New UVB light

domagoj

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The time to change the light bulb in my tortoise enclosure has finally come. Previously "he"(not sure yet) had an arcadia 12% uvb bulb. It's been in there since June with around 2 months not being used. I went to the place I always get my bulbs from but they only had 6% uvb ones. I got one and mounted it already. It's also 2 times smaller than the previous one so it doesn't cover all of the enclosure. I installed a LED light strip on the other side of the enclosure to keep it lit up.

Question #1: Is the 6% bulb going to be sufficient

Question #2: Can LED lights hurt my tortoise in any way
Here are some pictures of the enclosure and the light im using
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1485076492.592941.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1485076520.421439.jpg
 

domagoj

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Als what's the best way to dispose of the old bulb
 

Yvonne G

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Sorry, I'm not really 'up' on lighting info. Let's ask @Markw84 for his opinion.
 

Yvonne G

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...oh, and, I've always taken my old neon tubes to the recycling center.
 

Markw84

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The time to change the light bulb in my tortoise enclosure has finally come. Previously "he"(not sure yet) had an arcadia 12% uvb bulb. It's been in there since June with around 2 months not being used. I went to the place I always get my bulbs from but they only had 6% uvb ones. I got one and mounted it already. It's also 2 times smaller than the previous one so it doesn't cover all of the enclosure. I installed a LED light strip on the other side of the enclosure to keep it lit up.

Question #1: Is the 6% bulb going to be sufficient

Question #2: Can LED lights hurt my tortoise in any way

#1 It is impossible to give a complete answer as you would really need a UV meter to check the output. First of all, I would think your "old" bulb should be fine with just 4 months of use. My experience with Arcadia tubes is they remain effective for well over a year of use with virtually no drop in UVB output. Of course that depends upon how long each day you keep the UVB bulb on - total hours - not just calendar months. It is hard to tell from your picture, but it looks like you are using a T-8 bulb. Normally, a T-8, 6.0 bulb is designed to be placed in the 12"-15" height range from tortoise height. Since you are not using any type hood at all, I would think the 12" height would be fine, but no way to know for sure without a UVI meter. I know they are expensive, but Just look at replacing the tube as you just did. If it really was unnecessary and you could be getting perhaps 4x more use, you would be saving about $100 right there in replacement tube costs over 2 years. More importantly, if we are housing our tortoises in a way that relies on artificial UVB a good amount of the year, we really NEED to KNOW what they are getting just as importantly as KNOWING the temperatures we are providing.

#2 LED lights will not hurt your tortoise. In fact, if done properly, I believe they can provide excellent light. However, "done properly" will normally mean expensive LED's as the type of light LED light bulbs emit is controlled by the number and types of individual diodes. It is easy and cheap for a manufacturer to create a bulb or strip with simple one-type "white" diodes, A more complete spectrum as tortoises need, would require the proper mix of different diodes to give the correct "color" and "temperature" of light. Just look at how expensive the good aquarium LED light are. That is why! It's interesting that all the research that needs to be done to properly grow coral and keep salt water fish healthy has been done, and is quite advanced, yet with tortoise keeping, that information is almost totally lacking!!!!

I believe most tortoise keepers dramatically underestimate the value and effect of proper spectral lighting on their tortoises' well being. More that most any type animal, Chelonians rely on vision for well being - food choices, mate choices, basking site choice, The choice of egg-laying nest site, circadian and circannual rhythms are so tied to UV!! Yet we save money on lighting fixtures, or don't check outputs, and wonder why our tortoise does not eat, or sleeps too much, or perhaps is a "picky eater" (The food looks different under different lighting!)

Oh well... Sorry for the tirade! I feel strongly about proper lighting!
 

Yvonne G

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Hm-m-m-m...it looks like I sent the alert to the correct person, huh? Thank you, Mark.
 

cmacusa3

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Hm-m-m-m...it looks like I sent the alert to the correct person, huh? Thank you, Mark.

Why didn't you ask Brian?? Lol...seriously though it's nice to have people like Mark around.
 

Markw84

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Als what's the best way to dispose of the old bulb
Sorry, forgot this question...

As Yvonne suggests, it is best to take old fluorescent tubes of any type to a recycling center. All fluorescents have a bit of mercury in them and they are classified as hazardous waste. Don't know what that means for choices in Croatia, but in the US most places that sell fluorescents like hardware stores, Home Depot, Lowes, accept old tubes for proper disposal. Any recycling center that accepts "hazardous waste" also works.
 

domagoj

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Thank you everyone. I guess I'll keep the old bulb then. Just in case something happens to the current one.
 

domagoj

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#1 It is impossible to give a complete answer as you would really need a UV meter to check the output. First of all, I would think your "old" bulb should be fine with just 4 months of use. My experience with Arcadia tubes is they remain effective for well over a year of use with virtually no drop in UVB output. Of course that depends upon how long each day you keep the UVB bulb on - total hours - not just calendar months. It is hard to tell from your picture, but it looks like you are using a T-8 bulb. Normally, a T-8, 6.0 bulb is designed to be placed in the 12"-15" height range from tortoise height. Since you are not using any type hood at all, I would think the 12" height would be fine, but no way to know for sure without a UVI meter. I know they are expensive, but Just look at replacing the tube as you just did. If it really was unnecessary and you could be getting perhaps 4x more use, you would be saving about $100 right there in replacement tube costs over 2 years. More importantly, if we are housing our tortoises in a way that relies on artificial UVB a good amount of the year, we really NEED to KNOW what they are getting just as importantly as KNOWING the temperatures we are providing.

#2 LED lights will not hurt your tortoise. In fact, if done properly, I believe they can provide excellent light. However, "done properly" will normally mean expensive LED's as the type of light LED light bulbs emit is controlled by the number and types of individual diodes. It is easy and cheap for a manufacturer to create a bulb or strip with simple one-type "white" diodes, A more complete spectrum as tortoises need, would require the proper mix of different diodes to give the correct "color" and "temperature" of light. Just look at how expensive the good aquarium LED light are. That is why! It's interesting that all the research that needs to be done to properly grow coral and keep salt water fish healthy has been done, and is quite advanced, yet with tortoise keeping, that information is almost totally lacking!!!!

I believe most tortoise keepers dramatically underestimate the value and effect of proper spectral lighting on their tortoises' well being. More that most any type animal, Chelonians rely on vision for well being - food choices, mate choices, basking site choice, The choice of egg-laying nest site, circadian and circannual rhythms are so tied to UV!! Yet we save money on lighting fixtures, or don't check outputs, and wonder why our tortoise does not eat, or sleeps too much, or perhaps is a "picky eater" (The food looks different under different lighting!)

Oh well... Sorry for the tirade! I feel strongly about proper lighting!
Regarding the LED lighting, "his" behavior hasn't changed a bit in past 5 days. I think that's a good sign. The ligts are white and rated at 6500k.
 

Markw84

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Regarding the LED lighting, "his" behavior hasn't changed a bit in past 5 days. I think that's a good sign. The ligts are white and rated at 6500k.
6500K can be good, but I actually like to go by the CRI (Color Rendering Index) more importantly. The problem is that many bulbs do no have that rating posted on it. A 6500K light can be too blue centered. It will look really bright and daylight-like to us, but a lot of the reds are missing. If you can get a bulb at least 4500 and above with a CRI of 90+, that is what I look for. When you add a good UV bulb to that, you have a pretty complete spectrum.
 

domagoj

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6500K can be good, but I actually like to go by the CRI (Color Rendering Index) more importantly. The problem is that many bulbs do no have that rating posted on it. A 6500K light can be too blue centered. It will look really bright and daylight-like to us, but a lot of the reds are missing. If you can get a bulb at least 4500 and above with a CRI of 90+, that is what I look for. When you add a good UV bulb to that, you have a pretty complete spectrum.
I'll keep using this. If he shows any signs of not liking it I'll remove it that wery moment and move the fluo tube to the left.
 

Markw84

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I'll keep using this. If he shows any signs of not liking it I'll remove it that wery moment and move the fluo tube to the left.
I should be just fine. The 6500K is a very good choice especially compared to most fluorescents in the 2500-3500K range. I just made comments for when you look to replace or for others reading for information.
 

domagoj

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Thank you everyone for your kind words of advice.
 

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