Heating/lighting for Indian star tortoise

Ed mitch

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Does anyone have any ideas for heating/lighting for indian star tortoises?
Thanks
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Ed:

I don't have any Star experience, but I've read many times here on the Forum that you can keep stars the same as Leopards, which I do have experience with.

So, to answer your question, is your star a baby or a grown tortoise (I keep babies a little differently than adults)?

For baby tortoises, I keep the whole enclosure between 80-85F degrees, and I use a Mercury Vapor Bulb (UVB) that comes on at 7a and goes off at 7p.

For grown tortoises, mine live outside 24/7 in a heated shed with access to the yard. The shed has lights on a timer for the 7a/7p time period during the winter, but no lights in the summer. . . and no UVB lights. They have pig blankets on the floor and I'm constantly adjusting them up or down according to how warm or cold the outside temp is.
 

Markw84

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Ed. If you read the section on how to raise a healthy sulcate or leopard, you will be on an excellent track towards a great habitat. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Can you also give us info on the size and age of your star? How long you've had it. A picture of it and a picture of the enclosure you are keeping it in? So much of the lighting will depend upon what type and size of enclosure you are working with. Also the part of the world in which you live is important as well - so where do you live??

Stars a beautiful tortoises!!
 

Ed mitch

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Sep 24, 2016
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130
Hi Ed:

I don't have any Star experience, but I've read many times here on the Forum that you can keep stars the same as Leopards, which I do have experience with.

So, to answer your question, is your star a baby or a grown tortoise (I keep babies a little differently than adults)?

For baby tortoises, I keep the whole enclosure between 80-85F degrees, and I use a Mercury Vapor Bulb (UVB) that comes on at 7a and goes off at 7p.

For grown tortoises, mine live outside 24/7 in a heated shed with access to the yard. The shed has lights on a timer for the 7a/7p time period during the winter, but no lights in the summer. . . and no UVB lights. They have pig blankets on the floor and I'm constantly adjusting them up or down according to how warm or cold the outside temp is.
Thanks and the tortoise is about a year and a half old.
 

Ed mitch

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Sep 24, 2016
Messages
130
Hi Ed:

I don't have any Star experience, but I've read many times here on the Forum that you can keep stars the same as Leopards, which I do have experience with.

So, to answer your question, is your star a baby or a grown tortoise (I keep babies a little differently than adults)?

For baby tortoises, I keep the whole enclosure between 80-85F degrees, and I use a Mercury Vapor Bulb (UVB) that comes on at 7a and goes off at 7p.

For grown tortoises, mine live outside 24/7 in a heated shed with access to the yard. The shed has lights on a timer for the 7a/7p time period during the winter, but no lights in the summer. . . and no UVB lights. They have pig blankets on the floor and I'm constantly adjusting them up or down according to how warm or cold the outside temp is.
Thanks and the tortoise is about a year and a half old.
 

Ed mitch

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Ed. If you read the section on how to raise a healthy sulcate or leopard, you will be on an excellent track towards a great habitat. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Can you also give us info on the size and age of your star? How long you've had it. A picture of it and a picture of the enclosure you are keeping it in? So much of the lighting will depend upon what type and size of enclosure you are working with. Also the part of the world in which you live is important as well - so where do you live??

Stars a beautiful tortoises!!
Hi I've had the star for almost a year and is 1 and a 1/2 years old. He's in a tortoise table which is 19 x 30 ( inches). I've had it on ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1483980136.516071.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1483980157.347286.jpgan Arcadia 80watt uvb bulb but wanted to check if this was okay.
Thanks
 

Ed mitch

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Messages
130
Ed. If you read the section on how to raise a healthy sulcate or leopard, you will be on an excellent track towards a great habitat. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Can you also give us info on the size and age of your star? How long you've had it. A picture of it and a picture of the enclosure you are keeping it in? So much of the lighting will depend upon what type and size of enclosure you are working with. Also the part of the world in which you live is important as well - so where do you live??

Stars a beautiful tortoises!!
Hi I've had the star for almost a year and is 1 and a 1/2 years old. He's in a tortoise table which is 19 x 30 ( inches). I've had it on View attachment 196761View attachment 196762an Arcadia 80watt uvb bulb but wanted to check if this was okay.
Thanks
 

Tom

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Hi Ed.

You won't be able to keep up temperatures and humidity in an open table like that. Stars like it hot. Day and night. Mine still get under their basking lights when ambient is 93.

The Arcadia bulb looks great, but usually the basing area should be to one side or the other, so they can move away from it when they want to.

I don't see anything in the picture to maintain night heat or ambient away from the bulb.

Here is how I keep them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Here are some common errors to avoid:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Here is a feeding sheet I typed up for sulcatas. I feed some grass to my stars, but not as much the sulcatas, but the food suggestion list is good in this thread: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

Ed mitch

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Joined
Sep 24, 2016
Messages
130
Hi Ed.

You won't be able to keep up temperatures and humidity in an open table like that. Stars like it hot. Day and night. Mine still get under their basking lights when ambient is 93.

The Arcadia bulb looks great, but usually the basing area should be to one side or the other, so they can move away from it when they want to.

I don't see anything in the picture to maintain night heat or ambient away from the bulb.

Here is how I keep them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Here are some common errors to avoid:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Here is a feeding sheet I typed up for sulcatas. I feed some grass to my stars, but not as much the sulcatas, but the food suggestion list is good in this thread: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
What would be a good closed chamber to put them in? A vivarium?
 

Tom

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What would be a good closed chamber to put them in? A vivarium?

Most vivariums are too small for tortoises, but if you can find a suitably large one, it will work well. Most people end up building their own in some way or other.
 

Ed mitch

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Most vivariums are too small for tortoises, but if you can find a suitably large one, it will work well. Most people end up building their own in some way or other.
Okay thanks
 

Yvonne G

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You can just build a framework over that table and drape plastic sheeting over it. Also, those bowls need to be replaced with clay plant saucers and sunk down into the substrate.
 

Ed mitch

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Messages
130
You can just build a framework over that table and drape plastic sheeting over it. Also, those bowls need to be replaced with clay plant saucers and sunk down into the substrate.
Do you know anyone with examples of this for me to go by?
 

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