Red light

[kdcoon69]

I've been reading a lot of the previous posts and I hear many use a red "heat" light at night to ensure good digestion. My house can get down to the mid 60s at night and I may need to add such a light. If so, where can I get one and what specification should I be looking for? Thanks.

Keith

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Just get a common clamp light fixture and put either a red bulb, or like I use, a black bulb. I have 8 different habitats in the house with a black light bulb for nighttime heat, and Queenie out in Bob's shed has one. They are cheap and easy, I get both at Kmart, the fixture and the bulbs...

 

[chadk]

Mid 60's isn't bad for a night drop really. But you could get a low wattage CHE (no light, just a ceramic heat emitter that screws in like a regular bulb).

 

[rustynail777]

I would do the ceramic heat,I read a couple places that tortoises dont see the red light.....dont believe it.......I tested that theory and my torts see fine with that red light on in fact I think it could keep them awake.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Keith:

It isn't so much that the red light aids in digestion, its that it provides heat without light. So for night time if your house is too cold and you need to make it a bit warmer in the tortoise habitat, you can use a red or black light bulb. They are a lot cheaper to buy than the CHE (ceramic heat emitter), at only about $3 per bulb.

 

[bettinge]

Hi Keith:

It isn't so much that the red light aids in digestion, its that it provides heat without light. So for night time if your house is too cold and you need to make it a bit warmer in the tortoise habitat, you can use a red or black light bulb. They are a lot cheaper to buy than the CHE (ceramic heat emitter), at only about $3 per bulb.

Yes, they are cheaper up front, but do not last nearly as long! The CHE may be cheaper over several years. Just my experience!

 

[kdcoon69]

Does the CHE require any special fixture to house it like my UVA/UVB/heat bulb does?

Keith

Hi Keith:

It isn't so much that the red light aids in digestion, its that it provides heat without light. So for night time if your house is too cold and you need to make it a bit warmer in the tortoise habitat, you can use a red or black light bulb. They are a lot cheaper to buy than the CHE (ceramic heat emitter), at only about $3 per bulb.

Yes, they are cheaper up front, but do not last nearly as long! The CHE may be cheaper over several years. Just my experience!

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes. Be sure to buy a fixture with a ceramic base, not a Bakelite base.

 

[dmmj]

A CHE may be more exspensive up front but in the long run I actually think they are cheaper, Just MHO.

 

[tortoisenerd]

I also think in the long run CHEs are cheaper as they last many years. I think the mid 60s is just great for a night temperature. No need for night heat unless it is a very young hatchling, which I think should be kept above 65 (not 60 like adults), so even then you wouldn't need much at all. Do also check you measure the substrate temperature, not your thermostat as it will be different. I do not think this would aid digestion. If a tortoise is not warm enough (they need to bask to get into the 80s), they will not eat well, but I don't understand what you are saying. Do you have a source for the red light for digestion part?

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I think babies bottom temps should be no less than 70. I have raised numerous babies and I don't ever let them go below 70. I would keep a warming light at night...I have 8 small tortoises now and their night time temps are about 75....the only habitats I have that go below 70 are my box turtles...tortoises are kept warm.