Checking Temps

[TortsandTurts]

hi! I've adopted a 4 year old sully. He came to me in bad condition, and no proper lighting, etc. Just wanted to check what temperatures should be for a bigger tort. Everything I've read is hatchling/young tort info. He's about ten pounds or so, so I want to make sure I'm doing this right. His hide runs about 95 or a few degrees higher and he chooses to be there a lot. Other areas of the enclosure run around 85. It gets slightly cooler at night when his light goes off. Suggestions? If his hide was too hot would he choose not to be there, correct?

Any tips are welcome.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Hi

 

[Big Ol Tortoise]

How's the humidity? And welcome to the forum!

 

[TortsandTurts]

Humditity in his hide is good. Runs between 50 and 70%. It's completely enclosed except for a hole only big enough for him to get in and out.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome.
Warm temps.
Nice.
I'm sure one of out Sulcata owning members will chime in soon.

 

[Big Charlie]

How big is your enclosure? Where do you live? Is it warm enough to allow your tort outside this time of year? Usually by the time they are 10 pounds, they need the space that an outdoor area can provide. What are you using for heating?

 

[TortsandTurts]

No, unfortunately it's too cold outside. His enclosure is a good size. It takes quite a bit (over half or more) of an empty bedroom. He's got plenty of space. His hide takes up about a quarter-ish of it. I've got two MVB and three CHE.

 

[BILBO-03]

Hi and Welcome!

 

[Big Charlie]

With larger tortoises, they can get burned by CHEs while still being cold at their edges. It might be time to change out the type of heater you are using. 95 seems rather warm.

 

[TortsandTurts]

I've always seen CHE as being the recommended form of heat when it's time for lights out. What are your suggestions for an alternate form?

 

[Yvonne G]

I have a pretty big night house that's heated with radiant heat panels:



It's out of the picture in the second shot, but up on that cord is a rheostat (?) controller. I just dial it up to 80F or 75F whichever mood I'm in, and that's the temperature that the box stays at. It's very accurate and consistent.

 

[Big Charlie]

I've always seen CHE as being the recommended form of heat when it's time for lights out. What are your suggestions for an alternate form?

CHEs are great for small torts. I use radiant heat panels like Yvonne and also a Kane mat, but mine is just a 4 foot night box. With the size of your enclosure, a radiator might be better.

 

[TortsandTurts]

Interesting. Where did you purchase them? Is there a specific brand you trust?

 

[TortsandTurts]

I have a pretty big night house that's heated with radiant heat panels:

View attachment 193910 View attachment 193911

It's out of the picture in the second shot, but up on that cord is a rheostat (?) controller. I just dial it up to 80F or 75F whichever mood I'm in, and that's the temperature that the box stays at. It's very accurate and consistent.

Would you mind telling me what watt you use for your hide?

 

[TortsandTurts]

CHEs are great for small torts. I use radiant heat panels like Yvonne and also a Kane mat, but mine is just a 4 foot night box. With the size of your enclosure, a radiator might be better.

A Kane mat? I'll have to Google. I'd like to put one in the hide and then some along the walls of his enclosure. Suggestions on wattages?

 

[Big Charlie]

A Kane mat? I'll have to Google. I'd like to put one in the hide and then some along the walls of his enclosure. Suggestions on wattages?

My Kane mat is the 18 x 27 size. http://www.tortoisesupply.com/kane
My radiant panel is the 80 watt: http://www.reptilebasics.com/80-watt-radiant-heat-panel
I have the radiant panel on the ceiling and the Kane on the floor. However, my box is only 2 1/2 feet tall, and 4 foot square. This might work for your hide, but for the larger enclosure, I still think a radiator would be better. It will help with the humidity too.

 

[TortsandTurts]

Is your enclosure completely enclosed? My hide is but my large enclosure is not.

 

[Speedy-1]

I also like the Kane heat mats !

 

[Big Charlie]

Is your enclosure completely enclosed? My hide is but my large enclosure is not.

Yes. Mine is a night box. My tortoise is 100 pounds and lives outdoors. He goes into his box at night and when it is cold. That's what I was trying to say; these types of heaters work better in a smaller enclosed space, so they will be great for his hide, but for the larger enclosure, a radiator will be better.
Remember heat rises, so if your enclosure is as tall as a normal room, you'll be losing a lot of heat.

 

[TortsandTurts]

I understood that you were trying to say they work better for smaller enclosures and that a radiator may be better. I'm just trying to put all the pieces and options together. I'll look into a Kane mat for the floor of one corner of his enclosure so he always has a fail safe. And I'll look into reptile mats for his hide. Thanks for the suggestions.