Warming areas for your tortoises
 

I thought I had already wrote about this on here but cannot find it so thought I would write this small article to help those new to tortoise keeping.

My two tortes are never in the house, I keep them out as much as possible, if the weather is poor they live in a large cold frame which I have documented on here http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...t=warming+area

A few years back when I first got my tortes I done alot of temperature experiments. I found knocking together a few bits of scrap decking with polycarbonate top provided alot of heat in a sunny spot of the garden. I now have a few of these dotted around. If you have a secure run just put one of these inside for them. Use Lumisol plastic instead of polycarb top now (thanks to the TT Trust for that) and this give them the UV they need .

Below are a few photos of mine when I first built one.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q...t/P1130017.jpg

This picture is my own tortoise temperature after the unit being in the garden for one hour, these pictures were taken the beginning of April.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q...t/P1130011.jpg

This photo is after 90 minutes as you can see your torte will get nice and warm.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q...t/P1130010.jpg

Because of the size of the unit it doesnt take alot to warm up and your tortoise will get a great even warm up unlike basking lamps that hit them directly on the top, Ive never liked them lamps and hardly use mine.

To help retain heat paint the unit dark brown or black, also the base of the unit should be soil/sand/pea gravel mix unlike the wooden chipping I used in our border, this will all help retain warmth. Ive always try to replicate the wild as much as possible.

I also now have plastic stips at the entrance of these units to help keep the heat in.

It is much better than having them inside under artificial heat lamps they will love it. Think of the electricity you will save, free heat.

The spot thermometer dont lie.

I really hope this helps make you decide. Its cheap saves you money and does the trick.

Good luck and keep me posted if you try one

Can admin delete this please, I seem to have duplicated my post 3 times, sorry

I've got a spare piece of lumisol I'm using for the new Redfoot enclosure for my mam. I've had it for years now since my mate is a reptile keeper and he works at a plastics company. My 2 are getting greenhouses made out of it :) it's truly great stuff ! I had forgotten to share though !

Which company does he work for Mark as I need to source this lumisol clear for my tortes

Daryn it looks like you can purchase it off a roll is that right? Ive just googled it but not sure where it can be purchased - amazon. I have lot of little min greenhouses but the plastic goes brittle after one year. Thank-you for post most interesting.

You can yes I give a few links yesterday and one has an ebay link, you can pick sizes :smile:

The links that I found upto now on here http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...hlight=lumisol the first company has an ebay link and they sell lumisol off the roll in various sizes.

oh wow. I am in tortoise 'haven' ! just bought some off ebay - other sellers are available I am sure. thank-you. I have old pergola frames and stuck some plastic over one and my little olive shells love it !!! as do I but its a bit heath Robertson job - but now we have lumisol coming ! I will try and add a picky....C

Please let us know how you get on with this seller. Ive got my fences to repair next week then will get into this Lumisol stuff.

[/url]http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...psrketopa1.jpg[/URL][/IMG]

This is what I have at the moment, a bit of plastic over a pergola - but reckon more is best with lumisol - little hot house under it at the moment anyway.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps9r8rwtzm.jpg[/IMG]

She is in there somewhere under the hot house !