Lighting help for indoors

andyhubbert

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Hi

So I have a table setup with a MVB at the hot end and good temps however because of the position of the table the cold end tends to be quite shaded.

Just wondering if this is okay? Or should I add light to the cold end too? If I should add light what should I buy?

I have a 2 year old Hermanns Tortoise

Thanks
 

Minority2

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Does your MVB fixture cover enough area in your enclosure? Tortoises don't spend the majority of their time basking. They tend to move around to regulate their body temperatures. Captive tortoises that bask a lot usually do so because their enclosure temperature levels are too low. They'll also do the opposite (Stay at the cold end) when their enclosures are too small and when their lighting fixtures do not give them the needed temperatures zones to work with.

A strip UVB fixture such as T5/LED and a regular incandescent (lower wattage depending on dimensions of enclosure) will give better coverage for your Hermann tortoise. Electric bill will also be much lower if you have a closed chamber setup.

95-100F basking. 80 cool end/opposite end of basking light. 50-70% humidity. Juvenile/adult Hermanns will not need night time heating.

Shade is good. You want shade. Basking lights of any kind will dry a tortoise's shell. This is why having multiple hides (opposite sides of one another) in an enclosure is a good thing even if you're only housing one tortoise.
 
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andyhubbert

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Does your MVB fixture cover enough area in your enclosure? Tortoises don't spend the majority of their time basking. They tend to move around to regulate their body temperatures. Captive tortoises that bask a lot usually do so because their enclosure temperature levels are too low. They'll also do the opposite (Stay at the cold end) when their enclosures are too small and when their lighting fixtures do not give them the needed temperatures zones to work with.

A strip UVB fixture such as T5/LED and a regular incandescent (lower wattage depending on dimensions of enclosure) will give better coverage for your Hermann tortoise. Electric bill will also be much lower if you have a closed chamber setup.

95-100F basking. 80 cool end/opposite end of basking light. 50-70% humidity. Juvenile/adult Hermanns will not need night time heating.

Shade is good. You want shade. Basking lights of any kind will dry a tortoise's shell. This is why having multiple hides (opposite sides of one another) in an enclosure is a good thing even if you're only housing one tortoise.

It covers about 1/2 of the enclosure and the temps are like you have suggested he does move in and out of the basking spot I was just concerned that there was too little light at the cold end as he doesn’t tend to stay down there for long.

I have multiple hides (one at each end) in addition to plants too that provide cover.

Suppose I was just thinking to light it a little more especially as we are approaching winter

Just don’t want to either over UVB (as UVB tune would have to be mounted to side of table) or provide more light if it isn’t needed
 

katieandiggy

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I’m in the same boat actually, I’m considering adding a regular bulb to my enclosure purely for light purposes.
I think there is a colour range that you should go for... hopefully someone will reply to confirm
 

Tom

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I’m in the same boat actually, I’m considering adding a regular bulb to my enclosure purely for light purposes.
I think there is a colour range that you should go for... hopefully someone will reply to confirm
Florescent tubes in the 5000-6500K range are best. Or you can buy a "10.0" T8 bulb. If they are mounted more than 12" above the tortoise, there is almost no UV benefit, but they still make nice full spectrum lighting.
 

andyhubbert

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Florescent tubes in the 5000-6500K range are best. Or you can buy a "10.0" T8 bulb. If they are mounted more than 12" above the tortoise, there is almost no UV benefit, but they still make nice full spectrum lighting.

What about a shade dweller tube? I’m looking to position it quite close as I’m going to attach it to the overhang bit on my table so will be about 4” away from my tort

Or how else can you attach it to a tortoise table?
 

Tom

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What about a shade dweller tube? I’m looking to position it quite close as I’m going to attach it to the overhang bit on my table so will be about 4” away from my tort

Or how else can you attach it to a tortoise table?
I make a "frame" out of 2x4s or PVC piping hand hang my heating and lighting from the frame. It can be as simple as two vertical 2x4s screwed to the sides of the table and one long one going over the top of the enclosure, horizontally, and screwed into the two upright ones.
 

Minority2

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What about a shade dweller tube? I’m looking to position it quite close as I’m going to attach it to the overhang bit on my table so will be about 4” away from my tort

Or how else can you attach it to a tortoise table?

That just looks just like a standard uvb fixture with a curved hood on both sides. I don't see any discernible differences between that and grow light fixtures. The arcadia shade dweller model looks similar to a sunblaster and the sunblaster is much cheaper.

Possible attaching options:
1. Heat resistant adhesive hook and loop tape.
2. Cable ties.
3. Cable straps.
 

andyhubbert

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That just looks just like a standard uvb fixture with a curved hood on both sides. I don't see any discernible differences between that and grow light fixtures. The arcadia shade dweller model looks similar to a sunblaster and the sunblaster is much cheaper.

Possible attaching options:
1. Heat resistant adhesive hook and loop tape.
2. Cable ties.
3. Cable straps.

Yeh the idea is it’s just lower UV as it’ll be positioned closer.

I was hoping to get away with not positioning anything else above my table just more so it doesn’t look cluttered take it this isn’t really possible?
 

Minority2

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Yeh the idea is it’s just lower UV as it’ll be positioned closer.

I was hoping to get away with not positioning anything else above my table just more so it doesn’t look cluttered take it this isn’t really possible?

UVB lighting should not be too hard nor too close. 4" from the substrate/tortoise would be too close in my opinion. Fixtures should also face directly downwards so that it doesn't get into a tortoise's eye view.

The materials I mentioned are useful in attaching your lighting fixtures directly under your enclosure top. It for really for those that do not wish to cut into their screens/covered tops.

If you have an open enclosure and plan to keep your enclosure opened then you should follow Tom's advice. That or have a hook/hanging apparatus in place for your lighting fixtures.

If you're worried about clutter you can use a dedicated long lengthed extension cord for the table and tie all those cords together and place it behind the enclosure so no one can see them. Pretty straightforward.
 

andyhubbert

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UVB lighting should not be too hard nor too close. 4" from the substrate/tortoise would be too close in my opinion. Fixtures should also face directly downwards so that it doesn't get into a tortoise's eye view.

The materials I mentioned are useful in attaching your lighting fixtures directly under your enclosure top. It for really for those that do not wish to cut into their screens/covered tops.

If you have an open enclosure and plan to keep your enclosure opened then you should follow Tom's advice. That or have a hook/hanging apparatus in place for your lighting fixtures.

If you're worried about clutter you can use a dedicated long lengthed extension cord for the table and tie all those cords together and place it behind the enclosure so no one can see them. Pretty straightforward.

Okay great so I’ll need to suspend above the table I’ll have to look into it all
 
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