Winter Hide

[Millerlite]

Hello everyone, Its been cold around here so I built a quick heated hide. Its 4x2 foot big and I run 2 150w ceramic heat bulbs i had. I also Have it all plugged into a thermostat to control the heat. Questions: The box is insulated and keeps everything warm, On warmer days do people have problem with the box getting to hot? In the day It seems my box will warm up a bit not really really hot but pretty warm. Also the thermostat probe where do you keep it? is it better to have it by the floor where the tortoises are? overall though its working great. It got to 34 last night my box stayed at 70.

Kyle?

 

[Anyfoot]

Hi Kyle

Where you want to control the temp is where you put the probe. So for example in my viv I have the probe on the opposite end to my ceramic heater so I can control the cooler end to 80deg, By raising and lowering the height of the ceramic heater I was able to set the temp at 90deg at the heated end. Is your box a closed unit or open.

 

[mike taylor]

I use a small 700 watt heater on a shelf with a fan blowing the warn air down . The thermostat is on the wall at tortoise level . When the thermostat is on the heater and fan comes on to move the warm air around . My box stays at 85 . I leave the door open . My tortoise will sit in the doorway to cool down then move back in . I have plastic hanging over the doorway like the stuff in a walk in cooler .

 

[wellington]

You do want the thermostat at tort level. Heat rises, so it will always be warmer towards the ceiling on any heated enclousre.

 

[Millerlite]

Thanks guys, I've been keeping it low. I still need to clean up all te wires and make it look good. But it's functional for this cold snap.

 

[mike taylor]

You do want the thermostat at tort level. Heat rises, so it will always be warmer towards the ceiling on any heated enclousre.

Thats what the fan is for . It moves the warm air down to the tortoise .

 

[Yvonne G]

Because my weather is sort of mild, I really only have heat at night (with the exception of the pig blankets. They're on all the time). I have a 250watt brooder light (red) on a timer and it comes on about 8p and goes off about 8a. I used to hang them low, but found that if I hang them up higher at about 5', they warm up the whole shed better.

 

[Millerlite]

Another thing, I have mountain tortoises so humidity needs to be up more then normal. Should I put substrate down or just keep it bare bottom? Think imma make a shelf to out water buckets to help the humidity. Thoughts?

Kyle

 

[mike taylor]

If you build a shelf in there put a humidifier in . I was having problems with the humidity in my red foot enclosure so I installed a humidifier . I also use hard wood mulch so they can dig down in . I use this same setup for my sulcatas heated house . I think the humidifier I got I payed 25 bucks for it . It holds two gallons of water so you don't have to refill daily .

 

[Millerlite]

Do you have the humidifier on a timer?

 

[mike taylor]

It swiches on with the heater .

 

[wellington]

Thats what the fan is for . It moves the warm air down to the tortoise .

I use a ceiling fan in my shed too. The thermostat no matter what still has to be at tort level, but using a fan helps to get the most out of the heat.

 

[Dizisdalife]

Questions: The box is insulated and keeps everything warm, On warmer days do people have problem with the box getting to hot? In the day It seems my box will warm up a bit not really really hot but pretty warm.

The first box that I built, which was 4'x2'x30" high, was in a sunny spot in the yard. It would get warmer in the winter, but would get too hot (so I thought) in the summer. I currently have a 4'x6'x2' high box in a fully shaded area. In the Winter, Spring, and Fall it stays where I set the temperature at. In the summer, when the temps hit mid-90's or higher it will get in the upper 80's inside.

Also the thermostat probe where do you keep it? is it better to have it by the floor where the tortoises are?

I have the thermostat probe positioned on a wall just high enough that my tortoise won't rub against it. I had a thermometer probe at the floor and he crushed it.

 

[mike taylor]

I put vents in the side of my box . They are up high . One has a fan sucking air in, the other blows air out . The vents can be closed off for winter . It also helps to leave the top open .

 

[Millerlite]

I'm in a sunny spot if the yard maybe after I do an extension this spring I can re position it. I can always prop the top up to help let the heat escape. Maybe build a summer roof for it. Hmm. I am thinking about putting fans but our winters are short so maybe a upgrade for next winter. I did strips in front of the door, hopefully it helps keep heat on and cold out.

Kyle

 

[Len B]

It gets cold here, nights in the teens are common. I have been using heat mats and heated ceramic tiles for the main heat source for a few years now. This house is 3 x 5 x 2ft inside. The top is removable, The door is wide enough so the 2 sulcatas that are living in it can pass each other without one climbing over the other. There are 3 sets of vinyl flaps with a couple inches of separation between each across the door opening. This helps to keep the heat in and cold wind out. It is heated with one 18 x 24 Stanfield Mat, and four heated tiles that I build. Two of the tiles are 12 x 24 inches and are mounted on the wall using shelving brackets above the reach of the tortoises. This setup helps with air circulation and by setting pans of water on the raised heated tiles helps with humidity. I have all the electrical connections outside of the house in an empty plastic kitty litter bucket. I drill a hole in the side near the top and then make a couple slits so the plug ends will pass through the hole. After everything is wired put the bucket top on and then cover it with something to keep rain out and make sure you have the wires set so you have a drip loop. With all the heated tiles on when the temps are very cold this house will stay warm using a maximum of of 187 watts. So far it has worked the way I hoped it would.