Outdoor heating.

[Doug Gosney]

Hello all. Question for outdoor dog house heating for my Red Foots. I’m looking at a dog house heater, but it’s forced air by a fan. Do you think the noise will discourage them from going into the house. Does noise like that bother tortoises? Appreciate any wisdom. Thanks! Doug

 

[Tom]

Hello all. Question for outdoor dog house heating for my Red Foots. I’m looking at a dog house heater, but it’s forced air by a fan. Do you think the noise will discourage them from going into the house. Does noise like that bother tortoises? Appreciate any wisdom. Thanks! Doug

Here are two safe and effective methods:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Doug Gosney]

Hello all. Building a new tort house here in the summer getting ready for cooler nights in the fall. I have two Sweeter Heater radiant heat panels I’ll put in the ceiling / lid - they’ll set about 12”-15” above the torts. I wanted to ask again about heat mats. I’ve read total opposite reviews over time - some say bad others say they’ve had great success. I would like to use a large mat to supplement the RHPs. Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[EppsDynasty]

1st: we use fans on EVERY house, to get the heat to fill the room you need to move it. Look up 4 inch computer style fans. We have some that are almost dead silent but move quite a bit of air. Especially if you are using radiant Oil filled Heaters, blow air through the fins saves so much electricity and provides a more even temp.
2nd: As for mats if you do not have a heat mat under your tort they are going to be cold, NO MATTER what you do. Lay on a concrete floor but have a heater in the room ...... You will freeze still. Stanfield heat mats are the best there is, not just by design but also the amount of wattage. We have not been able to get Kane, or Zoomed mats to create enough heat to warm insulated houses, they just are not enough wattage.

 

[Tom]

Hello all. Building a new tort house here in the summer getting ready for cooler nights in the fall. I have two Sweeter Heater radiant heat panels I’ll put in the ceiling / lid - they’ll set about 12”-15” above the torts. I wanted to ask again about heat mats. I’ve read total opposite reviews over time - some say bad others say they’ve had great success. I would like to use a large mat to supplement the RHPs. Any thoughts? Thank you!

Review the links I left for you 3 years ago in the post above. Kane heat mats work great and are safe. Don't put substrate on it. No hay, no bark, etc... I just put a layer of dirt on the bottom and scrape it up and replace it as needed.

RHPs are great, but they are not enough on their own. A RHP over a Kane mat is a great combination. A mini radiant oil heater set on a thermostat is the other good way to do it. Very effective and very efficient.

 

[Doug Gosney]

1st: we use fans on EVERY house, to get the heat to fill the room you need to move it. Look up 4 inch computer style fans. We have some that are almost dead silent but move quite a bit of air. Especially if you are using radiant Oil filled Heaters, blow air through the fins saves so much electricity and provides a more even temp.
2nd: As for mats if you do not have a heat mat under your tort they are going to be cold, NO MATTER what you do. Lay on a concrete floor but have a heater in the room ...... You will freeze still. Stanfield heat mats are the best there is, not just by design but also the amount of wattage. We have not been able to get Kane, or Zoomed mats to create enough heat to warm insulated houses, they just are not enough wattage.

Thank you!

 

[Doug Gosney]

Review the links I left for you 3 years ago in the post above. Kane heat mats work great and are safe. Don't put substrate on it. No hay, no bark, etc... I just put a layer of dirt on the bottom and scrape it up and replace it as needed.

RHPs are great, but they are not enough on their own. A RHP over a Kane mat is a great combination. A mini radiant oil heater set on a thermostat is the other good way to do it. Very effective and very efficient.

Thank you!

 

[EppsDynasty]

You were wondering if Fan noise is an issue, check this out......

We have seen no issues with fan noise, and this fan is way louder than the one for the heater... you can see it in this video.

 

[Doug Gosney]

You were wondering if Fan noise is an issue, check this out......

We have seen no issues with fan noise, and this fan is way louder than the one for the heater... you can see it in this video.

Good deal. Thanks for sending. I’ve never thought about cooling. Their tort house gets some nice shade. I think for my new tort house set up I’m going to use oil filled mini heater and maybe supplement with RHPs. My thought today at least. I’ve got a little time - live in Houston and don’t need to worry about cool nights until at least October. Red Foots. Thanks again.

 

[Renee_H]

You were wondering if Fan noise is an issue, check this out......

We have seen no issues with fan noise, and this fan is way louder than the one for the heater... you can see it in this video.

I thought they couldn’t hear

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

You were wondering if Fan noise is an issue, check this out......

We have seen no issues with fan noise, and this fan is way louder than the one for the heater... you can see it in this video.

I have been wondering if the fan vibration disturbs them.

 

[EppsDynasty]

They seem to have no issues at all

 

[EppsDynasty]

I thought they couldn’t hear

They feel vibrations so they still have 'Noise' in their lives.