Hello--
First-time poster; greetings.
I have four Redfoot Tortoises--one a Cherryhead variety--and they are nearly 2 years old. I'm in zone 10a on an island off the Gulf Coast of Florida. Last "winter" I kept them inside, but my idea now that they are bigger is to leave them in a 10' x 4' enclosure I built for them out of lumber. (Side note: I have covered both top AND bottom with galvanized hardware cloth so as to prevent raccoons from entering. The person who gave me 3 of the 4 tortoises advised that raccoons are not a problem; a brutal raccoon attack @1 year ago in a previous open container on the front porch resulted in the loss of one, but fortunately I heard the commotion and the other four were saved. How is it that I see tortoise pens online with no top closure, but yet raccoons do not attack?)
At any rate, the temperature will start to dip soon, and the coldest we get here may be @38 degrees one or two nights each winter although it does not usually get below 50 degrees at night during the winter months. I have purchased a 1' x 3' Stanfield heat pad that I intend to put a 40" x 20" Rubbermaid plastic under-bed enclosure over, with a doorway cut into it. Am I to understand that the Stanfield has some sort of built-in thermostat that automatically keeps the pad temperature 30 degrees above the ambient temperature? Is it ok to put the Stanfield directly on the dirt in my enclosure, or is it recommended that I mount it to a board?
Any/all tips welcomed.
Thank you!
First-time poster; greetings.
I have four Redfoot Tortoises--one a Cherryhead variety--and they are nearly 2 years old. I'm in zone 10a on an island off the Gulf Coast of Florida. Last "winter" I kept them inside, but my idea now that they are bigger is to leave them in a 10' x 4' enclosure I built for them out of lumber. (Side note: I have covered both top AND bottom with galvanized hardware cloth so as to prevent raccoons from entering. The person who gave me 3 of the 4 tortoises advised that raccoons are not a problem; a brutal raccoon attack @1 year ago in a previous open container on the front porch resulted in the loss of one, but fortunately I heard the commotion and the other four were saved. How is it that I see tortoise pens online with no top closure, but yet raccoons do not attack?)
At any rate, the temperature will start to dip soon, and the coldest we get here may be @38 degrees one or two nights each winter although it does not usually get below 50 degrees at night during the winter months. I have purchased a 1' x 3' Stanfield heat pad that I intend to put a 40" x 20" Rubbermaid plastic under-bed enclosure over, with a doorway cut into it. Am I to understand that the Stanfield has some sort of built-in thermostat that automatically keeps the pad temperature 30 degrees above the ambient temperature? Is it ok to put the Stanfield directly on the dirt in my enclosure, or is it recommended that I mount it to a board?
Any/all tips welcomed.
Thank you!