Heating

[Vita]

Hello!
I am really concerned about the temperature in the new vivarium for my female tortoise... I am still waiting for the ceramic heating lamp to arrive and I guess it will take about two more weeks for it to come (ordered it from aliexpress.com . As it is getting more and more cold outside, also the inside temperature has fallen to 18-19 degrees celsium. She is not eating and not moving, just sleeping all the time. Maybe it is better to put her back together with the male? Yeasterday I found an old infrared bulb 150w and put in there. But it was late and I was going for bed so I turned it out (luckily). This morning I wanted to check the temperature under the lamp. I put a termometer/hydrogemeter under the lamp and as the female was sleeping and not coming out, I left the lamp turnet on for some 15 minutes and went outside the room. When I came in, I got shoched and turned tha lamp off immediately. The termometer/hydrogemeter had melted!!!!

I must say, I feel awful. I could have hurt my tortoise . But what should I do know? Put the feemale back to the male? I saw a bulb like this only with smaller number of w in the shop - should I buy thet one? But it makes out a lot of light - wouldn't that hurt? Maybee there are ssome aother advice?

 

[Vita]

Forgot to write that the distance was about 25 cm between the bulb and the termometer/hydrogemeter.

 

[wellington]

I would not put her back with the other one. That could just cause you more problems. Do you have a regular incandescent bulb, maybe a 40 or 60 watt? You can use that for added heat and light, even if you need to leave it on at night, until your Che comes in, it's better then them getting too cold. As long as she has a hide to go into, she would be able to get away from the light at night.

 

[Gillian M]

Hello and sorry for what took place due to too much heat. Thank GOD your tort did not get hurt/harmed.

 

[Vita]

I would not put her back with the other one. That could just cause you more problems. Do you have a regular incandescent bulb, maybe a 40 or 60 watt? You can use that for added heat and light, even if you need to leave it on at night, until your Che comes in, it's better then them getting too cold. As long as she has a hide to go into, she would be able to get away from the light at night.

Thanks . Well, I will try to find one. Incandesent bulbs were forbidden some time ago (the main reason was that they use too much electricity) so they are not sold anymore in Latvia. We have replaced almost all bulbs with one like these:

But I think I had the last one in my kitchen lamp left .

 

[Vita]

Hello and sorry for what took place due to too much heat. Thank GOD your tort did not get hurt/harmed.

Thanks ! I am also happy I came back then and not later. Still it was terrifying when I found the melting termometer.

 

[Vita]

Done ! Hope that this will help . Found 60w one left