RHP and basking light

[UnHooked]

Spending some income tax on Johnny. My juvenile sulcatas enclosure is 5x7 ft. Just got large RHP and thermostat. Wondering if I would put the uva basking bulb off to the left of it so it's still on warm side but he will go there for his light basking? And put a t5 light on the other side of that?? And am I wrong but isnt the probe for the rhp supposed to be only 3 inches away from panel itself? Not on floor of enclosure? Figured id then put another bulb on cool side for extra light. Maybe a che of needed during cold months? Or is there another option of bulb i am not thinkong of. Ideas? Any feedback would be appreciated. Every tune up I do to his enclosure stresses me out. You would think Id have the basis down by now. Switching to heat panel though with him getting bigger and shell I think is being affected.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

You might consider putting the panel on a wall and then the heat is moving horizontally across the enclosure while the light(s) above are projecting light from above Now the tortoise can adjust heat and light intensities they want. I often angle off the wall slightly down and put a ceramic tile in the path of the projected heat, which also re-radiates heat into the whole enclosure. I always use RHP's with some solid tile, or bricks, so they can absorb and re-radiate heat.
As far as the thermostat probe, put it adjacent to where the tortoise will be at the 'focus' of the heat and adjust the heat towards the high end of the desired range for the tortoise (different species have different optimal heat spots).

 

[Tom]

Spending some income tax on Johnny. My juvenile sulcatas enclosure is 5x7 ft. Just got large RHP and thermostat. Wondering if I would put the uva basking bulb off to the left of it so it's still on warm side but he will go there for his light basking? And put a t5 light on the other side of that?? And am I wrong but isnt the probe for the rhp supposed to be only 3 inches away from panel itself? Not on floor of enclosure? Figured id then put another bulb on cool side for extra light. Maybe a che of needed during cold months? Or is there another option of bulb i am not thinkong of. Ideas? Any feedback would be appreciated. Every tune up I do to his enclosure stresses me out. You would think Id have the basis down by now. Switching to heat panel though with him getting bigger and shell I think is being affected.

What size is Johny now?

-The basking flood bulb and the UV tube should be mounted close together for basking.
-I put the probe down low, but out of tortoise reach, in the coolest part of the enclosure away from heat sources. This will ensure that the coldest part of your enclosure remains above the set point of the thermostat. Having it warmer elsewhere in the enclosure is great, as long as the coldest part of the enclosure is always warm enough.
-Other bulbs on the cools side are a great idea. LEDs work well for this purpose. The whole enclosure should be well lit during the day. It should be bright and "sunny" where your tortoise lives.
-Whether or not you need more heat in winter will be determined by your thermometer. If it is dropping below 80 in the enclosure, you'll need to add more heat. CHEs are great for smaller tortoises that are under about 8 inches. Once they start gaining size, the CHE will dry out the carapace too much. RHPs are better after that point, and raising the ambient temperature in the whole area is an even better method.
-In Texas you should be able to have the tortoise outdoors most of every year with a heated night box, once the tortoise is large enough.

Questions are welcome.

 

[UnHooked]

What size is Johny now?

-The basking flood bulb and the UV tube should be mounted close together for basking.
-I put the probe down low, but out of tortoise reach, in the coolest part of the enclosure away from heat sources. This will ensure that the coldest part of your enclosure remains above the set point of the thermostat. Having it warmer elsewhere in the enclosure is great, as long as the coldest part of the enclosure is always warm enough.
-Other bulbs on the cools side are a great idea. LEDs work well for this purpose. The whole enclosure should be well lit during the day. It should be bright and "sunny" where your tortoise lives.
-Whether or not you need more heat in winter will be determined by your thermometer. If it is dropping below 80 in the enclosure, you'll need to add more heat. CHEs are great for smaller tortoises that are under about 8 inches. Once they start gaining size, the CHE will dry out the carapace too much. RHPs are better after that point, and raising the ambient temperature in the whole area is an even better method.
-In Texas you should be able to have the tortoise outdoors most of every year with a heated night box, once the tortoise is large enough.

Questions are welcome.

Yes we are working on outdoor enclosure cause he is 3 years old now. About 11 inches. Noticed the lights r affecting shell a bit I think. Thats why we got the rhp. Room stays at 70 so figure with it being 5x7 the panel with basking light should be good to make cool side high enough temp. Maybe che on that side when it colder. Need another ambient light though. Just was hoping that it being open top like that it would be fine placing it across that wooden lid. BTW its so hard to find a flood light thats incandescent.

 

[Tom]

Yes we are working on outdoor enclosure cause he is 3 years old now. About 11 inches. Noticed the lights r affecting shell a bit I think. Thats why we got the rhp. Room stays at 70 so figure with it being 5x7 the panel with basking light should be good to make cool side high enough temp. Maybe che on that side when it colder. Need another ambient light though. Just was hoping that it being open top like that it would be fine placing it across that wooden lid. BTW its so hard to find a flood light thats incandescent.

At that size, I'd stop waisting time and money on indoor housing, and get him set up outside. 5x7 is too small for a 6 inch tortoise. At 11 inches, you need a whole back yard for walking space. The RHP you bought will work great over a Kane mat in an insulated outdoor night house.

 

[UnHooked]

I know and I hate we slow to the process but its in the making. We choosing between what way to go with building it then starting on outdoor area. Already been treating yard with diat.dirt and boric soaked cotton balls lol. Wanted to get those hot lights off him though asap. Main issue we having is how to go about his night house. Ive seen several ones but id freak out too much making one thinking im doing it wrong. Been looking for a source to buy one that I could just throw his heat elements in and be set.

 

[Tom]

I know and I hate we slow to the process but its in the making. We choosing between what way to go with building it then starting on outdoor area. Already been treating yard with diat.dirt and boric soaked cotton balls lol. Wanted to get those hot lights off him though asap. Main issue we having is how to go about his night house. Ive seen several ones but id freak out too much making one thinking im doing it wrong. Been looking for a source to buy one that I could just throw his heat elements in and be set.

No one sells a suitable box. You have to build your own, or have someone build it for you. Here are two examples:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[UnHooked]

Oh thank u so much! So much better than what ive seen people call a tortoise box. Ive been seeing dog houses and things that say r for tortoises but they r not suitable or stable for what I believe he needs. This is great! Again thank u. Time to get to work.