Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently live in the eastern US (Atlanta, Georgia),and keep 2 adult sulcata's pushing the 50 pound mark. In the past during the winter months I would move them from free roaming the yard into a make shift pen in the garage. I am looking for ideas on how others keep their adult sulcata's during winter months besides making their resident homes smell like the state fair! Does anyone use the garden sheds you can buy from home depot/lowes and run heat to them? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

HELLO
THE SMALL WOOD STORAGE SHEDS WOULD WORK AWESOME
THE RED ONES I THINK YOU CAN USE THE RUBBERMAID ONES ALSO BY DRILLING HOLES AND PUTTING LIQUID FOAM INSULATION
I PREFER THE WOOD ONES AND BUILD WOOD ONES MY SELF
THE HEAT WITH PLASTIC WORRIES ME
BUT I HAVE SEEN IT DONE
YOU CAN INSULATE THE INSIDE AND SHEET THE WALLS OF THE WOOD SHED
YOU COULD VERY EASILY RUN A HEAT SOURCE ON A THERMOSTATE FOR THE SHED
PUT STRAW ON THE BOTTOM
MAKE DOGGIE DOORS TO LET THEM GO OUTSIDE WHEN THEY WANT
YOU CAN ALSO ADD SHELVES FOR SUPPLIES AND HAY STORAGE
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT
JEFF
PLANET REPTILES

Just be very careful with your heat source in the rubbermaid sheds or anything plastic. I know someone in Florida the lost some Sulcata's do to a fire. just be careful. I built a 4 x 8 x 36 inche high shed for mine and insilated it with a heat light. When the temp made it to 38 it was still 75 degrees inside.

Richard

Thanks for the reply. Question so teh she yo mention is 4 x 8 x 36H, during the winter months do they stay in there the whole time. Just wondering how much space they would need because here our cold months last about 5-6 months.

Dave, Sorry I have not got back to you. On the colder days in St Petersburg Fl AT 36 to 40 degree's they will stay in the shed all day, but even at 50 degrees they will come out for a little bit and then go back in. When the temps are low I put food inside the shed and they come to the cool end and eat. I just have to check on them 3 or 4 times a day to clean up after them.
But other then that there shed stay 75 degree's all winter long.

Richard

I have same problem too and am also looking at building something but keep it in my garage which has no heat. I live in Michigan and also have cold winters for five months. I have too sulcattas and one is about 25 lbs the other about 10lbs. I have been keeping them in a 8x3 galvanized horse trough in my basement but you hit it on the head. It can smell like a barn and I am tired of that.