What is the best type of heat pad for a russian tortoise?

Question

I have a 40 breeder tank and will be using alfalfa pellets as substrate if any of that matters =) Also any details about using it would be helpful!!!

Answer 1

Alfalfa is WAY to high in protein for russian torts and pellets used as substrate cause torts to become dehydrated really badly. I use a 70/30 mix of bed a beast and playsand for my russian tortoise and he loves it. He digs burrows and loves to climb hills that I make for him =)
Heat pads are a bad choice for torts, they tend to get to hot and burn them. For heat it's best to use a lightbulb ( I use 100 watt) in a clamp lamp. You want the temperature to be about 90 degrees at the warm end and in the low 70's at the cool end. You also need a UVB lamp for your tort if you don't have one or it will get a soft shell and other health problems.
Here's the best Russian tortoise website...
http://www.russiantortoise.org/care_sheet.htm
Check out the diet sheet and edible plant list too.....
http://www.russiantortoise.org/russiantortoisediet.htm
http://www.russiantortoise.org/edible_plants.htm
Good luck with your tortoise, they are really cool pets =)
I forgot to mention, Aquariums aren't the best homes for tortoises. They don't get good ventilation and since the walls are clear torts think that they can walk right through them. I would either build a tort table or use a 50 gallon rubbermaid tub.

Answer 2

Well.... heat pads are poor choices for heating, glass tanks are poor choices for housing, and alfalfa is a poor choice for substrate.

For better choices, try http://www.tortoisetrust.org