SPLITTING MVB LIGHTING-POSSIBLE?

[wellington]

I was wondering. If I hung a MVB light, where two cages meet, one side tort other side Uro if it would still give good UVB to both? Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[JoesMum]

Why do you need to do this?

Personally, I would only consider it if the tables were very small and even then I'd have my doubts.

 

[wellington]

Why do you need to do this?

Personally, I would only consider it if the tables were very small and even then I'd have my doubts.

I want to give my tort more room for next winter. They share a open closet. Uro on the floor, tort above him. My Uro doesn't use all of his room. So I wanted to put him in a tote or aquarium and use the other portion for a second level for my tort. There would be a Mvb on both levels. However, if I could split the one MVB, my tort would be able to use both or I could get away with just using one.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Barb:

That's what I've done in the past. The MVB's are so darned expensive that I've used one for two. I hang the bulb/fixture on a stand so it shines straight down, then I position the two tubs so that the middle of the light shines down on the two walls where they touch each other. This provides plenty of UVB for the two tubs.

 

[wellington]

Hi Barb:

That's what I've done in the past. The MVB's are so darned expensive that I've used one for two. I hang the bulb/fixture on a stand so it shines straight down, then I position the two tubs so that the middle of the light shines down on the two walls where they touch each other. This provides plenty of UVB for the two tubs.

Great. Thanks, that's how I would do it. They are expensive, but in summer it is also a lot of heat in my house. trying to keep them warm and us cool, is also a expensive game between heat and air conditioner

 

[Madkins007]

Just remember that each habitat only gets 1/2 of the dose and basking site space that they used to.

You might consider the trick that snake people have long used- long UVB fluorescent tubes placed across several side-by-side containers.

I am rapidly coming to prefer long UVB tubes over MVBs anyway- it is so much easier, and I think cheaper in the long run- to coordinate a tube and CHE than it is to try toget the MVB the right height to offer enough heat and UVB without getting to too hot or too bright.

 

[wellington]

Just remember that each habitat only gets 1/2 of the dose and basking site space that they used to.

You might consider the trick that snake people have long used- long UVB fluorescent tubes placed across several side-by-side containers.

I am rapidly coming to prefer long UVB tubes over MVBs anyway- it is so much easier, and I think cheaper in the long run- to coordinate a tube and CHE than it is to try toget the MVB the right height to offer enough heat and UVB without getting to too hot or too bright.

Good point. Maybe I will do the tube UVB over my Uro. He already has the fixture. Just needed a new bulb. I switched it out for the MVB when I first heard about them when I got my tort. Thank you, everyone. Love the quick help from TFO.

More suggestions always welcomed

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

I would go with the tube florescent idea.

If I'm not mistaken, Uromastyx like a basking temp a lot higher than a leopard tort, so how would you manage using one MVB for both?

 

[Redstrike]

Just remember that each habitat only gets 1/2 of the dose and basking site space that they used to.

You might consider the trick that snake people have long used- long UVB fluorescent tubes placed across several side-by-side containers.

I am rapidly coming to prefer long UVB tubes over MVBs anyway- it is so much easier, and I think cheaper in the long run- to coordinate a tube and CHE than it is to try toget the MVB the right height to offer enough heat and UVB without getting to too hot or too bright.

I'm starting to feel this way as well. I really like the potential UVB output of the MVB's, but they're expensive, don't last long, and can be a real hassle to obtain the desired environmental parameters while running them.

I've found that I now run mine 1-2 times per week for 2-3 hours, relying almost exclusively on my UVB florescent tube. Warm temps have also helped to get my torts out the door and into some sunshine.

 

[Tom]

I agree with Student about the basking temps for Uros and torts.

Won't the two walls get exceedingly hot up near the tops?

I think the florescent tubes are fine for people who live in warm sunny areas and get lots of sunshine year round. I don't trust them as a sole source of UV for areas with frozen winters. I've seen them fail as a sole source of UV too many times. By contrast, I have yet to see a MVB fail to prevent MBD.

 

[Neal]

I was wondering. If I hung a MVB light, where two cages meet, one side tort other side Uro if it would still give good UVB to both? Any thoughts or ideas?

We have done this for awhile and have never had any problems. The height of the walls is of concern, but If the enclosure walls are shallow enough, you won't have to worry about anything melting.

Most of the UVB needs of our tortoises are met with outside time...so I can't tell you if it would decrease the UVB exposure to dangerous levels or not. Just that it works well to heat both enclosures.