Warming up enclosure ideas

[lbailey4487]

Hi! My Russian tort, Ziggy, does not use his large enclosure (4 x 8 feet) much. He has been in it since approximately January of last year, transitioned up from a commercial tortoise table. At first, I thought it was because of the activity level in my classroom where the large table was. I have left it in a quiet room in my house this year. Still stays mainly in the same 1/4 of enclosure area unless I bait him out by placing a cucumber on the other end. I have been thinking it’s temperature—the cool side has been running in the high 60s this week when I’ve checked. However, he wasn’t more active in it before fall finally hit this week, either, when temps were mid 70s. This is the first summer I’ve had him and we have been transitioning from outside in the daytime to inside at night. He’s not very active in the outdoor enclosure either, usually going to a hide once he’s munch around a bit. He otherwise seems healthy, eats well. He is active in the tortoise table, using all areas of it. Ideas?

 

[_The_Beast_]

Those temps are ok for nighttime but definitely sounds too cold for daytime temps, so he's likely slowing down for winter. If you're not going to brumate him, he's going to need more heat and potentially more lighting to keep things brighter during the day.

What are you currently using for UV? What are you using for heat? The warm basking side needs to be significantly hotter, which may require a higher wattage basking light. If the table is open top, you may need a cover to keep the heat in.

 

[lbailey4487]

Those temps are ok for nighttime but definitely sounds too cold for daytime temps, so he's likely slowing down for winter. If you're not going to brumate him, he's going to need more heat and potentially more lighting to keep things brighter during the day.

What are you currently using for UV? What are you using for heat? The warm basking side needs to be significantly hotter, which may require a higher wattage basking light. If the table is open top, you may need a cover to keep the heat in.

He gets UV outside right now, but I’ve already got an Arcadia T5 12% ready for when the daytime temps become too low for outside. Table near large windows and have strip LED lights . His basking area is 95 F, area around it low 80s. Until this week, farther ends of table were in the 70s. Now that we’ve had to turn the heat in the house on, I’ve noted temperatures in the farther ends in the high 60s/low 70s. What’s got me scratching my head is that he’s never been active in anything except the small tortoise table. Not even outside in the summer, temps in the 90s.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

He gets UV outside right now, but I’ve already got an Arcadia T5 12% ready for when the daytime temps become too low for outside. Table near large windows and have strip LED lights . His basking area is 95 F, area around it low 80s. Until this week, farther ends of table were in the 70s. Now that we’ve had to turn the heat in the house on, I’ve noted temperatures in the farther ends in the high 60s/low 70s. What’s got me scratching my head is that he’s never been active in anything except the small tortoise table. Not even outside in the summer, temps in the 90s.

Just throwing out some ideas here: Despite the size, what is different about the new enclosure compared to the old one? How were the temps in the old one, especially in the cold side? Was it more thoroughly lit?

 

[lbailey4487]

Just throwing out some ideas here: Despite the size, what is different about the new enclosure compared to the old one? How were the temps in the old one, especially in the cold side? Was it more thoroughly lit?

It did have better natural light instead of LEDs. Come to think of it, I did add plastic panels to the top last winter, which probably kept the heat in better despite the sides of the last 1/3 of the habitat being open wire (it was made for putting on the ground).

 

[lbailey4487]

Just throwing out some ideas here: Despite the size, what is different about the new enclosure compared to the old one? How were the temps in the old one, especially in the cold side? Was it more thoroughly lit?

I wonder if something like this would work to help keep heat in? The sides of his enclosure are wooden now and I don’t want to block natural light completely.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I wonder if something like this would work to help keep heat in? The sides of his enclosure are wooden now and I don’t want to block natural light completely.

Maybe @Alex and the Redfoot can comment on the materials.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Depending on temperature difference you can choose what's the best.

Transparent PVC greenhouse/patio covers or tablecloths can work as well (not pretty, not insulating but keep hot air inside which can be enough). Polycarbonate sheets - better insulation because of double-walls, allow light to pass through but aren't see-through. Acrylic panes are not very insulating, can warp from temperatures and humidity, scratched easily, comparably heavy but have exceptional transparency (better than glass).

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Great advice above, I too think it’s temperature related, I’d try keeping the cooler side 75ish during the day, if your lighting is 12hrs on 12hrs off, I’d increase it to 14hrs on to see if that perks him up, essentially tricking him into thinking it’s a longer summer day

Perhaps some of the topper ideas in here might help with retaining the heat?

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org