Hi All,

I have been looking at the posts for heating/lights etc as I am in the process of sorting out a permanant outdoor enclosure for my torts. What type and wattage of heater do people use? I would be using a 'sun' bulb during the day and they will have an enclosed area within the shed as 'home' with access to outdoors. Want to get new set up right so all ideas welcomed

Keep smilin, Elly

Hi Elly

Before we can help you with this one we do need more detail.  Here follows several questions - not being nosey , but just trying to envisage where your tortoise will be living and what might work for you.

I am unsure what exactly you mean by a 'sun bulb' for day time use.  Have you already bought it and is this the name of it.  What is it's wattage and is it a spot or a flood bulb.  Is this bulb to go in the shed?  

Before we can advise on heater and wattage etc. we need to know a little more re the area to be heated.  What size is the shed and does the whole of the shed need to be heated?  Is the shed insulated for the colder weather - if not then the tortoise area within the shed would need insulation? 

For my Russians, for example, as I have various set ups for them, the lighting and heating requirements all differ.  I also keep Hermanns and their enclosure set ups are very different to the Russians and as a result they have entirely different heating and lighting arrangements.

Sorry for all the questions 

Helen

At the moment the torts are in a tortoise table and have access to a ceramic heat lamp and 2 different types of UV lamps for 'sun'. They also go outside during nice days. The outdoor enclosure is in the planning stage and will have a well insulated shed with tortoise area off floor. This will lead to an outside area, which will be enclosed and safe. The shed will prob be around 7ft x 5ft or slightly bigger, with a raised area about half its size dedicated to the tortoises (I need to have wheelchair access to them). I want to make sure they have a warm area and a 'sunny' area for bad weather days. The outdoor area will have plenty of hides, plants and rocks etc and will have mesh buried 2 ft underground.

Hope this gives you some idea of what I am looking at doing? I want to hear as many bits of advice and ideas before we build it to get it right. Oh, the tortoises are marginaed ones and I have 3 aat the moment.

Keep smilin. Elly

Hi Elly

The first thing to tell you is that you may not get it right the first time even with good advice.  As in my case, I set up thinking it is just as I want it and then I find I need to change everything round again.

One of the features I have in my shed that I don’t move around is that Geoff installed me electric cabling in between the outer shed wall and the inner lining alongside the insulation material.  He had double power point sockets installed at both ground and waist level and also had me an electric light fitting and switch installed (necessary for me on darker nights and mornings).

I was wondering about the ‘sun’ lamps you have as if you bought them from a reptile shop as a basking bulb the chances are that they emit UVA rays only and not the important UVB rays (Check out these terms  in the glossary which you will find in the Library section on the menu on the left side of this page).  If these are the bulbs you have then you need to get your tortoises outside as much as possible so they may benefit from the sun’s UVB rays and think about purchasing UVB lamps for the cooler weather when your torts won’t be able to go outside as much as now.

I’ll have a think about the rest and get back to you.

HTH for now
Helen

Hi Elly

Just another thought for now. 

For marginated tortoises you won’t need the mesh buried underground in the outside enclosure. This is the type of environment that a horsfield would need, but margies aren’t burying and tunneling species like the horsfield. 

Have a read of our new article on safety and security in the 'Enclosure' section of the web site which you will find listed under 'The Tortoise'.

Helen

Hi Helen,

The mesh is not so much a case of stopping the torts getting out, but stopping unwanteds getting in I have open fields on 3 sides and a country lane on the other. We have lots of wildlife about, which we encourage into the garden, but I want to keep the visitors away from my tortoises. All the enclosure will be 6ft high with weldmesh covering it. It will have a door, but this will be padlocked/alarmed as will the shed. Security lights and cameras are going up anyway, so they will help. We have a very private garden and its not easy to see what we keep in it. My biggest concern is getting inside the shed right.

Thanks for you help. Keep smilin Elly

It seems as if you have thought this out really well.  I wish everyone did their research as well as you are doing.  Your tortoises are going to have a lovley home 

Helen

As I said in my earlier response that I should go for the bigger shed if you are able to for 3 margies and give them as much room in it as possible.  One thing to bear in mind is that heat rises so any thermometers that you use in the shed should be hung at tortoise level so you will get an accurate recording of the temp they are living in.

In my 6' x 8' shed for background heating I use 2 tubular greenhouse heaters both attached to a dual habistat thermostat and I leave them switched on (not in the very hot weather obviously) with the thermostat set to come on if the temps fall below 15°C.  For night time use too I use a ceramic heat emitter set on to a timer and connected to a thermostat too.  This is near the hide area where the tortoises sleep. 

For daytime use - in one set up I have a combined UVB/heat lamp at the other end of the table to the ceramic heat emitter.  In another set up I use an ordinary reflector basking lamp (no UVB) and along side it I run the longest UVB 10.0 tube, with a reflector covering, that the table will take.

I also have tortoises on the floor with their own lamps, but so far this arrangement has worked for me and keeps my tortoises snug and warm when heat is needed.

HTH

Helen

Thanks for all the replies It's good to know I am thinking along the right lines. Strange question; how steep a ramp could a tortoise climb? I want to house them raised off the floor a bit, mainly for easier access for me (I am in a wheelchair).

Keep smilin, Elly

Hi Elly, I think I am an expert on ramps as i have them everywhere. I think the things you have to keep in mind are that the sides are high enough not for them to climb over, and that they are not transparent as they will spend ages trying to get through the wrong exit. Another point to think about is what is on the floor of the ramp; I have concreat ramps, wooden ones with raised struts across them and finally a wooden ramp with a heavy duty rubber matt atached to the foor for grip. Try to make the ramp(s) south facing if possible as they adour basking on them. If you give me a rough idea of how steep your ramp is going to be I'm sure I will have one roundabout that size and will post some pictures for you.

HTH

Elaine 

Hi Elaine,

You wouldn't happen to be a wheelchair user too by any chance? I am going to get hubby to make the ramp to order and it will have sides about a foot high. I'd like to get the tortoises at least 2 ft of the ground when they are in the shed. Will be buying the biggest shed I can afford, hopefully 8ft x 5ft and they will have most of this area, with the exception of just enough room for my wheelchair to go in. I'm thinking if the ramp is 2- 3ft long and 2ft wide the slope wont be too bad. Would cover it in the best material for their grip (Ideas?) and it will get sun most of the day. Hope that gives you an idea of what I am looking at?

Keep smilin, Elly 

I will take some pictures today and post them later Elly. Not a wheelchair user but feel that by creating levels you double your space! I also have a bad back periodically so ramps make life so much easier.

What a fantastic set up Elaine , if mine is half as good I will be happy. Your pics have certainly given me loads of ideas. Oh hubby will bo soooo happy

Keep smilin, Elly

Oh poor hubby <vbg>.  The different enclosures are fantastic though so tell your hubby we need pics of his finished set ups please to see if he can improve on Elaine's.  Tell him he'll have a job and a half on his hands if he can get a better one lol. 

Helen