Lighting

[spannerpan]

Hi all

I am thinking of getting a tortoise and am researching their care and so on now. One thing that worries me is indoor basking lights. How hot do all the lights you need get? Could they potentially cause a fire? Do they use a lot of electric?

Also there seem to be so many lighting options available and I know you need UVB, infra red etc. Can you just get one bulb to do it all or do you need several? Can anybody point me towards a good reasonably priced light/bulb that would do the job.

I am thinking of a horsfield/marginated/hermanns tortoise and would use a tortoise table indoors and an outdoor run when he went outside.

 

[Madkins007]

There are a lot of options. If he can get outside, even for a few hours a week, most of the year then you don't need to worry about any sort of UV lighting.

Overhead heating will depend on the room's climate- daytime and nighttime. If it is too cool at night, you'll want a light-less heating sources, like a ceramic heat emitter (CHE)- the good news is that they are also great for daytime heating!

If you are using a CHE and have access to real sunlight, then the only other thing you need is a plain white light bulb, like a simple 40w bulb over the tank.

There are other lighting options outlined at https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/the-work-shop/lighting-1

I hate to tell new keepers this, but it almost always costs more than the price of the tortoise to set up a good habitat.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi spannerpan:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

What would you like us to call you?

and may we know appx. where in the world you are?

A mediteranean tortoise is a good choice for a first tortoise.

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[nicoleandrocky]

Welcome to the forum.
Don't worry to much about the fire, most outlets (turn off so to say) for fire prevention.

 

[jaizei]

Don't worry to much about the fire, most outlets (turn off so to say) for fire prevention.

I do not understand what your intent was with this? What kind of outlets turn off for fire prevention?