Question about LIghting

[MarianneL711]

Ok so I have a day bulb and a night bulb for Hudson, the day being a slightly higher wattage than the night (I think the day is 100 and the night is 75 but I'm at work so I cant check now lol). I'm going away next weekend, friday thru sunday, and have already enlisted my mother to come over in the morning to feed him. My question is, can I leave the day light on the whole time I am gone? Because I don't want to have to make someone come to my apartment just to switch his lights at night... It's only for 2 nights so I just want to make sure it's ok. Thanks!

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

I would suggest using a ceramic heat emitter bulb (all heat, no visible light!) that you can leave on 24/7, and use a traditional tube florescent bulb for UVB.

Colored lights are not good for nocturnal use: http://reptileapartment.com/lighting/colored-lights/

 

[CourtneyAndCarl]

It really wouldn't be a good idea, your tort will become very confused about sleeping patterns. Maybe you could invest in a timer. I got one at walmart I believe, they are super cheap, usually, and will do the trick.

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Zoomed even makes one that has one outlet for daytime, and another for night time, I think it only costs about 10-15 at a pet store, and probably less online

 

[MarianneL711]

Hmmm Zoomed huh? Yeah because the lamp I have is a duel lamp with two differeht plugs with switches so I guess I would need two timers... I feel bad asking someone "hey can you go to my apartment and shut Hudson's day lamp and put on his night lamp?" LOL.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

If you leave on the heat one it will probably blow out :/

 

[Neal]

How about investing in a timer?

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

How about investing in a timer?

Yep!

 

[MarianneL711]

Looks like thats gonna be the plan. Thanks everyone =)

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

I also use a timer, and not just when I'm away, but also everyday. It just makes caring for my tortoises easier and more worry-free. The light automatically comes on at 7am, and automatically turns off at 9pm. Easy.

As for heating, I use a CHE during the day. It's plugged into the same timer, so it turns on and off at the same time as the lights. It's not cold in our home at night, so there is no need to leave it on. In fact, a cool-down period is better.

 

[Tom]

I think I see an adult Russian as your avatar. If that's the tortoise we are talking about, and your room stays above 60 at night then you don't need any night heat at all. What is your basking temp under your 100 watt bulb?

Your can get a reliable digital timer that has a built in battery back up, so it doesn't lose the time or your settings in a power failure, for around $10 at Walmart or Target or any hardware store.

 

[MarianneL711]

Actually he's only about 5 inches long and is technically a baby though I don't know how old exactly. The pic just makes him look jumbo lol. The day lamp is 100 the night 75 but as it's summer the air is on at night so i dont want to take the chance of not using the night one. Perhaps when the winter comes we'll see. He also has a water source and a cool side of the tank to escape the heat if he needs to. Thanks I'm going to try and find a timer at Walgreens or borrow a couple from my dad. (Don't have a walmart here lol).