Custom Build House for Leopard Tortoise

Joined
Dec 28, 2019
Messages
35
Location (City and/or State)
London, Ontario
My fantastic husband has offered to make a custom hide box or house for my 20 year old Leopard tortoise Julia. She has only been with us since Christmas and has been in a temporary wooden hide spot for sleeping. I would love to see some indoor Leopard tortoise set ups for inspiration! Any tips would be greatly appreciated. For example, should she have her Kane heat mat inside the box for warmth at night? Thanks fellow tortoise fans!
 

PiL71

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
59
Location (City and/or State)
Massachusetts
My fantastic husband has offered to make a custom hide box or house for my 20 year old Leopard tortoise Julia. She has only been with us since Christmas and has been in a temporary wooden hide spot for sleeping. I would love to see some indoor Leopard tortoise set ups for inspiration! Any tips would be greatly appreciated. For example, should she have her Kane heat mat inside the box for warmth at night? Thanks fellow tortoise fans!
Hello! First off, and this is arguably the most important thing you should know in accordance to your post - do NOT use a heating mat - tortoises of any kind and size can scratch off the plastic safety coating, resulting in the possibility of a fire! Good luck in your travels :D
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Jan 9, 2010
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Southern California
Hello! First off, and this is arguably the most important thing you should know in accordance to your post - do NOT use a heating mat - tortoises of any kind and size can scratch off the plastic safety coating, resulting in the possibility of a fire! Good luck in your travels :D
This is only true of the indoor reptile terrarium type heat mats. Kane and Stansfield mats are designed and made for farrowing sows and their piglets. If it can stand up to a 400 pound sow walking around on it in the mud and yuck, then it is fine for large tortoises. They are actually one of the best heating strategies for large tortoises in colder climates.
 

PiL71

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
59
Location (City and/or State)
Massachusetts
This is only true of the indoor reptile terrarium type heat mats. Kane and Stansfield mats are designed and made for farrowing sows and their piglets. If it can stand up to a 400 pound sow walking around on it in the mud and yuck, then it is fine for large tortoises. They are actually one of the best heating strategies for large tortoises in colder climates.
Good to know, thanks! I was just going off general knowledge that I had from a bit of Googling.
 
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