I need help with the heat source for my outdoor Sulcatta home

[Tut]

we are letting Tut move outside, we have built him a home using outdoor plywood solid foam insulation on all six sides, cement board for exterior over the plywood, tar and shingle roof.
we purchased a 80 watt Radiant heat panel, a 600 watt dimming and pulse Proportional thermostat.
this is not keeping the house warm, it can get down into the 30s at some time in the winter, and 100 plus all summer, this heater is not doing the its job, can you recommend a heater that will keep his enclosure warm at night, should i use radiant heat or oil heat? Please help me poor tut wants to live outside but I need a better heat source or what PLEASE HELP US, thank YOU ANOTHER ANIMAL LOVER, the enclosure is 3 feet x 4 feet

 

[wellington]

A oil filled radiator heater on a thermostat. Check out member Tom's threads for night box

 

[Big Charlie]

I use a Kane heat mat on the floor. I have the 27 x 48 size. https://kanemfg.com/products/pets/pet-heat-mats/

I have the 80 watt radiant heat panel on the ceiling. I plug both the RHP and the mat into the thermostat. You don't need to buy an additional thermostat or rheostat from Kane.
It works for me. Our temperatures are similar to yours and my enclosure is the same size.

 

[Yvonne G]

My 110lb Dudley has a regular shed (insulated, of course) to retreat into. In the shed is a Stansfield heat mat (on the floor) that I bought from Osborn Industries ( https://www.osbornepetsupply.com/product/1-5-x-2-ft-rectangular-heat-pad/ ) and I control the temperature with the F911 controller ( https://osbornelivestockequipment.com/product/heat-pad-control-f911/ ). They have a smaller controller, but it doesn't work well. I also have a poultry brooder light hanging from the ceiling. It hangs down to about 3' above the tortoise's back and keeps the ambient temp inside the shed nice and toasty even during the coldest nights.

Welcome to the Forum! Here's a link to my tortoise's shed:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/dudleys-rebuild.111350/#post-1034676

 

[Markw84]

I also live in the Sacramento area and have a few night boxes/houses working. Yes, we finally got a real freeze a few nights ago and some north wind that will test the insulation of a night box.

Unless you really want to overdo it with a heater, you will need to be sure the night box is well insulated. Your box sounds well built, but you didn't mention the thickness of the insulation or the height of the box. those are big factors in being able to heat it when you need to keep it 40°+ above outside temperatures. The other factor is how big the door is and how well the door seals as that is a big potential loss of heat.

For a 4x3 night box, the smallest oil filled heater on a simple on/off thermostat should be all you need. But that is fully insulated with 1-1/2 foam board, 24" tall, and an insulated door you can close on the coldest nights. With a night box like that, you can maintain 80° temps all night and use very little electricity to do it.

Here's the night box design I pattern mine after:

https://tortoiseforum.org/posts/807666

 

[Tut]

I also live in the Sacramento area and have a few night boxes/houses working. Yes, we finally got a real freeze a few nights ago and some north wind that will test the insulation of a night box.

Unless you really want to overdo it with a heater, you will need to be sure the night box is well insulated. Your box sounds well built, but you didn't mention the thickness of the insulation or the height of the box. those are big factors in being able to heat it when you need to keep it 40°+ above outside temperatures. The other factor is how big the door is and how well the door seals as that is a big potential loss of heat.

For a 4x3 night box, the smallest oil filled heater on a simple on/off thermostat should be all you need. But that is fully insulated with 1-1/2 foam board, 24" tall, and an insulated door you can close on the coldest nights. With a night box like that, you can maintain 80° temps all night and use very little electricity to do it.

Here's the night box design I pattern mine after:

https://tortoiseforum.org/posts/807666

yes it is 1 1|2 inch insulation foam with the aluminum side facing in, its 26 inches high, the door could be my problem, its only made of cement board and weather stripping foam for the cracks, thank You I will check out toms

 

[Tom]

The RHP alone is not enough. Simply add an 18x28" Kane heat mat under the RHP and your temps will be good and your tortoise comfortable and healthy.

Or you can add a radiant oil-filled heater, and that will work too, but you will lose some floor space because you have to block the tortoise from contacting it. Like this:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

 

[Longacre]

The RHP alone is not enough. Simply add an 18x28" Kane heat mat under the RHP and your temps will be good and your tortoise comfortable and healthy.

Or you can add a radiant oil-filled heater, and that will work too, but you will lose some floor space because you have to block the tortoise from contacting it. Like this:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

I built from your design, an outdoor house. I bought an oil filled radiator, but I don’t know what kind of thermostat/heat regulator to use. I live in southern Virginia and I have a 2 1/2 year old Sulcata. Can you recommend a reputable heat regulator?

 

[Tom]

I built from your design, an outdoor house. I bought an oil filled radiator, but I don’t know what kind of thermostat/heat regulator to use. I live in southern Virginia and I have a 2 1/2 year old Sulcata. Can you recommend a reputable heat regulator?

I use these and they work well for me:
https://www.lllreptile.com/products/13883-zilla-1000-watt-temperature-controller

 

[Longacre]

I use these and they work well for me:
https://www.lllreptile.com/products/13883-zilla-1000-watt-temperature-controller

Thank you so much for your help.