oil filled heater to keep it warm in winter. Heat mats are only effective in smaller insulated night box type set ups.

 

[cgcortezrn]

I will take pictures and post. Tom I tried to view some is your links to a few websites that you posted. But the pictures are no longer available. I’ll post pictures of my habitat and the shed I’m trying to turn into their enclosure.

 

[cgcortezrn]

The heated lamps I have say they are basking lights for tortoise. I shouldn’t be Using these?
I have them on one end of the big watering tub they stay in at night in my garage until I finish their habitat.

 

[Tom]

The heated lamps I have say they are basking lights for tortoise. I shouldn’t be Using these?
I have them on one end of the big watering tub they stay in at night in my garage until I finish their habitat.

That is correct. Most pet products marketed and sold for tortoises are over-priced, and either ineffective or dangerous. Infrared bulbs should never be used over any tortoise. Colored bulbs of any kind mess with their heads.

Any kind of basking bulb or CHE should not be used over larger and higher domed tortoises because they are ineffective at heating their core, and because they will slow burn the top of the carapace.

Here are two safe and effective heating strategies that I use in my tortoise night boxes:

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org