Glass Coffee Table

[AudgePaudge]

So I've had a sulcata tortoise for almost a year now, and we've been looking for a better-looking home for him- sort of like one of those dog crates that look like end tables and we've found one! It's a glass terrarium table with large holes for air, and it opens up for cleaning, feeding, and interaction. The only problem we've had is heating it. We need a way to keep it warm (our house is 68 degrees at night), but we don't want to see the cord or a heat lamp. Is there any way to do that? Maybe a battery-powered heating pad or something? (Just to be clear, the tortoise is small- he's not full grown.)

 

[JoesMum]

Tortoises have evolved to take heat from above and not below. They must have a proper basking lamp that is hung vertically and a temperature of 95-100F directly underneath. Because they are cold-blooded, basking is the only way they can raise their internal temperature properly in order to digest food and be active.

A Sulcata is going to outgrow and coffee table pretty quickly. A glass vivarium of any sort is really only suitable for hatchlings. After that they need a much bigger floor area than you can possibly achieve in a vivarium.

This is about what’s best for your tortoise and not about what looks pretty in your home.

I recommend you read the TFO care guides if you haven't already

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

For those that have a young Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[AudgePaudge]

Tortoises have evolved to take heat from above and not below. They must have a proper basking lamp that is hung vertically and a temperature of 95-100F directly underneath. Because they are cold-blooded, basking is the only way they can raise their internal temperature properly in order to digest food and be active.

A Sulcata is going to outgrow and coffee table pretty quickly. A glass vivarium of any sort is really only suitable for hatchlings. After that they need a much bigger floor area than you can possibly achieve in a vivarium.

This is about what’s best for your tortoise and not about what looks pretty in your home.

I recommend you read the TFO care guides if you haven't already

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

For those that have a young Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

To be clear- the table would only be for nights when he couldn’t be outside. (Rainy, cold, panther sighting, etc). I would NEVER want to confine my baby to something that isn’t healthy for him. I just thought that the table would be perfect because my parents were already looking for one and it would be great to include Sprout in all the action. (Seeing as his nighttime terrarium is in the laundry room that only my parents and I go in (the boys go in some too, but not much)). Just wanted to include him!