Tortoise smart enclosure too hot

[Allister B]

My tortoise Turtly Jr has lived in a smart enclosure I bought for 4 years and in the past year the temperature has started getting into the high 90's and I dont know how to stop it from getting that hot. I usually leave the door open but that causes moth problems. It uses 2 inkbird thermometers and has a UVB light and CHE heat lamp. I have the heat lamp and UVB set for around midday and thats when I notice it starts to heat up. If anyone has any solutions please let me know.

 

[jaizei]

What is your wattage on the heat lamp?

 

[Megatron's Mom]

Your heat lamp should be on a thermostat. Set it for the temp you want, then it will only turn on when it drops below that and turns off when it gets to the high set point you set it at.

Other then that use a smaller wattage.

 

[Allister B]

What is your wattage on the heat lamp?

Im pretty sure its 60w

 

[jaizei]

ok, then you have some room to work with, and can use a smaller wattage.

You're using a T5 UVb bulb?

 

[Allister B]

ok, then you have some room to work with, and can use a smaller wattage.

You're using a T5 UVb bulb?

Yes

 

[Yvonne G]

By 'Smart Enclosure' do you mean one that @Markw84 sells? If so, he should be able to help you.

 

[Allister B]

By 'Smart Enclosure' do you mean one that @Markw84 sells? If so, he should be able to help you.

Yes

 

[Tom]

My tortoise Turtly Jr has lived in a smart enclosure I bought for 4 years and in the past year the temperature has started getting into the high 90's and I dont know how to stop it from getting that hot. I usually leave the door open but that causes moth problems. It uses 2 inkbird thermometers and has a UVB light and CHE heat lamp. I have the heat lamp and UVB set for around midday and thats when I notice it starts to heat up. If anyone has any solutions please let me know.

Your thermostat should be shutting the ambient heat off at the set point, and your second thermostat should cut the heat lamp at its set point.

Closed chamber enclosures retain heat very well, so low wattage bulbs are necessary. I use 25 watt round bulbs in my Smart Enclosures in summer time, 45 watts in spring and fall, and 65 watts during winter.

It sounds like you might need to adjust your thermostat settings, and get a lower wattage basking bulb. What species is Turtly Jr.?

 

[Markw84]

My tortoise Turtly Jr has lived in a smart enclosure I bought for 4 years and in the past year the temperature has started getting into the high 90's and I dont know how to stop it from getting that hot. I usually leave the door open but that causes moth problems. It uses 2 inkbird thermometers and has a UVB light and CHE heat lamp. I have the heat lamp and UVB set for around midday and thats when I notice it starts to heat up. If anyone has any solutions please let me know.

Call me if you are still having issues.

As Tom mentioned, be sure your basking light is plugged into the white plug on the back of the thermostat panel so it is controlled by that overheat protection thermostat. I set my overheat thermostats to 90°. The Smart Enclosures are designed to hold heat and humidity very well. So if the room the enclosure is in, gets warmer - the enclosure will more easily heat. So the overheat protection needs to kick in more. Also be sure the UVB is not running all day in the warmer months. The HO T5 runs hot and will definitely increase the overall heat in the enclosure. Have it set to be on between 10:30 and 2:00 so it is not on in the hottest part of the day.