Heat mat?

[Horsfield]

Before the viv fight starts. I keep my torts in vivs due to the temp range of the house. I could not maintain temps in a table . I have two vivs 36x24x24 & 36x24x18 both are set up the same. I have 10% uvb tubes running the length of the viv with a 65w ceramic heater connected to a reptie pro 2 stat which also has a day night timer this keeps ambient at 25c during the day and min of 18c-20c at night then a 40w basking spot which takes the basking temp up to 30-33c the cool end is always about 20c during the day.

I did use a heat mat on a mat stat to stop the night drop going to low but found that my horsfields dug it up even when it was stuck down with duck tape as they like to dig down at night. This was before I had the retpie pro stat's and ceramics lol

[ukphd]

I use a heat mat in my tortoise table. I use it to just raise the temperature of the substrate in the cold end slightly as otherwise it would be too cold at night. Although tortoises do get heat from basking i.e. above, I'm sure in the wild they would also bask in areas which had already been warmed by the sun e.g. rocks and therefore get heat from below as well? wouldn't they?
I should add that my heat mat is on a thermostat and I've tested it myself, with the palm of my hand flat on it and it was fine. It's well under the substrate so all it does it take the chill off it really

[Hannah_Honda]

I hardly know anything but I've got a viv & always used a heat mat underneath, loads of people told me never to put it underneath but its never made a difference to mine.

[jenrob]

Originally Posted by lottie&jamie

We have just got our first tortoise (a horsefield) and have bought a set up which included a heat mat, however, having read some of the posts on this forum are begining to wonder if using a heat mat is a good idea.

What problems can arise from using one as it is the only heating we currently use at night (as advised by the people we bought it from)

thanks

By the sounds of your viv it is small to give the big difference in temps that the tort needs! And no I am not anti viv at all, but this viv is small! I keep loepards and they live in a table and the diffrence in them since moving them onto a table has been massive, but each to there own on that debate!

The heatmat, again there is debate, but I do know horsefields love to dig so its not a good idea that there digging into a heatmat and if they do fall asleep on it, it could harm them.

It maybe better to have 50/50 topsoil and playpit sand, as they do like to dig, I have one end aspin and one end 60/40 mix, which they love to dig in. I also have a 60w basking lamp, with a piece of slate underneath it as I found this keeps the heat, which mine need, and then I have uvb bulb, but I am wanting a combine bulb, which people say are much better.

I can only tell you what I've learnt but there are many experienced keepers that keep horsefields who will be able to help! Are you using vits on your food for your tort? Don't get dis-heartened, you'll get some real help on here!

(wow look at me writing an essay!)

[incrisis]

The viv does sound a bit small, it might be ok for a short period of time while the tort is small, what size is the tort?

I would take the Infra Red heat bulb back to the shop and ask them to swap it for a daylight/sunglo basking bulb.

The UV strip should have the % stamped on the bulb, 10% is recommended.

The wood chip substrate won't be a problem either, we have used this with our Horsfields and they dig into it ok, they do like it deep though, deep enough to cover them if possible.

Do you have a feeding bowl or piece of slate, if you feed them directly on the substrate they may ingest it which can lead to impaction.
Slate is a good thing to use as it helps to keep the beak trim.

Heatmats can be used to warm the subsrate at the cool end but if you are using a viv I wouldn't worry about that.
Also as has been mentioned, Horsfields like digging and they may scratch the heatmat potentially causing damage to it.

As for temps, aim for around 30 - 35 C under the basking lamp and a cool end of around 24c, dropping to 18 - 20C at night.

What are the length/depth/height dimensions of your viv, if it is only 2' long you will find it almost impossible to acheive a temperature gradient.

Sorry if some of the above seems negative, I am not anti viv, I am Horsfields partner so the set up he uses is the same as mine

[Tortoise Trust]

Originally Posted by ukphd

Although tortoises do get heat from basking i.e. above, I'm sure in the wild they would also bask in areas which had already been warmed by the sun e.g. rocks and therefore get heat from below as well? wouldn't they?

Yes. They also radiate (lose) heat from the plastron to the substrate. They can change modes from absorbing to emitting several times throughout the day. The thermal ecology of a tortoise is much, much more complex than most people realise. They use the position of their bodies to either increase or decrease the amount of contact with the surface, for one thing (i.e., basking at angles on rocks, or with limbs raised). At other times they seek to maximise surface contact (by partly or fully burying, for example).

There is some reason to believe that this is one factor influencing plastron colouration... the ability to absorb, reflect or radiate heat.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[ukphd]

Originally Posted by Tortoise Trust

Yes. They also radiate (lose) heat from the plastron to the substrate. They can change modes from absorbing to emitting several times throughout the day. The thermal ecology of a tortoise is much, much more complex than most people realise. They use the position of their bodies to either increase or decrease the amount of contact with the surface, for one thing (i.e., basking at angles on rocks, or with limbs raised). At other times they seek to maximise surface contact (by partly or fully burying, for example).

There is some reason to believe that this is one factor influencing plastron colouration... the ability to absorb, reflect or radiate heat.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

Thanks I'd also read that Greek tortoises tend to have paler carapaces in hotter climates/conditions. It would be interesting to know at what point in development the colouration responds to this, or whether it's rather like our skin and it can occur throughout life. I assume there must be some pigment producing cells in tortoises similar to melanocytes in humans?

[Tortoise Trust]

Originally Posted by ukphd

Thanks I'd also read that Greek tortoises tend to have paler carapaces in hotter climates/conditions. It would be interesting to know at what point in development the colouration responds to this,

It seems to be a genetic trait within populations rather than something that changes in an individual.

A good example of adaptive morphology in response to localised conditions.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[ukphd]

Originally Posted by Tortoise Trust

It seems to be a genetic trait within populations rather than something that changes in an individual.

A good example of adaptive morphology in response to localised conditions.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

Aha - rather like the peppered moths! (sort of!)

[lottie&jamie]

We have just got our first tortoise (a horsefield) and have bought a set up which included a heat mat, however, having read some of the posts on this forum are begining to wonder if using a heat mat is a good idea.

What problems can arise from using one as it is the only heating we currently use at night (as advised by the people we bought it from)

thanks