Re: Fish Tanks.......

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]

Posted by Terry on January 15, 2002 at 11:49:23:

In Reply to: Re: update on my sick baby sulcata posted by Terry on January 15, 2002 at 11:20:56:

Kathy,
Marissa mentioned switching from a tank to a rubbermaid in one of her posts to you, I'll go over it again.

Fish Tanks make a poor habitat for a tortoise for many reasons.
They offer poor air ventalation, being so enclosed, with high walls.
The air can become stale in the tank.

Fish tanks can also heat up too much, it's difficult to create the needed heat gradient in such a small/enclosed space.Just one heat lamp can heat up the entire tank, overheating the tortoise as there's no way to retreat from the heat.

NEVER try and guess temperatures, ESPECIALLY in a tank. You should have a thermometer in both ends, (the warm end and cooler end) to monitor temperatures.
Digital thermometers are available from Radio Shack for around $10 and work well.

A better habitat than a tank would be a Rubbermaid container.
My baby sulcata is in a Rubbermaid that measures
35" long - 24" wide and is about 13" high.

During the day he goes outdoors into a large enclosure, weather permiting.

You can clamp the heat lamp at one end and create the basking spot and warmer end.90-96 under the lamp, 86 not under the lamp.

The other side with the hide box should be cooler, around 75 degrees.

The tortoise should also have a day/night cycle, even a sick tortoise.

You can use a night time reptile heat lamp (blackish/purple bulb) during the night. So it's still warm, but dark.Or a ceramic heat bulb at night such as Zoo Meds ceramic heat bulb, must be used with a hood. Both available from Big Apple Herp.

Or a heat pad UNDER the Rubbermaid. A towel can be used to cover the Rubbermaid at night (if you use the heat pad) to keep the heat in.

Night time temperatures should be lower than daytime. For a sick baby sulcata, 80-86 degrees, it should be kept cozy warm at night, not too hot.

For a healthy baby sulcata 70-75 degrees.

Once again hope this helps.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : Kathy, : Marissa mentioned switching from a tank to a rubbermaid in one of her posts to you, I'll go over it again. : Fish Tanks make a poor habitat for a tortoise for many reasons. : They offer poor air ventalation, being so enclosed, with high walls. : The air can become stale in the tank. : Fish tanks can also heat up too much, it's difficult to create the needed heat gradient in such a small/enclosed space.Just one heat lamp can heat up the entire tank, overheating the tortoise as there's no way to retreat from the heat. : NEVER try and guess temperatures, ESPECIALLY in a tank. You should have a thermometer in both ends, (the warm end and cooler end) to monitor temperatures. : Digital thermometers are available from Radio Shack for around $10 and work well. : A better habitat than a tank would be a Rubbermaid container. : My baby sulcata is in a Rubbermaid that measures : 35" long - 24" wide and is about 13" high. : During the day he goes outdoors into a large enclosure, weather permiting. : You can clamp the heat lamp at one end and create the basking spot and warmer end.90-96 under the lamp, 86 not under the lamp. : The other side with the hide box should be cooler, around 75 degrees. : The tortoise should also have a day/night cycle, even a sick tortoise. : You can use a night time reptile heat lamp (blackish/purple bulb) during the night. So it's still warm, but dark.Or a ceramic heat bulb at night such as Zoo Meds ceramic heat bulb, must be used with a hood. Both available from Big Apple Herp. : Or a heat pad UNDER the Rubbermaid. A towel can be used to cover the Rubbermaid at night (if you use the heat pad) to keep the heat in. : Night time temperatures should be lower than daytime. For a sick baby sulcata, 80-86 degrees, it should be kept cozy warm at night, not too hot. : For a healthy baby sulcata 70-75 degrees. : Once again hope this helps.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]