Help with lighting.

[TwoSixSided]

guys is this lighting set up alright? Or do I need the screen over it to block out too much of the light for my redfoot. I had the lamp on top of the screen but I just noticed it's starting to burn through and I can't find a place to clamp it.. I don't know if this is okay.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

What is the light?

 

[TwoSixSided]

It's a Zilla 150 watt day blue light incandescent bulb. And I have another.. desert series 50: fluorescent coil bulb 20 watt. and I turn on a night black heat 50 watt one at night and turn the others off.

 

[TwoSixSided]

Is this set up okay?

I know I already made a thread about the lights but I haven't got an answer and I really need one because i'm so worried that my tortoise could be in harmful conditions or something.

But this is the set up I have, I just bought the dish for him to soak in, and the two lamps, ones a 150 watt day blue light, the other is a 20 watt fluorescent coil bulb, and I have a night black heat one which is 50 watt, that I leave on at night and switch the others off, I made a little half shoe box for him to hide in for now. I don't know if the light being that close and no screen is okay for him, I tried putting it over the screen but it burnt it a little so I won't do that again, and can't seem to find a way to clamp it.

and I know it's rather small so i'm taking him out and letting him walk around the yard for.. i'm not sure how long each time maybe someone could answer me on that, today I let him roam and I followed him for only about 10 minutes. Thank you.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Dont use a coil bulb it can hurt their eyes. Also, instead of the desert series try tropical series or repti glo. The blue light can mess up their vision, they need it to be as natural as possible [the sun is not blue]. Also try a ceramic heat emitter [CHE], it produces no light and only heat, so get rid of the black light also. What are your temps?

---

How big is your enclosure and your tortoise?

 

[TwoSixSided]

Ugh I don't think I have the money for this right now, that sounds like it's gonna be 100+ dollars.. And I put the thermometer about 6 inches under the blue day light and it was at about 91 degrees, A day before I had it directly under the light and it was about 100 so I was kinda worried it was too hot or something, I guess it's like 10 degrees less 6 inches away, but that was also with the light above the screen, now there's no screen to block it. Ugh i'm in so over my head I just wanted a cute pet that would last a long time now i'm so stressed and frustrated trying to keep him as happy as I can.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Yes, it will be pretty expensive but, it will keep your tort happy and healthy. The basic for lighting is a heat source and UVB. You can use a Che and UVB bulb for this, or there is a more expensive bulb called a mercury vapor bulb. It has both UVB and heat combined. But you may need another heat source like a CHE.

---

You can also buy a thermostat for like 25$ and that will let you control the heat output.

---

If you get a CHE you won't need a basking bulb.

 

[Yvonne G]

The coil bulbs are not good, but you should be able to buy a tube-type UVB flourescent bulb a lot cheaper than the expensive UVB bulbs. Lots of folks who keep redfoot tortoises use the tube type bulbs.

Also, you are correct in thinking the screen filters out the UV rays. So in my opinion, you should not be using the screen cover.

 

[TwoSixSided]

I don't fully understand what I can replace the uvb coil light with, I found this che one on amazon would I use that to replace the coil one? Or would that replace the day blue one I have? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQCQO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Or could I use just this one, instead of the two? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00101JII8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Madkins007]

1. If he is outside for an hour or so a week over several sessions, then he may not need additional UVB indoors.

2. the biggest risk of the new coiled bulbs is the 'hotspot' created out the end. Just mount the bulb so it points more sideways.

3. You have a rather awkward set up. Thin substrate, lots of light and heat, small space. You may want to rethink this. With a limited budget, what I would do is...
- replace the black or blue bulb with a ceramic heat emitter, then add a thermostat when possible.
- reposition the coil day bulb so it points sideways- basically just lay it on the screen top.
- add few more inches of substrate and think about at least some fake plants for shade and hiding places.
- make a cover for the whole thing, even if it is only a 'tent' of foil to help hold in heat and humidity.
- think about an outdoor pen even if just for playing in for a bit

I know it can be frustrating that sometimes pet tortoises are sort of a money pit, but that is the price any keeping exotic pets.

 

[TwoSixSided]

Thank you madkins I'll try to do most of that, I like letting him run around outside and munch on grass and leaves and follow him around so maybe I won't need the uvb, but about the substrate, He keeps walking like into the glass and moving all the substrate out of the way, so wouldn't that make him kinda get lost under there if there was more? and would this be a good che to replace the blue day light I have? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQCQO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Yes that CHE will work. Also try putting dark paper around the outside or get a storage container insteadof the tank for like 8.00. It will give the tort more space to move around and explore, also if you get one with black walls he wont try to escape either.

 

[TwoSixSided]

Okay thank you, and wow I never thought about a storage container that woulda been a great idea.. Idunno how i'd put the light above it though. hm.. and what about the substrate, so a couple more inches or no?

 

[Madkins007]

As far as walking into the glass, I think that would go away in a larger tank. The rule of thumb for indoor housing that I like is 8 shell lengths by 4 shell lengths, which sounds kind of big for a fairly sedentary animal, but they get hinkey in smaller spaces over time.

 

[TwoSixSided]

Well I bought that bulb.. But now what am I going to use for a light source since that one only puts out heat and no light?

 

[TwoSixSided]

Well he's not gonna know the difference between night and day I guess.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

You can build a structure to hang the lights. Also you can buy a uvb tube light like the repti glo 5.0. M ake sure its a TUBE light not a coil bulb.

 

[Madkins007]

Well I bought that bulb.. But now what am I going to use for a light source since that one only puts out heat and no light?

What bulb are you using that does not emit light? If it is a ceramic heat emitter, then any light bulb, like a plain 25w bulb, is OK for light as long as it goes outside for UV.

 

[TwoSixSided]

Thank you madkinz that's what I was looking for. Yes it is a CHE.