How long outside?

[Mjdeisher]

How long does a tortoise have to be outside each day for it to be safe to turn off the uv light? I would still keep his basking lamp on of course.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

A couple of hours is fine, but make sure he has access to shade, to get out of the sun when he needs to.

Not sure what the absolute least amount of time a tortoise needs to stay healthy, but suspect it may vary from species to species (forest and jungle tortoises vs. open land and desert tortoises).

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Thirty minutes is enough time each day but the longer they can stay outside the better (weather permitting).

 

[Mjdeisher]

Thirty minutes is enough time each day but the longer they can stay outside the better (weather permitting).

For sure. I just want to minimize the damaging effects of the uv lights. If he can get enough sunshine i can turn the bright light off a little earlier and just let him have his basking bulb.

 

[Tortoise Hub]

What kind of lights are you using?

 

[Mjdeisher]

What kind of lights are you using?

The UV tubes. After much debate and trips to the store, i settled for the least debatable. Seemed to be the one everyone agreed was the best. Its just so bright, i can't imagine they are great on the eyes still. has to hurt the corneas... Idk, i studied vision in birds for about 4 years so I'd imagine its about the same effects...

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

A couple of hours is fine, but make sure he has access to shade

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Thirty minutes is enough time each day but the longer they can stay outside the better (weather permitting).

For sure. I just want to minimize the damaging effects of the uv lights. If he can get enough sunshine i can turn the bright light off a little earlier and just let him have his basking bulb.

If you get him/her outside for an average of 5 or 6 hours each week (or more), you won't have to use UV lights at all. I never use any, but I have the advantage of living where my torts can get sun, for at least a hour or so, most days, even in December and January.

I've made my front porch "tortoise-safe", so they can go out there any afternoon when the temp is 70 or better. It's a rare week when we go for longer than a week or so w/o a few hours @ 70-ish.

Were I living further north, if they had to go more than a week or so w/o sun, I'd offer them a couple hours of UV 3X a week (every other day), thus minimizing the negative effects of UV lights. The rest of the time, just the basking lights.