Need help with leopard tortoise ambient temperature

[Dyanna]

Hello,

I have a 4 month old leopard tortoise.

I live in Southern California, in the Ventura area- it’s very windy right now. Usually very warm in this area- but it’s our “winter”.

I’m trying to get my ambient temperature up in my closed chamber.

I have a 50 gallon closed chamber that I made thanks to advice on this forum.

I’m running the reptizoo t5 HO UVB with 10.0 UVB (24W) for a few hours a day.

I have a 40w flood bulb on my basking side that I run for 12 hours

My CHE set to 80 on the opposite side with my humid hide on that side as well.

I have a temp gun and thermostat on both sides. (I like to be double check everything).

I’ve included pictures for reference.

I have my UVB turn on at 10am. My 40w flood bulb run from 8am-8pm.

My current readings at 10:45am
Under spot light 100
Thermostat currently reading 82.8
Humidity 86% percent.
Cool side 80

I read the ambient temperature should be in the high 80s, low 90s during the day so I’m not sure what would be best.

Any help is appreciated thank you! I want to make sure I’m doing this right.

 

[Dyanna]

@Tom you always give great advice and would appreciate it here!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!
You've set up things mostly right, just a few tweaks might be needed:
1. Move thermostat probe and digital thermometer closer to substrate. You need to measure and control temperature where your tortoise is.
2. You have deep narrow domes and they limit effect of the heaters (CHE and flood basking bulb) on the ambient temperature. You can remove the domes (leave just plain lamp sockets) - this should work better. Without a dome you might need a higher wattage basking bulb, because heat will be dissipated over larger area (and this will rise ambient temperature during the day).

What is the height of the enclosure? With T5 10.0 lamps distance from the lamp to substrate should be around 18-19" for safe UVB level. Also, if you have a ReptiZoo (not ZooMed) UVB lamp I would advise to replace it (chinese T5 lamps have quality and, sometimes, safety issues). A ZooMed Reptisun Terrarium Hood with an 8" 10.0 lamp can be a good fit for your enclosure dimensions (22" inch lamp you have now leaves no space for the tortoise to hide from UVB exposure).

 

[Tom]

@Tom you always give great advice and would appreciate it here!

Alex gave great advice. Normally the UV tube and heat lamp heat the enclosure up above ambient during the day. I have two ideas that might help:
1. Wrap the whole thing up with blankets. If the heat lamp and UV tube are not heating it above 80, then you are probably losing too much heat. This is one reason why an enclosure made of 1/2 thick expanded PVC works better than tubs or tents. Insulation. I totally understand why people do it other ways, but this is one of the issues you have to deal with. Since your enclosure material isn't offering enough insulation, add more of your own.
2. Get a different thermostat that allows you to set a daytime ambient and a night time ambient. I have a bunch if these made by "BN Link" that I buy on Amazon. Set the night temp to 80, and the daytime temp to 86-88. Boom! Problem solved.

 

[Dyanna]

Hello and welcome!
You've set up things mostly right, just a few tweaks might be needed:
1. Move thermostat probe and digital thermometer closer to substrate. You need to measure and control temperature where your tortoise is.
2. You have deep narrow domes and they limit effect of the heaters (CHE and flood basking bulb) on the ambient temperature. You can remove the domes (leave just plain lamp sockets) - this should work better. Without a dome you might need a higher wattage basking bulb, because heat will be dissipated over larger area (and this will rise ambient temperature during the day).

What is the height of the enclosure? With T5 10.0 lamps distance from the lamp to substrate should be around 18-19" for safe UVB level. Also, if you have a ReptiZoo (not ZooMed) UVB lamp I would advise to replace it (chinese T5 lamps have quality and, sometimes, safety issues). A ZooMed Reptisun Terrarium Hood with an 8" 10.0 lamp can be a good fit for your enclosure dimensions (22" inch lamp you have now leaves no space for the tortoise to hide from UVB exposure).

Hello and welcome!
You've set up things mostly right, just a few tweaks might be needed:
1. Move thermostat probe and digital thermometer closer to substrate. You need to measure and control temperature where your tortoise is.
2. You have deep narrow domes and they limit effect of the heaters (CHE and flood basking bulb) on the ambient temperature. You can remove the domes (leave just plain lamp sockets) - this should work better. Without a dome you might need a higher wattage basking bulb, because heat will be dissipated over larger area (and this will rise ambient temperature during the day).

What is the height of the enclosure? With T5 10.0 lamps distance from the lamp to substrate should be around 18-19" for safe UVB level. Also, if you have a ReptiZoo (not ZooMed) UVB lamp I would advise to replace it (chinese T5 lamps have quality and, sometimes, safety issues). A ZooMed Reptisun Terrarium Hood with an 8" 10.0 lamp can be a good fit for your enclosure dimensions (22" inch lamp you have now leaves no space for the tortoise to hide from UVB exposure).

Hello and Thank you Alex! I will move both probes closer to the substrate. I will purchase a plain lamp socket to replace the hooded domes on the basking bulb.

The enclosure height is 17 7/8" . I can replace it with the ZooMed. I double checked and I do have the ReptiZoo. Originally, I thought I purchased the ZooMed, so I will order the correct one now. I will get the 8" instead of what I have now.

Thank you!

 

[Dyanna]

Alex gave great advice. Normally the UV tube and heat lamp heat the enclosure up above ambient during the day. I have two ideas that might help:
1. Wrap the whole thing up with blankets. If the heat lamp and UV tube are not heating it above 80, then you are probably losing too much heat. This is one reason why an enclosure made of 1/2 thick expanded PVC works better than tubs or tents. Insulation. I totally understand why people do it other ways, but this is one of the issues you have to deal with. Since your enclosure material isn't offering enough insulation, add more of your own.
2. Get a different thermostat that allows you to set a daytime ambient and a night time ambient. I have a bunch if these made by "BN Link" that I buy on Amazon. Set the night temp to 80, and the daytime temp to 86-88. Boom! Problem solved.

I currently have it wrapped in Foil Insulation- on the bottom, around the back, and side- with the front exposed. I will wrap it with towels also, thank you!

I will get that other thermostat as well.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I currently have it wrapped in Foil Insulation- on the bottom, around the back, and side- with the front exposed. I will wrap it with towels also, thank you!

I will get that other thermostat as well.

Thanks for the help!

You can glue a foam insulation board to the sides and over the top. This should give better insulation. XPS or EPS sheets are cheap.

Not sure if you need a thermostat with day/night setting. I have these and eventually have settled on a single temperature setting instead of day/night.

 

[Dyanna]

You can glue a foam insulation board to the sides and over the top. This should give better insulation. XPS or EPS sheets are cheap.

Not sure if you need a thermostat with day/night setting. I have these and eventually have settled on a single temperature setting instead of day/night.

Okay, that makes sense! I will look them up. Thank you!