COLD DARK ROOM

[JoesMum]

This is the lighting explanation I regularly post

Your tort needs:

1. A basking lamp
This must hang vertically, not at an angle. Basking is essential to raise your tortoise's core temperature so it can digest food. This must be on continuously for 12-14 hours and must not be used with a thermostat.

2. UVB light
Read the instructions for the source to see how close to the substrate it must be. UVB is essential so your tort can process dietary calcium and have healthy bones and shell. This must also be on for 12-14 hours.

Both 1 and 2 are available from the sun for those able to live outside.

UVB does not pass through glass or perspex(plexiglass) - light must be direct to be effective not through a window. Mesh screening can also interfere with UVB.

3. A minimum overnight temperature (see the care sheet for your species) and complete darkness at night to sleep.


Notes

(a) A Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) provides combined UVB and Basking. Alternatively you can use 2 bulbs: a tube UVB and a reflector bulb for basking (a household reflector - not low energy or halogen - from a hardware store will do the job; it's the wattage that counts) It must not be used with a thermostat, rheostat or dimmer.

(b) Ignore any references to UVA you may read - it's misleading marketing speak.

(c) Compact coil UVB harms tortoise eyes and must not be used. These are coil bulbs


(d) Basking and UVB should be on a timer so the light(s) are on for 12 hours a day. Temperature under the basking is regulated by its height above the substrate.

(e) Overnight, depending on your home, you may need additional heat. You get this from a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) which must be on a thermostat. A CHE looks like this


(f) Torts have outstanding colour vision and love red and purple food. Coloured heat lamps colour tank decor and torts don't always apply intelligence to what they eat, resulting them in eating tank decor. Coloured bulbs should not be used.

 

[Bee62]

This are my heating bulbs:
http://www.exo-terra.com/de/products/daylight_basking_spot.php



Here is a pic of the enclosure of the sulcatas. You can see 4 bulbs.
From left to right: Heating bulb 50 Watt, heating bulb 75 Watt, UVB bulb, special daylight bulb for reptiles.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

We could send him to rehab, Ed - he'll have to do cold cheddar!

Cole Caerphilly, would be better for me, I think.

 

[JoesMum]

This are my heating bulbs:
http://www.exo-terra.com/de/products/daylight_basking_spot.php



Here is a pic of the enclosure of the sulcatas. You can see 4 bulbs.
From left to right: Heating bulb 50 Watt, heating bulb 75 Watt, UVB bulb, special daylight bulb for reptiles.
View attachment 199190

The two on the right are the ones of concern.

They may be "specially for reptiles" but they seem to cause problems with tortoise eyes pretty regularly.

A single tube UVB bulb mounted about 30cm above the substrate is safer.

A tube UVB looks like this

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Probably had the late Sir Terry Wogan commentating - he made it fun with his wit.

No, it was a Russian commentator, presumably their equivalent of the marvelous Sir Terry. Couldn't understand it at all. But you get the idea.
I'll maybe try to emulate Wogan when i do mine. Including drinking too much.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good evening all.
Hope everyone's had/having a good Monday.

Good evening, Lyn.
Yep, great day off here.
I've done nothing useful or productive at all.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Moozillion said


The sulcatas have two heating bulbs, an UVB bulb and a special daylight bulb for reptiles ( Full daylight spectrum )
The redfoots have one heating bulb, an UVB bulb and a special daylight bulb for reptiles ( Full daylight spectrum )

I think the heating bulbs are the coil bulbs ? But I need them for the warmth. What should I use instead ?
My sulcatas love it laying under the heating bulbs. They sleep and rest there. I never regognized that they don`t like the light. And their eyes are clear and healthy.
I am confused.

Good evening, ccl Bee.

 

[Bee62]

But my basking lamps have no UVB in their spectrum
look:
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/intense_basking_spot.php

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Moozillion said


The sulcatas have two heating bulbs, an UVB bulb and a special daylight bulb for reptiles ( Full daylight spectrum )
The redfoots have one heating bulb, an UVB bulb and a special daylight bulb for reptiles ( Full daylight spectrum )

I think the heating bulbs are the coil bulbs ? But I need them for the warmth. What should I use instead ?
My sulcatas love it laying under the heating bulbs. They sleep and rest there. I never regognized that they don`t like the light. And their eyes are clear and healthy.
I am confused.

I use MVB (mercury vapour bulbs) which provide heat, light and UVB in one.
They are excellent but need replacing yearly.
And you'd probably only need one for your enclosure.

 

[Bee62]

Good evening Adam.
I am very busy.... explaning my heating bulbs.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good evening Adam.
I am very busy.... explaning my heating bulbs.

Yup, so I see.
If it works for you, that's great, but I've read too many bad things about coil bulbs for me to trust them.
A single MVB would probably cover all your daytime needs and maybe a CHE for night.
But the that's just my opinion, others may disagree, and your torts seem fine so far.
Do you have a UV meter ?

 

[Lyn W]

Yup, the BBC helped me out there.
Bit like cricketers fiddling with their balls to make them bounce weirdly.
They get banned, too, or fined.
Ball tampering is the proper expression.

Hmmm....
.....one of my boys wasn't happy today when another tampered with his - with a hockey stick during P.E.
An accident - but not nice and a bit painful I believe

 

[Lyn W]

Good evening, Lyn.
Yep, great day off here.
I've done nothing useful or productive at all.

Hi Adam,
Sounds wonderful!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hmmm....
.....one of my boys wasn't happy today when another tampered with his - with a hockey stick during P.E.
An accident - but not nice and a bit painful I believe

I can assure you it is, very.
Played against the girls Hockey Team "The Pink Panthers" at Kingston upon Thames, once.
Included several members of the Welsh team, actually.
Lethal.

 

[Bee62]

I don`t want any mercury bulb in my dining room or in my whole house. If it would break it might be poisoned all around. That`s because I use no MVB.
No, I have no UV meter.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hi Adam,
Sounds wonderful!

Oh, indeed it was / is.
Still lazing about on the sofa doing sweet nothing.

 

[Lyn W]

Oh, indeed it was / is.
Still lazing about on the sofa doing sweet nothing.

I've just had a long phone call from my sister, so I can't stay too long now as have to go and sort out Lola's food etc and my stuff for tomorrow. Glad I managed to read your Superbowl observations though.

 

[Lyn W]

View attachment 199179

I see those around my area - I'll look out for you and give you a wave

 

[Lyn W]

It's a date then!
A shoutout to the other roommates, if I may: we're following the Eurovision Song Contest this year, accompanied by stellar commentators, our very own ADAM aka Tidgy's Dad and the one and only WIFEY! Come join us in May. The number of armadillo seats may be limited.

We could have a Eurovision party and all dress up in our national costumes - I'll get my Welsh hat out!
Will the US folk be able to watch it and join in the fun too?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I don`t want any mercury bulb in my dining room or in my whole house. If it would break it might be poisoned all around. That`s because I use no MVB.
No, I have no UV meter.

Errr, you are not aware that the compact and coiled bulbs also contain mercury ?