- Joined
- Dec 1, 2013
- Messages
- 307
Hello folks, as many of you follow my "growth" thread, located here http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/normal-growth-help-me.89639/, I was wondering if you guys could give advice on this issue I have.
I live in Southern California and it's about to be Spring/Summer.
Now, I have the Mercury Vapor Bulb (160w bought at Amazon) running from 8am to 8pm...the majority of the time where the tortoise isn't even inside his outdoor box (it is living outdoors 24/7). He has the entire backward to roam around and usually comes inside, naps, goes about. I'd say during the day, he's inside about 30% of the time.
Now my problem is that with the MVB running, and four thermostats gauging, it gets to between 110-125F inside the box. It's about 77F outside right now. I can't imagine what the indoor temperature will be once the southern California temperature reaches 100F. I swear it'll reach to like 170F inside that box. Another issue is that the MVP is about 8 inches from the tortoise when it does bask (if he chooses to bask directly underneath). I obviously anticipate lots of growth so I don't know how to position the light. I have a oil heater for nighttime so heat will never be a problem.
My idea is that I would have the MVB running for 4 hours between 8am-noon to let the sulcata know "hey it's morning time!" and perhaps a few hours of available basking time. After 12pm, it would shut off and he'd be outside anyway.
Is this okay? Should I even have the MVB inside to begin with? How about the 8am-noon idea? I don't want to lose a basking light/spot, while at the same time, I also don't want to have the indoor boxing running at 130F. One idea I has have the outdoor box totally open during day time (the roof opens up) and close it back down during night. Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks!
I live in Southern California and it's about to be Spring/Summer.
Now, I have the Mercury Vapor Bulb (160w bought at Amazon) running from 8am to 8pm...the majority of the time where the tortoise isn't even inside his outdoor box (it is living outdoors 24/7). He has the entire backward to roam around and usually comes inside, naps, goes about. I'd say during the day, he's inside about 30% of the time.
Now my problem is that with the MVB running, and four thermostats gauging, it gets to between 110-125F inside the box. It's about 77F outside right now. I can't imagine what the indoor temperature will be once the southern California temperature reaches 100F. I swear it'll reach to like 170F inside that box. Another issue is that the MVP is about 8 inches from the tortoise when it does bask (if he chooses to bask directly underneath). I obviously anticipate lots of growth so I don't know how to position the light. I have a oil heater for nighttime so heat will never be a problem.
My idea is that I would have the MVB running for 4 hours between 8am-noon to let the sulcata know "hey it's morning time!" and perhaps a few hours of available basking time. After 12pm, it would shut off and he'd be outside anyway.
Is this okay? Should I even have the MVB inside to begin with? How about the 8am-noon idea? I don't want to lose a basking light/spot, while at the same time, I also don't want to have the indoor boxing running at 130F. One idea I has have the outdoor box totally open during day time (the roof opens up) and close it back down during night. Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks!