Heat lamp

[sprice]

So Im getting my Tortys pen ready for my first winter with him. Im seeing how people are saying no red heat lamps. So what is the appropiate one to get? Thanks!

 

[Tom]

Where are you? If your tortoise will get regular sunshine, you can get a regular incandescent flood bulb from any hardware store for a basking light. If it will be indoors all winter then I prefer the Mercury Vapor Bulbs.

Then I like to use a ceramic heating element on a thermostat for the rest of the time. This will keep your ambient temp warm enough day and night.

 

[tifftortoise]

Where can you get the MV bulbs?

 

[Jeansie1988]

I have a local pet store *Big Als* that sells them. I would think any reptile store??

 

[wellington]

Where can you get the MV bulbs?

Most any pet store or online is usually cheaper. Check out amazon.

 

[sprice]

I live in Ca. He is outside during the day, just in garage during the night. Thanks again!

 

[sprice]

Would I be able to get by with a those reptile heating pads they sell instead?

 

[wellington]

If he isn't a baby a pig blanket is what a lot of the members use for outside torts heat. You can also use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter)

 

[sprice]

Where do I get a pig blanket? This works well when the temps drop below 50? We were told he is 4.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Stanford oxbow pig blanket. It's not a blanket but more a heat mat. I got mine off eBay. It's 18"x24" I paid a total of $45.00 for it which is better than half price.

 

[lynnedit]

I may have missed it: what kind of tort do you have? Pig blankets work well for larger torts, but probably not so much with smaller torts like Russians.

If it is warm enough over winter for him to be outside, or have the CHOICE to be outside, then creating a pen/box/hide inside your garage is a great idea.
Do you bring him in each night, or is there a doorway that he can go from the Garage to the outside run?

 

[sprice]

Ok thanks! I have a Sulcata. We built him a pen outside but can bring him in the garage on nights where it drops too cool.

 

[Jim in Merced CA]

So, what I'm reading here... and trying to zero in on...

For a sulcata -- living in a mild climate like California (which I do) I could use...

100 watt bulb during the day...

Then, at night...

Pig blanket (heat mat)
OR
Ceramic Heating Element

Plus a thermostat to be able to check temps...

How'm I doing?

 

[wellington]

The CHE can be plugged into the thermostat. Set the temp and the enclosure won't go below the temp you have it set at. Sounds to me like your right on.

 

[Jim in Merced CA]

Hey Wellington:

So, if the sulcata can bask in the actual sun during the day, the CHE can be used in his enclosed shed/pen ..with no pig blanket and no 100 watt bulb? Just the CHE?

Thanks for helping us newbies...

Jim

The CHE can be plugged into the thermostat. Set the temp and the enclosure won't go below the temp you have it set at. Sounds to me like your right on.

 

[Dizisdalife]

Your heat source really depends on how big the shed is and how well it is insulated. I believe the current thinking is that a tortoise does better with over head heat source than one from underneath. As far as a nigh box for your tortoise goes, check out this thread. There are some others in the enclosure section that are easy to build as well.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-20527.html?highlight=mother+of+all#axzz29679OCqL

 

[Jim in Merced CA]

Thanks Joe J