Viewtiful_Jon
New Member
Hi, this is my first post and I'm about to get my first and most likely only Tortoise, unless I become addicted.
I made the mistake of going to the local Reptile shop and buying all the stuff the lady recommend, Vivarium etc... I have since done a bunch of research and order a tortoise table the correct substrate and got myself a day/night dimming thermometer. Side note: I don't plan on revising the shop despite being a 5 minute walk away.
This brings me to lighting, She sold me a Komodo fluorescent T8 uvb10 15w bulb along with the Komodo controller that prevent flickering, but the more I research the more everyone recommends T5. The heat bulb is a 60W red bulb, forgot the brand as box has been thrown away.
I'm planning on getting a Hermann's Tortoise and want everything perfect first.
1. Are the T8 really so much less effective than T5 despite claiming to have the same UV output?
2. Another thing mentioned about these bulbs is the effective range, the sweet spot everyone mentions seems to be just a couple of inches. How do you get the Tortoise to hang out in this narrow area?
3. How should my T8 be mounted? On the side wall seems like it would be to close 8inch high walls minus the substrate height and tortoise height means it would be extremely close but all the lamp arms only seem designed for the spot bulbs.
4. Where in the enclose should it be? I'm thinking at the basking spot as this might solve my second question.
5. Is the red type bulb okay or should I replace it with something else, the lady mis-sold me quite a few items so I'm doubting everything she provided.
I made the mistake of going to the local Reptile shop and buying all the stuff the lady recommend, Vivarium etc... I have since done a bunch of research and order a tortoise table the correct substrate and got myself a day/night dimming thermometer. Side note: I don't plan on revising the shop despite being a 5 minute walk away.
This brings me to lighting, She sold me a Komodo fluorescent T8 uvb10 15w bulb along with the Komodo controller that prevent flickering, but the more I research the more everyone recommends T5. The heat bulb is a 60W red bulb, forgot the brand as box has been thrown away.
I'm planning on getting a Hermann's Tortoise and want everything perfect first.
1. Are the T8 really so much less effective than T5 despite claiming to have the same UV output?
2. Another thing mentioned about these bulbs is the effective range, the sweet spot everyone mentions seems to be just a couple of inches. How do you get the Tortoise to hang out in this narrow area?
3. How should my T8 be mounted? On the side wall seems like it would be to close 8inch high walls minus the substrate height and tortoise height means it would be extremely close but all the lamp arms only seem designed for the spot bulbs.
4. Where in the enclose should it be? I'm thinking at the basking spot as this might solve my second question.
5. Is the red type bulb okay or should I replace it with something else, the lady mis-sold me quite a few items so I'm doubting everything she provided.