Suitable lamps

[Shelldog]

Is this suitable??

 

[Tom]

Is this suitable??

Yes, those are suitable for basking lamps, CHEs, or LEDs for ambient lighting, but remove the clamp and the cage. Those clamps always fail eventually. Hang the bulb from over head so you can adjust the height to get the correct basking temperature under it. Our tortoises cannot reach the fixtures, so need need for the cage that blocks your heat or light.

 

[Shelldog]

Yes, those are suitable for basking lamps, CHEs, or LEDs for ambient lighting, but remove the clamp and the cage. Those clamps always fail eventually. Hang the bulb from over head so you can adjust the height to get the correct basking temperature under it. Our tortoises cannot reach the fixtures, so need need for the cage that blocks your heat or light.

What bulb do I need to go with it?? Idk if it comes with one

 

[Tom]

What bulb do I need to go with it?? Idk if it comes with one

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials:

1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. In most cases you'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
3. Ambient light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in LED bulb types are both fine.
4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.

 

[Shelldog]

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials:

1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. In most cases you'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
3. Ambient light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in LED bulb types are both fine.
4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.

Do I need the ambient heat if she’s indoors?? I have a hermann and I thought that the room temp of like 20 degrees Celsius ok because that’s the temp the cooler end should be ?? But have the basking lamp ??

 

[Tom]

Do I need the ambient heat if she’s indoors?? I have a hermann and I thought that the room temp of like 20 degrees Celsius ok because that’s the temp the cooler end should be ?? But have the basking lamp ??

This depends on the room temp, size of your tortoise, and the tortoises behavior. 20C is pretty cool, but it might be okay for an adult if the rest of the enclosure is well lit, you have UV, and the tortoise uses its basking area to properly warm up. Think of the temperatures in the areas that your tortoise would come from 20C would be pretty cool. Most days will get warmer than that, and the tortoise could go bask in the sun to warm up.

If the tortoise sits under the basking lamp for hours, or if it goes into a dark corner and becomes inactive, those are indicators that the temperature in the enclosure might be too cool.