An outdoor housing offers tortoises exposure to natural, unfiltered sunlight, as well as fresh air and the opportunity to graze on organic plants and weeds.
Even in the most temperate areas, a protected and heated shelter should be made available to any tortoise housed outdoors. These can be a modified dog house, or something as simple as an appropriately sized plywood box.
These shelters should be gently heated to maintain a regular temperature of around 80 degrees via ceramic heat emitters or heavy-duty pig blankets. Additionally, the shelter can be stuffed with a fluffy layer of hay as insulation, but be certain that no fire hazards are posed by the hay and any exposed heating elements.
Keep in mind that the presence of a heated shelter does not guarantee that your animals will use it. You will have to watch them closely to make sure they make it into the shelter each night. Some keepers manually place their animals into said shelters on a nightly basis. Others actually forgo a shelter altogether and just take their animals into a garage or similarly warmed area each evening.
Tortoises are among the most intelligent and responsive reptile pets that one can own. Their personable demeanor and simple dietary requirements further add to their appeal.
However, in addition to the aforementioned positive attributes, there are certain aspects of chelonian care that may prove troublesome for all but the most prepared of keepers.
A tortoise sitting on a cold floor in a warm room can still become chilled, which may lead to respiratory, digestive and other problems. The large surface of the pads provides floor heat over a considerable area.
Heat pads were originally produced and sold to the agriculture industry to provide a warm resting area for small farm animals, mainly piglets. Nowadays the list of applications has grown to include tortoises, boid snakes, iguanas and monitors, and ostriches etc.
These heat pads consist of rigid fiberglass material incorporating a heating element. Their heavy construction, flat profile and reliability make them an astute addition to the exotic tortoise quarters. The installation, use, and maintenance of the pads are not, however, without serious consideration.
We need these mats. This will be the method that we use to keep everyone warm!!
Each mat is about $150.00. If we had 20 mats we still would need to put some critters in tubs on cold nights. So we need a bunch of these!!!!
As we take in more animals… the need arises. Here is a link to the mats we need, so you can see what they are about. https://is.gd/0S5j3B
Shop Related Products
We Adopt ~ Breed ~ Rescue ~ Transport ~ Rehabilitate
Crazy Critters Inc. is a Private Non-Profit, 501(c)3, Exotic Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. Our Wildlife Facility is located in Eustis, Florida. We provide permanent homes to over 200 animals including lizards, turtles, skinks, geckos, birds, and assorted wildlife. Crazy Critters Inc. was established to provide non-domestic, non-releasable animals with a safe and permanent home.
Mostly Tortoises and Turtles call Crazy Critters Inc. home. What makes us unique is that after adoption, Crazy Critters Inc. continues to share the lives of the pets on social media. Providing an additional continued connection. When an animal finds its way to Crazy Critters, it has found a forever home.
Everyone in our community benefits when donors put their funds together to help protect animals and our environment. And the fact that the animals can call this a forever home makes it that much better. Your monetary donations help provide veterinary care, food, and supplies to the animals in our care.
In keeping with our commitment to a quality life for the animals here at the sanctuary, we provide a diet created specifically for each animal’s needs, the best veterinary care, enrichment programs for the animals, and maintain their spacious, safe habitats.
Click DONATE to make a safe Paypal Transaction, of any amount. Every single dollar adds up! We will contact you by email to see how you would like your sponsorship recognized. We appreciate our community! We are always looking for corporate sponsors who believe in a mission such as ours
No comments:
Post a Comment