Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im setting up an enclosure for all of my snappers for the winter. I need to know the best way to heat 700 gallons without putting submersable heaters into the enclosure. If anyone has any ideas i would be greatly appreciative to hear them. Thanks

I have seen where guy had used five hundred feet of one inch black irrigation tubing, that he had coiled into a sprial on top of an arbor next his swimming pool. He then had hooked the filtration pump of the pool into the ends of the black irrigation tubing, and as the water circulated through the tubing it would absorb heat from the sun and raise the pool temp to 20* to 25* more than the ambient temperature of the surrounding air temperature. Just a thought. Jack

maybe you should try a livstock heating mat and put it inder the tank or tub.I'v done this with smaller glass tanks and it works really good.

How cold does it get where you live? I leave all my turtles out in the winter in above ground ponds but the water doesn't freeze. Outside temps get down to the 20's and sometimes the teens.

i think its better if they hibernate. but to answer the question you can get a 55gal drum, put the heater in it and pump the water into the bottom of the drum. the water will warm up and drain out the top of the drum back into the big tank. the only problem of heating the tank in winter is there is too much variation between the air and water temps which can make them sick. i think they are alright unless the water freezes solid.