about to convert a bedframe into a tortoise habitat

i have a twin bed in my guestroom, but since none of my friends ever come by, i'm going to make use the frame to make a nice big habitat for my two redfoots.


the overhead lighting will be easy, but is there a safe way to install a UTH (in preparation for those cool "winter" nights we sometimes get here in miami) with this?

i.e. put a section of glass or plexiglass in a corner and build a hide over it


thanks in advance

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Originally Posted by se7en

the overhead lighting will be easy, but is there a safe way to install a UTH (in preparation for those cool "winter" nights we sometimes get here in miami) with this?

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I've always gone with top heat and it hasn't let me down yet. It's as easy as attaching the heater to the inside roof of a box/hide and adding a bit of insulation to help hold heat. This type of setup works best with lower hides - when my tortoises are in their hide the peak of their carapace is only 1-3 inches away from the above heat source.

You definitely do not want any UTH components when working with tortoises. I would go for a CHE to run during the night. In my closed chamber tort enclosure I have a 100w CHE on 24/7 and a 45w bulb for basking. All my temperatures stay great. Redfoots require high humidity as hatchlings and juvies, so you might want to configure a way to close off at least part of the enclosure to get the humidity up. Although being in Miami this might be less of an issue and Colorado.

forgive me for asking, but what is a CHE?

and i was thinking of using plexiglass to cover at least 50% of the open space to keep humidity in

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Originally Posted by se7en

forgive me for asking, but what is a CHE?

and i was thinking of using plexiglass to cover at least 50% of the open space to keep humidity in

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A CHE is a ceramic heating element. They look like a bulb but are made of porcelain, and can plug into reptile lamps. They emit heat without any light production. They are easily regulated with any rheostat and light dimmer. I use the exoterra wire cage lamps with them and it works well.

thanks:salute:

Honestly for most tort related topics I would head over to tortoiseforum.org. There are MANY inaccuracies in information regarding tortoise husbandry perpetuated by both the internet as a whole, and people on this forum. Ive found that forum to be much better in getting accurate info.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

There are MANY inaccuracies in information regarding tortoise husbandry perpetuated by both the internet as a whole, and people on this forum.

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I'll bite. Where's all the inaccurate information being perpetuated here? :P

Not pointing at anyone specifically on here. Just found that tortoiseforum.org seems to have the most up to date info with people who solely focus on torts.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

Not pointing at anyone specifically on here. Just found that tortoiseforum.org seems to have the most up to date info with people who solely focus on torts.

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I agree, it's an excellent place to pickup lots of great information and meet other tortoise keepers. Likewise, austin's turtle page has an attached forum that is full of awesome aquatic info so anyone looking for help on water dwellers, they might want to check them out.

http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upl...x.php?/forums/