Help with a new climate!

[Pages888]

My boyfriend and I just moved from Memphis, TN to Colorado Springs, CO. My redfoot, Aubrey, is having some trouble adjusting and I'm failing at all my attempts to keep him comfortable. He never had a problem with Memphis, but this new, colder, drier climate is sapping him. He's in a lovely table my mom and I built, but keeping him warm at night is difficult, especially for the lower level. I'm having trouble keeping his area humid enough, too. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. So far, the people I've spoken to at Petsmart have not been the most helpful, basically saying he needs a glass terrarium, which I'm reluctant to buy A) because I've read tables are better for tortoises and B) my funds are a bit tight at the moment. Please, I'd really appreciate someone's help with this!!!!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

You're going to have to add another heat source. I suggest a CHE (ceramic heat emitter). They provide heat without light, and it screws into the same type of fixture you have for your light. Another suggestion would be to cover the whole thing with foil...light and all. Here's what I had to do for my baby box turtles:

It's not the prettiest habitat, but it works to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

 

[Pages888]

Thank you so much! I've created a little greenhouse for him. Hopefully, this will help keep him warm and his area more humid!

 

[edwardbo]

ive had great luck wih heat mats ,but place them carfully so the tort are half on them and the torts will learn to moniter temps on thier own. try not to place them all the way into the corners so that when the torts go in the corners they can feel heat but move around to snuggle but not get too hot,did that make sense?

 

[wellington]

Hope that works for you. Just so you know though, even though I don't think pet stores have the best advice, an aquarium in most situations can be good and better then tables. Tables, as you are finding out can be harder to keep heat and humidity up. Tricks like you did usually help.

 

[Redstrike]

You can build a closed chamber from wood, see the links below in my signature for what I have made in the past and what my current setup is (second link).