I was just curious, who in here does exactly what with their hingebacks as far as the use of lights and heat sources go. I know, I see us telling folks they need this or that amount of light or temps, yet I don't follow those rules and nor do I usually speak up and give advise going against the grain.
To be honest almost all of my various hingebacks have no outside source of heat, they make do with what the house temp is. In the winter that means high 70s to low 80s on average.
The only time I put heat on any of the Erosa or Homes, is if they are housed in a bottom enclosure, it's the coldest part of winter, and because of drafts or distance/location from the house heater, it can drop too low. The rest of the groups have no CHE and are equal in activity levels. My Bells like it a bit hotter, so they have the CHE on them all the time during the winter. I also have one housed in one of the warmest locations and he has no CHE, as it would create for him too hot an environment. Both have the same amount of activity, but then the end temps are about equal for both.
Now that it's warmer outside, all heat is off (both the CHE and the house heater), with the exception of the one CHE still on the Bells. Our house heat is going to be up and down some what with what's going on outside, but still would be staying in the low 70s. We did have one or two really cold days a week or so ago, and turned on an electric heater and used the oven for cooking which did raise back up the house temps into the 70s.
Days like today (finally a warm sunny day!!!), windows will be wide open and remain so for the next few days. Those not getting time outside, will still be experiences some of the same temps, including the low night temps.
As for lighting, they all currently have the long kitchen light type fixtures that are on for between 6-10 hours. The amount of time varies as I am testing to see preferences. Plus about half of these lights are on timers, so they are stable in when they come on or go off each day. The other half I play with. Some days they get turned on, some days they stay off. Some days they come on early, some days later in the day. Once more testing to see how the groups react.
In the summer, they get limited time outside. Years ago (may be 15 and only with Bells), I tried more and it was a total failure. My fault I am sure, as I may have stressed them moving them in at night, as it was not a secure enclosure and the major thing was I picked the wrong location, then didn't plant it heavy enough or have enough hides.
Currently, we are changing an old NA Wood turtle enclosure over to one for an experimental group of Homes to live outside 24/7.
These are all adults, groups of Bells, Homes, and Erosa. They all have the appearance of being healthy. They are all eating, soaking on their own, being active, attempting breeding and laying eggs. (and have been doing so for at least a year, when the last one would have arrived here. Some we are talking years.)
So what do you actually use? Do you use these year round, change as the weather changes, or do they get time outside (and if so, how much)?
Do you use timers, so they get the same amount each and every day?
To be honest almost all of my various hingebacks have no outside source of heat, they make do with what the house temp is. In the winter that means high 70s to low 80s on average.
The only time I put heat on any of the Erosa or Homes, is if they are housed in a bottom enclosure, it's the coldest part of winter, and because of drafts or distance/location from the house heater, it can drop too low. The rest of the groups have no CHE and are equal in activity levels. My Bells like it a bit hotter, so they have the CHE on them all the time during the winter. I also have one housed in one of the warmest locations and he has no CHE, as it would create for him too hot an environment. Both have the same amount of activity, but then the end temps are about equal for both.
Now that it's warmer outside, all heat is off (both the CHE and the house heater), with the exception of the one CHE still on the Bells. Our house heat is going to be up and down some what with what's going on outside, but still would be staying in the low 70s. We did have one or two really cold days a week or so ago, and turned on an electric heater and used the oven for cooking which did raise back up the house temps into the 70s.
Days like today (finally a warm sunny day!!!), windows will be wide open and remain so for the next few days. Those not getting time outside, will still be experiences some of the same temps, including the low night temps.
As for lighting, they all currently have the long kitchen light type fixtures that are on for between 6-10 hours. The amount of time varies as I am testing to see preferences. Plus about half of these lights are on timers, so they are stable in when they come on or go off each day. The other half I play with. Some days they get turned on, some days they stay off. Some days they come on early, some days later in the day. Once more testing to see how the groups react.
In the summer, they get limited time outside. Years ago (may be 15 and only with Bells), I tried more and it was a total failure. My fault I am sure, as I may have stressed them moving them in at night, as it was not a secure enclosure and the major thing was I picked the wrong location, then didn't plant it heavy enough or have enough hides.
Currently, we are changing an old NA Wood turtle enclosure over to one for an experimental group of Homes to live outside 24/7.
These are all adults, groups of Bells, Homes, and Erosa. They all have the appearance of being healthy. They are all eating, soaking on their own, being active, attempting breeding and laying eggs. (and have been doing so for at least a year, when the last one would have arrived here. Some we are talking years.)
So what do you actually use? Do you use these year round, change as the weather changes, or do they get time outside (and if so, how much)?
Do you use timers, so they get the same amount each and every day?
, so I try to make sure someone has a very low output bulb and they have lots of hiding spots.
