Does this look right?

[russiantortoisegirl]

This is my Russian tortoises enclosure does it look right?

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, I prefer my lights to be separate so I can have a UV light on one end and a night heat on the other. But many people have them set up such as yours.

 

[Tom]

I think you need a different water bowl.

What is in all those light hoods? The coil type UV bulbs can burn their eyes.

Are you using night heat? What is your overnight low in your house?

 

[russiantortoisegirl]

I think you need a different water bowl.

What is in all those light hoods? The coil type UV bulbs can burn their eyes.

Are you using night heat? What is your overnight low in your house?

Overnight heat in my house is usually about 68-71 degrees
Yes I'm using night heat

 

[Tom]

Overall, I think you've done a great job there.

I would change:
1. No night heat. You don't need it for a russian at those temps. This means you don't need the CHE or the "MoonLite" bulb.
2. Add a regular basking bulb for heat. I like to use 65 watt flood bulbs from the hardware store and adjust the height of the fixture up or down to get the basking temp correct. Alternatively, you can use a higher wattage bulb and use a rheostat to adjust your heat up or down and get the correct temperature directly under the bulb.
3. Do not use that cfl. They can burn reptile eyes. Even without the potential danger, they are not an effective UV source anyway.
4. The simplest solution here would be to have one lighting hood with a mercury vapor bulb set on a timer and adjust the height of the fixture to get the correct basking temp. This will give you heat, light and UV all in one.

All this and more is explained right here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[russiantortoisegirl]

Overall, I think you've done a great job there.

I would change:
1. No night heat. You don't need it for a russian at those temps. This means you don't need the CHE or the "MoonLite" bulb.
2. Add a regular basking bulb for heat. I like to use 65 watt flood bulbs from the hardware store and adjust the height of the fixture up or down to get the basking temp correct. Alternatively, you can use a higher wattage bulb and use a rheostat to adjust your heat up or down and get the correct temperature directly under the bulb.
3. Do not use that cfl. They can burn reptile eyes. Even without the potential danger, they are not an effective UV source anyway.
4. The simplest solution here would be to have one lighting hood with a mercury vapor bulb set on a timer and adjust the height of the fixture to get the correct basking temp. This will give you heat, light and UV all in one.

All this and more is explained right here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Thank you

 

[Pearly]

Hello and welcome to TFO! You are getting advice from the BEST I just wanted to stop by and say HI to you

 

[Tom]

Thank you

I don't recall where you are. If you are somewhere with a reasonably warm climate like southern CA or AZ, then you can use real sunshine year round in an outdoor enclosure and you really don't need indoor UV. Its okay to skip outdoor sunning time for two or three weeks in a row in winter if we get cold or rainy spells. I skip at least that long every winter here.

 

[russiantortoisegirl]

I don't recall where you are. If you are somewhere with a reasonably warm climate like southern CA or AZ, then you can use real sunshine year round in an outdoor enclosure and you really don't need indoor UV. Its okay to skip outdoor sunning time for two or three weeks in a row in winter if we get cold or rainy spells. I skip at least that long every winter here.

I live in Minnesota.

 

[Tom]

I live in Minnesota.

Oh yeah. Get a mercury vapor bulb, or get a flood bulb and an Arcadia HO tube for UV.

 

[russiantortoisegirl]

Oh yeah. Get a mercury vapor bulb, or get a flood bulb and an Arcadia HO tube for UV.

Do they sell these at like petsmart or petco

 

[Tom]

Do they sell these at like petsmart or petco

Those stores will probably sell the Powersun MVBs, but not any Arcadia products. It will be easier and much cheaper to order online and have what you need delivered to your door.

 

[russiantortoisegirl]

Those stores will probably sell the Powersun MVBs, but not any Arcadia products. It will be easier and much cheaper to order online and have what you need delivered to your door.

So where should I order from

 

[Tom]

So where should I order from

I would order the Powersun from Amazon.com. If you decide to go with the arcadia bulbs, you will need to order based on your mounting height. I order them from http://www.lightyourreptiles.com