Mercury vapor bulb and heat bulb??

Tortnewb

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If I get a mercury vapor bulb do I still need another bulb for added heat?
 

Yossarian

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We do not reccomend MVB's, more and more they seem to be implicated in pyramiddal growth by causing dessication of the carapace.

The best option are T5 UVB tubes along with an incadescent flood light bulb of a wattage depending on how much heat you require. As you are in Florida however, some time outdoors every day could eliminate your need for artificial UVB supplementation. What species tortoise are you asking about?
 

ZEROPILOT

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I have a Russian tortoise. The store doesn’t have a uvb only bulb that is not spiral.
LLL REPTILES and BIG AL'S PETS also has these online.
The 24" T5 are about $50. Tube and fixture included.
 

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Lyn W

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Hi here is the careshhet for Russians.


A lot of the information given by profit driven pet shops is old and they don't seem to know much about tort care but that is the most up to date advice you'll find anywhere.
Please read and ask as many questions as you like.
 

Tortnewb

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No it’s not a hatchling. I’m worried he will gets bugs, ticks or something if I keep him outside. Will he get bugs?
 

Tom

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No it’s not a hatchling. I’m worried he will gets bugs, ticks or something if I keep him outside. Will he get bugs?
No. Make a safe, secure enclosure, follow the guidelines in the care sheet, and let your little tortoise live outside. At least some of the time.
 

Tortnewb

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No. Make a safe, secure enclosure, follow the guidelines in the care sheet, and let your little tortoise live outside. At least some of the time.
We have so many critters here I’m worried he wouldn’t be safe. And then ticks and bugs concern me too?
 

Tortnewb

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LLL REPTILES and BIG AL'S PETS also has these online.
The 24" T5 are about $50. Tube and fixture included.
Ok I bought this light!! I still need to add a basking lamp correct? A spot light that provides heat only right?
 

Tom

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We have so many critters here I’m worried he wouldn’t be safe. And then ticks and bugs concern me too?
There is no place in the USA, or the world, that doesn't have bugs and predators lurking about. We all have out tortoises outside when the weather is suitable.

No spot bulbs. Please read the care sheet that Lyn posted.
 

Tortnewb

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There is no place in the USA, or the world, that doesn't have bugs and predators lurking about. We all have out tortoises outside when the weather is suitable.

No spot bulbs. Please read the care sheet that Lyn posted.
Oh no! No spot bulb! Ah! I thought I finally had the lighting right????
 

Tortnewb

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There is no place in the USA, or the world, that doesn't have bugs and predators lurking about. We all have out tortoises outside when the weather is suitable.

No spot bulbs. Please read the care sheet that Lyn posted.
I read the care sheet, but when I google the light bulb it says to use for basking area I can’t tell why it’s different from the bulb I have that gives off heat. The one I have is called a 100 watt essential basking spot bulb. Can you help me understand the difference and give me a picture of what I should be trying to get?
 

Tom

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I read the care sheet, but when I google the light bulb it says to use for basking area I can’t tell why it’s different from the bulb I have that gives off heat. The one I have is called a 100 watt essential basking spot bulb. Can you help me understand the difference and give me a picture of what I should be trying to get?
You want a flood bulb, or a regular round bulb in a hood for basking. No spot bulbs. Spot bulbs concentrate too much heat into too small of an area and cause pyramiding on smaller animals, or carapace damage on larger torts.
 

Tortnewb

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There is no place in the USA, or the world, that doesn't have bugs and predators lurking about. We all have out tortoises outside when the weather is suitable.

No spot bulbs. Please read the
You want a flood bulb, or a regular round bulb in a hood for basking. No spot bulbs. Spot bulbs concentrate too much heat into too small of an area and cause pyramiding on smaller animals, or carapace damage on larger torts.
Oh my gosh ?
Ok thank you so much! So I’ll go get a regular bulb at Home Depot. I hope it gives enough heat. It will be 18 inches above my Turdy. Will it give enough heat? What wattage should I buy?
 

Tom

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Oh my gosh ?
Ok thank you so much! So I’ll go get a regular bulb at Home Depot. I hope it gives enough heat. It will be 18 inches above my Turdy. Will it give enough heat? What wattage should I buy?
Only your thermometer can answer these questions. 18 inches is too high. You need to lower the fixture.

65 watt floods are a good way to go, but some enclosures need more or less wattage. Let your thermometer be your guide.
 

Theia

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You want a flood bulb, or a regular round bulb in a hood for basking. No spot bulbs. Spot bulbs concentrate too much heat into too small of an area and cause pyramiding on smaller animals, or carapace damage on larger torts.
But is this just a light bulb? Which and what type of bulb provides Uvb rays? Is basking done under uvb bulb. I have a vapour bulb at mo and an incandescent bulb for day light provision. I'm concerned about vapour bulb but I don't know what to use instead or where to buy it. I know not to buy spiral help
 

Tom

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But is this just a light bulb? Which and what type of bulb provides Uvb rays? Is basking done under uvb bulb. I have a vapour bulb at mo and an incandescent bulb for day light provision. I'm concerned about vapour bulb but I don't know what to use instead or where to buy it. I know not to buy spiral help
Yes. Its just a regular incandescent flood bulb.

There are four elements to heating and lighting:
  1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
  2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. You'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night.
  3. Light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in bulb types are both fine.
  4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. For the UK, get one of the newer Arcadia HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I use the 12%. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html
 

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