heating

[momofboys]

I am considering buying one of the heat pads for my enclosure. Do you reccomend that as opposed to a heat rock or heat bulb? What do you think the best heat source is?

 

[Yvonne G]

Naturally there are more than one opinion about this subject. In My OPINION, there is nothing wrong with using a heat pad (pig blanket) if the tortoise is an older animal. There is no way to monitor the temperature of a hot rock and those should not be used at all. But if your area is large enough for the tortoise to get off the pig blanket if it fails to operate properly and gets too hot, then that's the way I would go. You have to also buy the controller. You plug the pig blanket into the controller then dial up the temp you want. Keep checking the temp to be sure its operating the way you want to for several hours. If its ok...add the tortoise. I use them along with a clamp light fixture above the animals that contains a black light, which is cheaper to run than a heat emitter.

Yvonne

 

[Itort]

As Yvonne says a pig blanket w/ controller is a good option for a large tort. Bear in mind these are designed for farrowing hogs and such must dependable, inexpendable, and of quality as the farmer's livelihood depends on it. For smaller torts I suggest ceramic heat emitters. I once had a monitor with a scarred belly from a hot rock enough said.

 

[Crazy1]

Momofboys, in early September you posted that you had two torts (exerpt from your post) "One is a male, one a female. They have been together for 9 months, and my sons do not spend enough time with them. I make sure that they are fed and keep the cage clean." I'm glad to see you have decided to keep them . You don't tell us what kind of torts you have, their ages or sizes, or what type of cage they are in. Could you please provide us with this information to help us, help you.