Thermostat help please :)

[Melman❤️]

I got Melman a week and 4 days ago, originally they gave me a 100w combi Arcadia lamp with his set up, however the tempreture on the infrared gun was only ever measuring 27 degrees max and Melman wasn't eating because it wasn't warm enough, I lowered the lamp but made no difference and if I had lowered it anymore it would of burnt his shell! So they exchanged his bulb in the shop for a 160w which then made it too hot! So I highered the lamp and it seems to be fluctuating between 32 and 36 in different areas, and cool area between 18 and 23.

Is there a thermostat I can use to keep the tempreture's regulated? Do they work the lamp to only go to a certain degree hotness?

Thanks for the help

 

[jaizei]

Is this a mercury vapor bulb(mvb)?

 

[Melman❤️]

Is this a mercury vapor bulb(mvb)?

It's this one ?

 

[Merrick]

Yes

 

[Melman❤️]

Yes

What can I get for the bulb I have? And how does it work? X

 

[Merrick]

What do you mean and it works by heating up mecury vapor I believe

 

[Melman❤️]

I mean is there anyway I can regulate the bulb I have to stay at a certain temperature? Cos it's either really high or really low, it some times gets hot to 38 degrees and I think that's too hot isn't it? The only cooler part he has is the bedroom bit, cos I've had to put the bulb higher up it covers most of the table with heat. But the 100w wasn't giving enough heat.

 

[Merrick]

Lower the wattage or get two lower wattage to equal the higher amount and get a uvb lamp the ones that are long

 

[Merrick]

Also it would be good if you posted °c instead of just the degrees

 

[Melman❤️]

Also it would be good if you posted °c instead of just the degrees

Sorry, I do mean Celsius I didn't even think.
So I'm getting rid of the combi bulb and getting a basking lamp and uv bulb separate?

 

[Merrick]

You have to do what you have to do to make sure that all the parameters are met for your tortoise

 

[tortdad]

You don't want to put that bulb on a thermostat. It's not good for that MVB bulb to be coming on and off. That light/basking bulb should be on for about 12-14hrs a day. Put it on a cheep $5 timer so it runs from 7am-8pm and let it be. Raise and lower it to get your basking temperate where you want it.

Then get you a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) and put this on the thermostat. A CHE puts out zero light, only heat. This is how you heat your tort at night and with it being in a thermostat it will com on day and night... Off and on as needed to keep your tort in optimal conditions all day long.

 

[Lyn W]

I've got that mvb and don't know if you've noticed but when you switch it off it won't come straight back on again afterwards - there is some sort of delay. So a thermostat wouldn't be any good as it may not switch on when it needs to. I like the fact its just one bulb for everything needed though.

It's not your thermometer at fault is it?

 

[Melman❤️]

I've got that mvb and don't know if you've noticed but when you switch it off it won't come straight back on again afterwards - there is some sort of delay. So a thermostat wouldn't be any good as it may not switch on when it needs to. I like the fact its just one bulb for everything needed though.

It's not your thermometer at fault is it?

No I have two thermometers that are both infrared and I have two Exo terrer ones stuck inside too.

Yeah I noticed that today actually I turned it off to move the table and it wouldn't come back on thought I'd broken it! Was crying and everything and then my partner went in the room and said ITS ON STOP CRYING!! lol! It must be a safety thing or something but I did c**p my pants and think I'd broken it!

Could you tell me what wattage is your bulb an how far up you have it please? Also he seems ok because he's running about like a mad man! He's only eaten a dandelion leaf today but he's only 1 year old and 4 months so I don't know maybe that's enough for him, he never seems to eat much more than that. I use Nekton MSA on his food too x

 

[Lyn W]

No I have two thermometers that are both infrared and I have two Exo terrer ones stuck inside too.

Yeah I noticed that today actually I turned it off to move the table and it wouldn't come back on thought I'd broken it! Was crying and everything and then my partner went in the room and said ITS ON STOP CRYING!! lol! It must be a safety thing or something but I did c**p my pants and think I'd broken it!

Could you tell me what wattage is your bulb an how far up you have it please? Also he seems ok because he's running about like a mad man! He's only eaten a dandelion leaf today but he's only 1 year old and 4 months so I don't know maybe that's enough for him, he never seems to eat much more than that. I use Nekton MSA on his food too x

Yes I thought I'd broken mine too the first time it happened.
Mine is an 80w and I follow the general approx. 10" above the top of the shell rule.
My tort is 10.5 inches long leopard - so older and bigger than yours - and has its own room with a radiator and a CHE for night and extra heat in the cold when needed.
My tort rarely lies directly under it though even though its not too hot for him.

 

[Gillian M]

I got Melman a week and 4 days ago, originally they gave me a 100w combi Arcadia lamp with his set up, however the tempreture on the infrared gun was only ever measuring 27 degrees max and Melman wasn't eating because it wasn't warm enough, I lowered the lamp but made no difference and if I had lowered it anymore it would of burnt his shell! So they exchanged his bulb in the shop for a 160w which then made it too hot! So I highered the lamp and it seems to be fluctuating between 32 and 36 in different areas, and cool area between 18 and 23.

Is there a thermostat I can use to keep the tempreture's regulated? Do they work the lamp to only go to a certain degree hotness?

Thanks for the help

A very warm welcome to the forum.

I'd love to see pic(s) of your tort.