questions about outdoor setting

[step422]

hi guys, i am new to this forum.
I own a Geochelone sulcata (5 years old), his name is BOBO
he was given to me by a friend of mine, whom normally raised it indoor (in the bathroom) and it grew so big that they cannot handle it anymore.

The place where I live has a garden, so i just let bobo live there.

Winter is coming (I live in Hong Kong), the temperature is aroun 15 at the moment.

My question is, I need a light/heat setting, however there is no socket available in my garden, and it is too far away for me to pull the socket and plug in the heater/light for my turtle.

is there any portable light/heater? or light/heater runs as DC not AC?

What recommendation/ advice can you guys give me, to maintain the temperature for BOBO, and what should I do?

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[Yvonne G]

HI step422:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

May we know your name?

You're going to have to build some sort of house or shed for Bobo, and add electrical outlets. He'll need to be kept warm during the winter months.

 

[step422]

HI step22:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

May we know your name?

You're going to have to build some sort of house or shed for Bobo, and add electrical outlets. He'll need to be kept warm during the winter months.

hi there i am steph
I bought a shelter for him, he is sleeping inside everyday.

how do you add electical outlets?

 

[Laura]

extension cord to start. he needs heat now.
but a house will be needed. Dog house is a great start with a heat pad or a rubbermaid shed with a heater.
if he gets too cold, he will get sick, wont eat and can die.
If you cant house him with heat.. then you should probably find a new home for him.

 

[step422]

extension cord to start. he needs heat now.
but a house will be needed. Dog house is a great start with a heat pad or a rubbermaid shed with a heater.
if he gets too cold, he will get sick, wont eat and can die.
If you cant house him with heat.. then you should probably find a new home for him.

hi there thank you for your reply!
yes i bought him a dog house, does a heat mat need electric supply?

my only problem is the socket (the plug) i just dont have one in the garden
i will do everything for BOBO

 

[Yvonne G]

I use extension cords in a couple of my outdoor houses. Just be sure to buy a cord for outdoor use, and one that is either 12 or 14 gauge. It won't be cheap, but it will be safer than an indoor cord. And be sure to protect it as much as possible.

 

[step422]

I use extension cords in a couple of my outdoor houses. Just be sure to buy a cord for outdoor use, and one that is either 12 or 14 gauge. It won't be cheap, but it will be safer than an indoor cord. And be sure to protect it as much as possible.

thank you i will have a look!!
however, still u have to link the outdoor extension cords to the indoor socket to get the electricity, that means I have to leave a gap from my window / door, then I cannot close my house door/window properly?

how u resolve this problem?

 

[Yvonne G]

My house has the sliding windows...they slide open from one side to the other side. So with the extension cord at the bottom of the window, I close the window up to the cord. Then I stuff paper towells all up and down in the crack of the window. If the towells don't want to stay in place, I run a strip of masking tape over them to hold them there.

 

[step422]

My house has the sliding windows...they slide open from one side to the other side. So with the extension cord at the bottom of the window, I close the window up to the cord. Then I stuff paper towells all up and down in the crack of the window. If the towells don't want to stay in place, I run a strip of masking tape over them to hold them there.

so is this the only way to get electricity? because it sounds dangerous as the window is not properly closed

 

[Yvonne G]

No, this is not the ONLY way to get electricity. This is a cheap and easy way to do it. The best and safest way is to hire an electrician and have him install an outlet and wire from the outlet to the tortoise house. That's pretty costly.

 

[step422]

No, this is not the ONLY way to get electricity. This is a cheap and easy way to do it. The best and safest way is to hire an electrician and have him install an outlet and wire from the outlet to the tortoise house. That's pretty costly.

do you know how much does it cost (roughly?)

 

[Zamric]

another option for electricity is a small generator but im sure you or your neibors dont want that kind of noise! best just to get an electrician to add a outlet just outside your garden door. Best and Safest way!
Bobo will love you for it!

By the way.... you know he is going to get BIG right? If he is 5 now, he is just STARTING to grow! in the next 5 years you can expect him to be ATLEAST 4 times larger than he is now... He could top out at over 150 lbs in the next 15-20 yrs.... How big is your garden?

 

[step422]

another option for electricity is a small generator but im sure you or your neibors dont want that kind of noise! best just to get an electrician to add a outlet just outside your garden door. Best and Safest way!
Bobo will love you for it!

By the way.... you know he is going to get BIG right? If he is 5 now, he is just STARTING to grow! in the next 5 years you can expect him to be ATLEAST 4 times larger than he is now... He could top out at over 150 lbs in the next 15-20 yrs.... How big is your garden?

sure thanks a lot!! i will tell my dad about it
is it pricy though?

My garden is big enough to have him don't worry I live in the countryside, and I got two gardens, the other one is bigger so BOBO will have lots of space~

 

[Zamric]

Pricey??? Thats kinda iffy.... I can get it done here in Texas for less than $100 but i dont know how much it will cost in Hong Kong. If you know an electrician, it's easy... if you know an Honorable Electrician, he wont over-charge you to do the job.

 

[lynnedit]

No, this is not the ONLY way to get electricity. This is a cheap and easy way to do it. The best and safest way is to hire an electrician and have him install an outlet and wire from the outlet to the tortoise house. That's pretty costly.

do you know how much does it cost (roughly?)

That would be hard to say in Hong Kong, but as mentioned, an honest electrician could at least give you an estimate. I helped dig the trench for my outdoor sockets, which saved on the cost. Then the electrician just had to lay the cord. In Washington State, a GFCI plug (advised for outdoors) only needs a 6" trench if run in conduit (metal tube).
Since you need heat now, run a cord from inside, use an outdoor cord as mentioned. Depending on your winder style, you can partially open a window and use a piece of wood to prevent it being opened further.
You can also opt to have an electrician put in an outdoor socket on the exterior of your house, so you don't have to go through a window.
Your garden sounds nice, it seems you just have to work on a heated enclosure for the cooler months.

 

[step422]

THANKKKKKKKKK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU GUYS
my dad is working on it, thank god the weather gets warmer again!! i will be back to HK soon and i will take care of it
i will upload photos and things once the set up is done thankssssssssssssss

 

[Katherine]

Hey Steph don't know if it's helpful but I have found that a dog igloo with a rubber flap door makes an inexpensive and comfy outdoor "hotspot" for my kiddos. We drill a hole in the ceilings and suspend UVheat lamps from it, attach them to a rheostat and then plug into an extension cord to nearest electrical source. I would definitely advise getting a good electrical thermometer to monitor your enclosure as it takes some time to figure out how to regulate them with outdoor temperature changes.

Also as another poster mentioned your 5yo sulcata has a ton of growing to do; so my advice would be to build as big an enclosure as you can feasibly afford and fit; it beats replacing it everytime it's "outgrown"!!!!

 

[lynnedit]

Yep, what she said AND pics. Love to see what tort owners do in other countries!

 

[step422]

Hey Steph don't know if it's helpful but I have found that a dog igloo with a rubber flap door makes an inexpensive and comfy outdoor "hotspot" for my kiddos. We drill a hole in the ceilings and suspend UVheat lamps from it, attach them to a rheostat and then plug into an extension cord to nearest electrical source. I would definitely advise getting a good electrical thermometer to monitor your enclosure as it takes some time to figure out how to regulate them with outdoor temperature changes.

Also as another poster mentioned your 5yo sulcata has a ton of growing to do; so my advice would be to build as big an enclosure as you can feasibly afford and fit; it beats replacing it everytime it's "outgrown"!!!!

thank you katherine!!
i will have a look about the rubber flap door n c whether it fits BOBO's house yeah i know it is going to grow, but the dog house we bought it is just for this winter, we didnt have time ti figure out as i study abroad and my parents are not quite sure how things work. but i will graduate soon and go back and take care of it

---

Yep, what she said AND pics. Love to see what tort owners do in other countries!

hahaha i will upload soon
hk is such a small city and really not enough space, unlike in other countries. most ppl in hk live in a flat instead of a house, i live in the countryside of hk that's y i am able to have BOBO

the settings and environment will be really different from other coutries like the US or UK, not enough space and natural environment

i saw some forums in HK, some ppl even have big turtles they have to raise it indoor, or even bathroom