Dry Box/Heated Night Box

I'm not talented or creative like many of you are with building wood shelters and night boxes. Where I live, the coldest it will get this winter is maybe 45 degrees, and that's not often either. I wanted to create some type of shelter where my Russian Tortoise can go if its raining hard or if it gets cold. I saw these items on Amazon and thought I'd give them a try. The heating pad is made of ABS plastic and the temperature is adjustable from 80-100 degrees. I though of putting it in the box with a layer of topsoil as a safe place for RT. One concern I have though is if it will attract snakes as that is my one phobia. Has anyone used a setup similar to this? Will the heating pad be sufficient?

It should work for a Russian in those temperatures. Does the heat pad come with some sort of controller so it's not always "on"?

Yvonne G said:

It should work for a Russian in those temperatures. Does the heat pad come with some sort of controller so it's not always "on"?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure, but I was planning on sinking the cord under ground and under the edge of the enclosure and then running an extension cord to an outdoor outlet where I can either just plug it in when it's cold or putting a timer on it for prolonged cold days. I'm worried about snakes looking for a warm spot...found one in the kitchen oven when I was a kid, but that's another story. lol

You need to also get a thermostat for your heat pad. I like these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NZZG3S/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

You can't put anything on top of a heat pad. I wouldn't use one for a russian anyway. You'd be better served by a Ceramic Heating Element or a Radiant Heat Pad. If you are dead set on a heating pad, I would get one from Kane Manufacturing. They are made with built in thermostats for safety. Other heat pads can over heat and fry. Most animals, like a dog or cat will simply get off the pad if it gets too hot. Reptiles don't necessarily work that way and will sometimes burn themselves on a surface that is too hot or under a hot bulb.

I like these RHPs:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels

I know I'm late to the party but I just saw the thread. I don't know where you are in S. FL but you likely don't need to get too crazy with heated areas for your Russian. As long as it has access to direct warm sunlight for a majority of the day, and a DRY place to get into/sleep if it is wet outside, the temps we get this far south should be no problem for your tortoise. My Russian has been outside for 3 years with no heater or lights, just some boards built into a box with dirt piled on top. His enclosure faces the SE so he gets plenty of morning and mid day sun. If we're gonna have days and days of rain I pull a tarp over the top of the enclosure so things don't get saturated..
The key is:
Basically, warm temps + wet conditions is ok. Cold temps + dry conditions is ok. Cold/cool temps with moist/wet conditions VERY BAD.
Good luck out there.