Hello from Southern California with a question.

[Bill Duenckel]

Hello, I am a long time lurker with a sulcata tortoise (Tank) from Southern California and it has come time for him to make the move outside. Due to the abundance of knowledge from your previous posts, I think I got down all that I will need to construct his outside home. However, I hit a roadblock when thinking about an outside hide for cold weather and night-time. It gets cold enough during winter and some nights where I think he would need some kind of heated hide. How is the best way to do this; lamp, heated floor, or insulated? Any information helps. Thanks in advance.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Bill!

My personal choice is a regular shed, because I like to be able to actually take my rake and scoop inside the shed to clean it out. Quite a few folks on here just use some sort of night box. But that's too hard on my back (opening the lid and leaning over to clean it out).

Radiant heat panels work very well at keeping the inside temperature right where you want it. Don't use overhead heat (brooder lamps, etc) unless your ceiling is tall enough to have the light 15 or 20 inches from the top of the tortoise's back when he is up on all four legs. I use a pig blanket on the floor.

Naturally, whatever you use, you will insulate it.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. What size is your tortoise and what part of SoCal are you in? I'm up in Santa Clarita.

I've tried many things over many years, and also observed what the other people in our area were doing to see what works and what doesn't. Over many years and many builds, I've discovered what works, refined the ideas, and improved my building techniques.

Here ya go:

This size is good for one tortoise and this heating equipment is safe and effective for SoCal:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

Some other ideas and helpful threads:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/h...g-of-toms-night-box-with-exploded-view.97697/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-youll-need-to-build-a-night-box.171435/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/

Questions and conversation are welcome. Ask me why I no longer use deck boxes, plastic storage sheds, and don't care for tall sheds. Ask all the questions that come to mind. There are lots of experienced keepers to draw from here and get ideas from.

 

[Bill Duenckel]

I said thanks in advance, but I must say I am very thankful for y'all information. I will probably be using a design most similar to the first link.