New set up

[gusthetortoise]

After having such a tiny table for lil Gus I decided to have a crack at making one up and to be fair he seems to love it.

I am in the process of replacing the UVBulb and am considering getting a strip to go across the back of it.

He had a play in it today and loved it, far more for him to do and he appears to be far more content instead of scrambling at the walls to get out. The hides at different temperatures and humidities have seemed to help him as well.

Was using a substrate tortoise rep pro life that was a little dry, advice here was it was okay but I found after going through his water bowl and caking himself in it, it was drying hard on him under his lamp so have mixed it with some top soil (which does smell a bit) and he seems much happier.

Anyway here is a pic.

 

[mike taylor]

Very nice ! I would get that coil uvb lamp and put it in the trash. They burn tortoises eyes . Go with the t5 or t8 10% uvb tube . The best thing is the good ole sun . If you take him outside for a few hours weekly you will not need uvb.

 

[gusthetortoise]

I intend to replace it with a strip. Winter in the uk now not so much sun so the light is only on for a bit and I take him out if the sun shows itself. Going to put a strip across like mentioned in the other thread in the next few weeks. He is loving the set up mind.

 

[mike taylor]

It sounds like you got it all worked out . I'm sure you have one happy tortoise.

 

[Jabuticaba]

I intend to replace it with a strip. Winter in the uk now not so much sun so the light is only on for a bit and I take him out if the sun shows itself. Going to put a strip across like mentioned in the other thread in the next few weeks. He is loving the set up mind.

Even if the sun comes out, there's 0 UVB coming thru at this time of year, due to the distance between us and the sun and the Earth's tilt. Best to get a safe UVB bulb, as soon as you can. The fluorescent tubes are safe. It's only the fluorescent coil bulbs that can cause damage to their eyes. (And to human eyes, as well...First-hand experience. )

 

[gtc]

Nice enclosure Tube uvb is fine but my feeling is that mvbs are better for torts living in cold climates with lots of rain and little sun since mvbs give off more uvb.

 

[gusthetortoise]

Nice enclosure Tube uvb is fine but my feeling is that mvbs are better for torts living in cold climates with lots of rain and little sun since mvbs give off more uvb.

What's an mvb?

 

[Yvonne G]

A Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) provides UVB and heat all in the same bulb:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6fh4f3vm74_b

 

[mikeh]

MVB is a Mercury Vapor Bulb, produces heat and UVB in one. Since you are in UK, get your self a nice Arcadia 3D+ or Zoomed T5 HO strip UVB like you originally wanted. Arcadia 3D+ T5HO strip UVB lasts a full year, Zoomed 6months. Most MVB bulbs are known to fail just after 2-3 months.