Mvb distance

yogihaggis

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Hi. I'm currently using a mvb until I get my new set up sorted and I'm struggling to get to 32° under it but I'm afraid to put it any closer as its already at 12"?
Any advice would be appreciated
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Hi. I'm currently using a mvb until I get my new set up sorted and I'm struggling to get to 32° under it but I'm afraid to put it any closer as its already at 12"?
Any advice would be appreciated
What species of tortoise and what size?

MVBs are not recommended as they are unreliable and also cause pyramiding in growing tortoises.

Basking area for most any species needs to be around 36-37C. If you tell us what you are working with, we can give you the correct care and lighting info.
 

yogihaggis

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Dec 2, 2022
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What species of tortoise and what size?

MVBs are not recommended as they are unreliable and also cause pyramiding in growing tortoises.

Basking area for most any species needs to be around 36-37C. If you tell us what you are working with, we can give you the correct care and lighting info.
I have a Hermann. It's just under 2 years old
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
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I have a Hermann. It's just under 2 years old
In that case, you definitely do not want to use an MVB. I'm glad you found us! :)

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. In most cases 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. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
  3. Ambient 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 LED 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. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.
Most of the care info out in the world is all wrong. The same wrong info has been repeated for decades and you see it everywhere. Pet shops, vets, all online sources... They are all reading and learning from that same old wrong info. Here is the correct care info:

Questions are welcome.
 

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