Using UVB fluorescent light with Calcium powder w D3

Unitygraph

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Hello,
I’m new to the forum and need some help. Figures this would be the place to go. I have a 4month old Sulcata tortoise. So my question is: I had bough a reptile calcium powder w/ D3 and I have a 10.0 UVB fluorescent strip light. Is this too much D3 for my tortoise since the UVB light already produces D3? I could find anything online to help me with this question. However, I did find something, that if I was using a UVB vapor bulb, then I wouldn’t have to use the D3 in the calcium powder. If I had a UVB fluorescent I would be okay using the calcium powder with D3. I just want to confirm if it’s either okay to use or not, with my Zoo Med 10.0 fluorescent light strip. Thanks,
J
 

Golden Greek Tortoise 567

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Hello,
I’m new to the forum and need some help. Figures this would be the place to go. I have a 4month old Sulcata tortoise. So my question is: I had bough a reptile calcium powder w/ D3 and I have a 10.0 UVB fluorescent strip light. Is this too much D3 for my tortoise since the UVB light already produces D3? I could find anything online to help me with this question. However, I did find something, that if I was using a UVB vapor bulb, then I wouldn’t have to use the D3 in the calcium powder. If I had a UVB fluorescent I would be okay using the calcium powder with D3. I just want to confirm if it’s either okay to use or not, with my Zoo Med 10.0 fluorescent light strip. Thanks,
J
I’ve never heard of any tortoise getting too much D3. I use a T5 fluorescent tube, and I also supplement with D3. My torts seem fine.
 

ZEROPILOT

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The T8’s don’t produce nearly enough uvb light for a healthy tort, I would replace it with a T5
So would I.
But the good news is that with a T8, your tortoise probably needed that D3. A T8 produces very little UVB close up...and from anything more than 10" or through a screen top they produce about zero.
Get yourself one of these from LLL REPTILES or BIG AL'S PETS.
With a light that supplies enough UVB, you can use a lot less D3 powder because your tortoise will be breaking down his own from his diet.
I'd also reccomend buying a SOLARMETER 6.5r from Josh's frogs.
Otherwise your actual UV level is a guess.
 

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Tom

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Hello,
I’m new to the forum and need some help. Figures this would be the place to go. I have a 4month old Sulcata tortoise. So my question is: I had bough a reptile calcium powder w/ D3 and I have a 10.0 UVB fluorescent strip light. Is this too much D3 for my tortoise since the UVB light already produces D3? I could find anything online to help me with this question. However, I did find something, that if I was using a UVB vapor bulb, then I wouldn’t have to use the D3 in the calcium powder. If I had a UVB fluorescent I would be okay using the calcium powder with D3. I just want to confirm if it’s either okay to use or not, with my Zoo Med 10.0 fluorescent light strip. Thanks,
J
You live in CA. Get your tortoise outside in a safe enclosure for sunshine. You don't need indoor UV at all.

Most of the care info for sulcatas is wrong. Give this a read for the current and correct care info: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/t...leopard-or-star-tortoise.181497/#post-1814413

Questions are welcome. :)
 

Unitygraph

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So would I.
But the good news is that with a T8, your tortoise probably needed that D3. A T8 produces very little UVB close up...and from anything more than 10" or through a screen top they produce about zero.
Get yourself one of these from LLL REPTILES or BIG AL'S PETS.
With a light that supplies enough UVB, you can use a lot less D3 powder because your tortoise will be breaking down his own from his diet.
I'd also reccomend buying a SOLARMETER 6.5r from Josh's frogs.
Otherwise your actual UV level is a guess.
Thank you so much for your help. I’ll keep using the calcium D3 until I get the Zoo Med T5 fixture w/ 10.0 UVBtha
So would I.
But the good news is that with a T8, your tortoise probably needed that D3. A T8 produces very little UVB close up...and from anything more than 10" or through a screen top they produce about zero.
Get yourself one of these from LLL REPTILES or BIG AL'S PETS.
With a light that supplies enough UVB, you can use a lot less D3 powder because your tortoise will be breaking down his own from his diet.
I'd also reccomend buying a SOLARMETER 6.5r from Josh's frogs.
Otherwise your actual UV level is a guess.
Thank you so much for the info. I’m trying to find a 20” Zoo Med Reptisun T5 hood or even 18” if they come in that size. Kind of hard to find right now. However, for the meantime am I fine with the Reptisun T8 10.0 UVB that I have and using the D3 w/ calcium for now? Thanks again
 

ZEROPILOT

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Thank you so much for your help. I’ll keep using the calcium D3 until I get the Zoo Med T5 fixture w/ 10.0 UVBtha

Thank you so much for the info. I’m trying to find a 20” Zoo Med Reptisun T5 hood or even 18” if they come in that size. Kind of hard to find right now. However, for the meantime am I fine with the Reptisun T8 10.0 UVB that I have and using the D3 w/ calcium for now? Thanks again
Or, as Tom said, take advantage of your outdoor sunlight. And don't worry about supplements or a new light.
 

Unitygraph

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Or, as Tom said, take advantage of your outdoor sunlight. And don't worry about supplements or a new light.
Sounds like a plan. Right now I have my 4 month old Sulcata in a Zoo Med tortoise house. So is it okay just to put the whole tortoise house in direct sunlight? I’m assuming so right? Since the house has its own built-in hide to get shade if my hatchling needs it.
 

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