Shelled Warriors Forums
 

Go Back   Shelled Warriors Forums > Tortoise Information > Mediterranean Tortoises - Information & Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-11-2012, 05:39 PM   #1
derrick0312
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oxford
Posts: 180
Default Don't know what to do to keep my tort warm

Hi all, been a while since I last posted but lately I am worrying about my little 2 yr old tortoise. She is so inactive these days - sleeping for 3+ days without waking up and not eating much. I believed it could be a temperature-related problem since my living room is a bit chilly at night.

For this reason, I am using a ceramic bulb + thermostat to control the temperature of the enclosure at night (to around 18C). However, one problem is that my tort digs very deeply into the soil (~3 inches), and the soil down there is quite cold. The ceramic bulb obviously isn't good enough to warm up the soil. I don't know if I am imagining things...but sometimes I hear a 'sneeze' sound from the enclosure and I can't help but think that she is getting cold in the soil...can't tell for certain this is true...

What should I do? Shall I get a heatmat and stick it at the bottom of her sleeping area so she can get some heat from beneath? Anyone with experience with heat mat before? Are they safe to use (for tortoise as well as fire hazard)?

All advise welcome!!
__________________
Human = Derek
Tort = Sushi Hermann 0.0.1 (Hatched Aug 2010)
derrick0312 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 06:13 PM   #2
EJ
Senior Member
Adult
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,277
Default

What kind of enclosure are you using to house the tortoise. The most efficient way to maintain the temperature that tortoise is exposed to is to keep it in an enclosed viv with a ceramic heater and a UVB light source.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derrick0312 View Post
Hi all, been a while since I last posted but lately I am worrying about my little 2 yr old tortoise. She is so inactive these days - sleeping for 3+ days without waking up and not eating much. I believed it could be a temperature-related problem since my living room is a bit chilly at night.

For this reason, I am using a ceramic bulb + thermostat to control the temperature of the enclosure at night (to around 18C). However, one problem is that my tort digs very deeply into the soil (~3 inches), and the soil down there is quite cold. The ceramic bulb obviously isn't good enough to warm up the soil. I don't know if I am imagining things...but sometimes I hear a 'sneeze' sound from the enclosure and I can't help but think that she is getting cold in the soil...can't tell for certain this is true...

What should I do? Shall I get a heatmat and stick it at the bottom of her sleeping area so she can get some heat from beneath? Anyone with experience with heat mat before? Are they safe to use (for tortoise as well as fire hazard)?

All advise welcome!!
__________________
Ed
Tortoise Keerpers @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers
and
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
EJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 06:46 PM   #3
derrick0312
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oxford
Posts: 180
Default

I am using a open-top enclosure as I have been reading a lot about how vivarium is not ideal regarding ventilation?? So you think I should switch?
__________________
Human = Derek
Tort = Sushi Hermann 0.0.1 (Hatched Aug 2010)
derrick0312 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 07:15 PM   #4
Taszia
Member
Hatchling
 
Taszia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: west mids
Posts: 590
Default

I have an open top table and find the Arcadia d3 160w and lamp clamp works just fine . I find vivs this time of yr can cause to much condensation but personal choice really . Try dif lighting source with what you have first before spending to much on a complete change
__________________
Taszia

2 Dogs . Alfie. Riley.1 Cat . Lillyum.1Cockatoo. Cookey.2 baby THB . Geoffrey/Geoffreyna. Georgina/George.
Taszia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 07:20 PM   #5
wigwamman
Member
Juvenile
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: west midlands
Posts: 800
Default

some of mine were doing the same thing until i put a heat mat under their sleeping area,totally different now!!
wigwamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 07:42 PM   #6
EJ
Senior Member
Adult
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,277
Default

That's the trade off... you can provide the ventilation that some odd thinking individual believes it needs or you can close it up and provide the proper temperatures you know it needs. There should be an exchange of air but it does not have to be open air.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derrick0312 View Post
I am using a open-top enclosure as I have been reading a lot about how vivarium is not ideal regarding ventilation?? So you think I should switch?
__________________
Ed
Tortoise Keerpers @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers
and
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
EJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 09:07 PM   #7
Anita Sayles
Senior Member
Sub Adult
 
Anita Sayles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Plymouth, Devon UK
Posts: 1,163
Send a message via MSN to Anita Sayles
Default

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...?t=186&page=24
See post 236, I use both works great.
We all are out to work 4 days a week and there's no heating in the room.
__________________
... Be young, be foolish, but be happy... Life is too short to worry about unimportant things. Reach for the sky, touch your star, and then you find your dream...
TheTams - 1965
Anita Sayles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 09:10 PM   #8
Easter Bunny
Senior Member
Adult
 
Easter Bunny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Kent
Posts: 5,337
Default

I use a infrared bulb at night in my tortoise tables. Works for them
__________________
Lynne x
Easter Bunny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 09:25 PM   #9
EJ
Senior Member
Adult
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,277
Default

IR bulbs can burn a tortoise pretty easily.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LYNNEE View Post
I use a infrared bulb at night in my tortoise tables. Works for them
__________________
Ed
Tortoise Keerpers @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers
and
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
EJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2012, 12:25 AM   #10
derrick0312
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oxford
Posts: 180
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anita Sayles View Post
http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...?t=186&page=24
See post 236, I use both works great.
We all are out to work 4 days a week and there's no heating in the room.
This is brilliant but I am not good at wood works myself...I guess you buit this rather than bought it?
__________________
Human = Derek
Tort = Sushi Hermann 0.0.1 (Hatched Aug 2010)
derrick0312 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.