Lighting

[Tortoise]

Hello
I was told recently by someone on the forum that my coil UV light is bad for tortoises, I don't have a quick way of changing it for UV tubes.
Do the Hinge backs need extra UV light-they are by a window in my house but the UV would be very low I guess. They have ceramic heat but currently no UV light as now I worry about the coil bulb. Too bad as I live hours from a pet store and just purchased a new UV coil bulb for them.

They get to go outside too but the last 2 or 3 days have been too cool so they have only been in the house.
I have calcium and vit D powder that they get on their food.

What would be best for them?

They are Bells.
Thanks so much

 

[dmarcus]

The coil bulbs have been known to blind tortoises thats why everyone will say do not use them. I am not familiar with Hingebacks so I don't know there UV requirements. If the weather was good and they were getting natural UV then i would say don't warry about the bulb until you have the time to go get a proper uv bulb. So hopefully someone will have a good suggestion for you until you can get another bulb..

 

[Fernando]

For now try not to face the bulb directly at them, but rather sideways so that they can't look directly at it.

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But still please try and get a replacement ASAP

 

[Tortoise]

For now try not to face the bulb directly at them, but rather sideways so that they can't look directly at it.

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But still please try and get a replacement ASAP

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Hi
I will attach photos of the bulb so you know exactly what it is.Thanks for the replies so far.
I find it hard to understand how staff in a pet store that own reptiles themselves would stand there and say this is what you need and recommend it , given that there has been so many problems with the,m. Its too bad as the smaller bulb are easier to integrate into tortoise tables, vivariums etc.

Thanks

 

[Fernando]

Yeah from my understanding those are the bulbs. Supposedly the newer ones don't do the same, but I don't know for sure if that's true and I wouldn't be willing to test it out. :/

Have you tried your local hardware store or even somewhere like Walmart to see if they have UV Florescents there? One of our members did a post on alternative florescent bulbs that you can purchase aside from just ones from a petstore.

Here is is http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Practical-Lighting-for-Tortoise-Keepers#axzz1PwEGCaBl

 

[dmarcus]

We are using one of those right now in conjunction with a daylight basking bulb.

 

[SnakeyeZ]

Hi Louise,

Are you in Winnipeg? If so I can suggest a great place to get ALL your reptile needs.

I don't know of the requirements for your hingebacks, but I use MegaRays. I have a ZooMed Powersun also but I hate it. I find my tortoises are less active under it. I have never been a fan of relying on sun coming in from windows for reptiles. So much benificial UV is lost and filtered through the glass. It can also magnify the heat and cause the enclosure to be too hot.

 

[Tortoise]

Yeah from my understanding those are the bulbs. Supposedly the newer ones don't do the same, but I don't know for sure if that's true and I wouldn't be willing to test it out. :/

Have you tried your local hardware store or even somewhere like Walmart to see if they have UV Florescents there? One of our members did a post on alternative florescent bulbs that you can purchase aside from just ones from a petstore.

Here is is http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Practical-Lighting-for-Tortoise-Keepers#axzz1PwEGCaBl

Hi
Yes thats great thanks for the article.Didn't realise the hardware store bulbs would work for the tortoises.The coil bulb i just bought was in a store 6 hours away so it will be much easier to get to a local hardware store=thanks!

 

[Fernando]

We are using one of those right now in conjunction with a daylight basking bulb.

So is that a newer bulb? Or entirely different?

 

[dmarcus]

We are using one of those right now in conjunction with a daylight basking bulb.

So is that a newer bulb? Or entirely different?

It not a newer bulb, my wife uses them in the winter when she brings her potted plants inside. No heat just UV and I have seen it work wonders on plants..

 

[Tortoise]

Hi Louise,

Are you in Winnipeg? If so I can suggest a great place to get ALL your reptile needs.

I don't know of the requirements for your hingebacks, but I use MegaRays. I have a ZooMed Powersun also but I hate it. I find my tortoises are less active under it. I have never been a fan of relying on sun coming in from windows for reptiles. So much benificial UV is lost and filtered through the glass. It can also magnify the heat and cause the enclosure to be too hot.

Hi Rich
I'm just over 4 hours from Winnipeg but maybe its possible to get things mailed out?
What is the power sun-a basking bulb?What is mega rays a strip bulb.
We have a overhang outside the house that stops most of the bright sun so its more day light but not too intense. I think too our windows are supposed to block some UV.It was a coincidence that they are near the windows there not a plan.I was thinking their UV needs would be met through artificial lighting and the few nice months of good weather they can get some real sunshine.
Be good to get a recommendation in any case
Thanks
Louise

 

[SnakeyeZ]

Hi Louise,

Are you in Winnipeg? If so I can suggest a great place to get ALL your reptile needs.

I don't know of the requirements for your hingebacks, but I use MegaRays. I have a ZooMed Powersun also but I hate it. I find my tortoises are less active under it. I have never been a fan of relying on sun coming in from windows for reptiles. So much benificial UV is lost and filtered through the glass. It can also magnify the heat and cause the enclosure to be too hot.

Hi Rich
I'm just over 4 hours from Winnipeg but maybe its possible to get things mailed out?
What is the power sun-a basking bulb?What is mega rays a strip bulb.
We have a overhang outside the house that stops most of the bright sun so its more day light but not too intense. I think too our windows are supposed to block some UV.It was a coincidence that they are near the windows there not a plan.I was thinking their UV needs would be met through artificial lighting and the few nice months of good weather they can get some real sunshine.
Be good to get a recommendation in any case
Thanks
Louise

I use MegaRays and I have always liked/prefered them. They are UV and heat all in one package.

You can get them from Casey at Winnipeg Reptiles. Here's his website, I get almost everything from him.

www.winnipegreptiles.com

 

[Tortoise]

Hi Louise,

Are you in Winnipeg? If so I can suggest a great place to get ALL your reptile needs.

I don't know of the requirements for your hingebacks, but I use MegaRays. I have a ZooMed Powersun also but I hate it. I find my tortoises are less active under it. I have never been a fan of relying on sun coming in from windows for reptiles. So much benificial UV is lost and filtered through the glass. It can also magnify the heat and cause the enclosure to be too hot.

Hi Rich
I'm just over 4 hours from Winnipeg but maybe its possible to get things mailed out?
What is the power sun-a basking bulb?What is mega rays a strip bulb.
We have a overhang outside the house that stops most of the bright sun so its more day light but not too intense. I think too our windows are supposed to block some UV.It was a coincidence that they are near the windows there not a plan.I was thinking their UV needs would be met through artificial lighting and the few nice months of good weather they can get some real sunshine.
Be good to get a recommendation in any case
Thanks
Louise

I use MegaRays and I have always liked/prefered them. They are UV and heat all in one package.

You can get them from Casey at Winnipeg Reptiles. Here's his website, I get almost everything from him.

www.winnipegreptiles.com

Thanks I'll see if they will mail out to me
I think the uv and heat together is a really good idea.
I had wondered about getting some super worms etc from him anyway
Thanks

 

[Kristina]

Stop using that bulb immediately. If your tortoises are getting outside time, there is no current reason for a UV light. Even 20 minutes 2-3 times a week is sufficient. They are not going to get MBD in two days, and not even in two months. It takes many months/years for MBD to develop.

If you get a MVB, please remember to get the lowest wattage possible (I think 60.) You don't want to over do it on the heat/light for your Hingebacks.

 

[Tortoise]

Stop using that bulb immediately. If your tortoises are getting outside time, there is no current reason for a UV light. Even 20 minutes 2-3 times a week is sufficient. They are not going to get MBD in two days, and not even in two months. It takes many months/years for MBD to develop.

If you get a MVB, please remember to get the lowest wattage possible (I think 60.) You don't want to over do it on the heat/light for your Hingebacks.

HI Kristina
Thanks I did switch off the coil as soon s I heard it was so damaging. My torts have had a few days outside in the last week so are getting a lot more UV than the minimum.
Is the bulb that Snakez recommended a MVB -they give both UV and heat.

Thanks for the reassurance I will not be worried now.
Thanks

 

[Fernando]

Yes the bulb Rich recommended is an MVB. It provides both heat and UV rays

 

[Jacqui]

I do offer my Bells much more time for sitting under both a light and then a ceramic heater emitter in the winter, then my other types of hingebacks. During the summer, they get outside time so neither of the other lights are offered. I also give them (when inside) days without the lights and the heat to try to mimic outside conditions they would experience. Since my hingebacks (and almost all my tortoises of all sizes and species) spend their summers outside, I am not worried about adults getting the UV lighting in the winter. I for most of them, have a long brite kitchen shop light type bulb and fixture. I do have a couple of UV lights which get rotated around for my adult tortoises.

 

[Tortoise]

I do offer my Bells much more time for sitting under both a light and then a ceramic heater emitter in the winter, then my other types of hingebacks. During the summer, they get outside time so neither of the other lights are offered. I also give them (when inside) days without the lights and the heat to try to mimic outside conditions they would experience. Since my hingebacks (and almost all my tortoises of all sizes and species) spend their summers outside, I am not worried about adults getting the UV lighting in the winter. I for most of them, have a long brite kitchen shop light type bulb and fixture. I do have a couple of UV lights which get rotated around for my adult tortoises.

Thanks Jacqui
They are 5 yrs old, would you consider them adult now?
I guess then for summer months we are ok for UV but during our 6 months of inhabitable conditions here we need that mvb whilst they are in full time.
I can confirm too that I have 2 males-got flashed in the bath yesterday.Just to rub my face in the dirt even more when I returned them to their home one male tried hard to mate the other
They may have to get used to being lonely males as it looks near impossible to find them a lady friend in Canada.

Thank you
Louise

 

[Jacqui]

They are 5 yrs old, would you consider them adult now?

No, I would think teenagers. It appears hingebacks are slower growing/maturing then some species.

I can confirm too that I have 2 males-got flashed in the bath yesterday.Just to rub my face in the dirt even more when I returned them to their home one male tried hard to mate the other

Darn, sorry about that.

They may have to get used to being lonely males as it looks near impossible to find them a lady friend in Canada.

Don't give up, when you least expect it, you will come across one or three.