I'd like to be enlightened about lighting

[Doo]

Hi All,

Just adopted my tortoise (12 month old Horsfield) and he's all kinda set up. Previous owners said he only needs his lamp on for 1/2 hour each day but researching elsewhere am getting all sorts of conflicting info. He lives in UK, it's winter - I have a heat lamp and a UV strip - any advice on how long I should leave them on/off for.

Thanks in advance

 

[EmmaG]

I believe they’re meant to both be on for 12 to 14 hours a day. And they need complete darkness at night.

 

[Yvonne G]

If it's a GOOD UV strip, and provides good UVB, then three or four hours during the middle of the day is sufficient. It's just easier to turn them on at 7 and off at 7p - or set the timer for that span of time.

 

[JoesMum]

Here's a lighting summary I wrote for someone else that may be helpful to you.

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.

(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.

(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.


Measurements

There are 4 important temperatures that you must know for an indoor enclosure.
- Directly under the basking lamp
- Warm side
- Cool side
- Overnight Minimum

You will need digital thermometers for accuracy.

A temperature gun thermometer (inexpensive from Amazon) measures temperature accurately in specific places like directly under the basking lamp.

A min/max thermometer so you know the min/max temperatures in your home by day and night.

You should also get a good digital probe hygrometer to measure humidity.

Thermometers and hygrometer that stick to the side of the enclosure tend to be less accurate.

 

[Tom]

Hi All,

Just adopted my tortoise (12 month old Horsfield) and he's all kinda set up. Previous owners said he only needs his lamp on for 1/2 hour each day but researching elsewhere am getting all sorts of conflicting info. He lives in UK, it's winter - I have a heat lamp and a UV strip - any advice on how long I should leave them on/off for.

Thanks in advance

There are four elements to lighting and heating:
1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent flood bulbs from the hardware store for this. Adjust the height to get the correct temperature under it. It should be 95-100 (36-37C) directly under the bulb. Set it on a timer for 12-13 hours a day.
2. Ambient temp maintenance, if needed depending on your house temperatures. This is what your CHE (Ceramic Heating Element) is for. Run it on a thermostat set to 75-80 (24-26C) and a timer set for 12 hours a day. This will automatically maintain your temp at 75 or higher, during the day. If temp is above 75, the thermostat will keep your CHE off. The timer will keep it off at night, so your tortoise can experience an appropriate drop in night temps.
3. Ambient light. I suggest a long florescent tube for this. On the package it will list the color temp (K rating) for each bulb. Get one in the 5000-6500K range. Most bulbs are in the 2500K range and these look too yellowish. You can set this bulb on the same timer as the basking bulb, or set it on its own timer if you like.
4. UV. If your tortoise is getting outdoor sunshine a couple of times a week, then you don't need indoor UV. You can use it if you want to, but it is not needed. In the UK, you need indoor UV. Arcadia makes excellent products. Just be sure to mount it at the correct height.

One way to cover #3 and #4 is to use a regular ZooMed 10.0 bulb. These bulbs are great for lighting up the enclosure and depending on the mounting height, your tortoise will get a little UV with it too. In your case, I don't think a regular 10.0 bulb is sufficient by itself. They don't make much UV. A 10.0 HO tube would certainly do the trick though.