How can I make my tortoises warmer?

[siobhanc37]

Hi,

I've had my tortoises for a couple of years and never had any problems, but I moved into a new house last summer, and my new house is really cold. One of my Horsfields has come down really ill, I'm currently back and forth from the vet trying to get him better, but their house is just too cold for him to recover, it's only 22C under their basking lamp and even colder on the other end, I have a spot light for basking and a tube light, what else can I do to make their house warmer?

[Ozric Jonathan]

Siobhan I think you need more powerful heating and lighting. One option would be to use additional ceramic heat emitters. You can get them up to 250watts or maybe more. Is this set-up inside the human house or out in the garden? If its' in your own home, fit draught excluders and maybe clingfilm on the windows and get space heaters.

What are you using for a basking lamp?

All of this will add to your electricty costs but I agree the 22C is far too low.

[Easter Bunny]

A couple of my torts are in my garage that is attached the house, it's colder than the rest of the house but I am able to get the correct temps for them and they are always up and about. usually before me
I use a 160watt Arcadia combined bulb, a 100 watt normal household bulb, and at night I just use a 100 or150 watt infrared bulb to keep temps around 17c.
Winter time I used a tubular heater aswell. Don't have to at the moment.

I have Hermanns.

[Shelled Lady]

Originally Posted by siobhanc37

Hi,

I've had my tortoises for a couple of years and never had any problems, but I moved into a new house last summer, and my new house is really cold. One of my Horsfields has come down really ill, I'm currently back and forth from the vet trying to get him better, but their house is just too cold for him to recover, it's only 22C under their basking lamp and even colder on the other end, I have a spot light for basking and a tube light, what else can I do to make their house warmer?

Definately, you need more lamps at a higher wattage. Have you got your poorly tortoise under a 100w infra red bulb night and day? This is what he needs until there is recovery. Combine this with a white spot bulb 100w for day time.

[Alan1]

more heating to heat the room

[knottyedge]

i would go for a 160w basking bulb and dome reflector and bang it on a dimming stat so you could set the temp to what you need it to be

[wigwamman]

as your tortoise is unwell "i would use a decent sized vivarium"i know this goes against present day thinking but unless you are prepared to spend a fortune heating a cold house i dont see too many options.
how about a greenhouse type of structure built around your tort table,anything to minimise the heated area and keep the warmth in.
good luck

[siobhanc37]

Thank you all for your help, I'm gonna start off with an oil filled radiator in my back room with them to see if i can warm the room up a bit, if that doesn't get him better I'll have to change my lamps! Thanks xx

[_simon_]

Those oil filled radiators can cost a fortune to run. I'd be looking for the reason why the house is so cold, it's not only affecting your tortoises but must be affecting you as well both temperature wise and in heating costs.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Siobhan it's your decision but I would get more powerful lamps that are right over the animal as well as something to bring up the background temperature.