Tortoise lighting

[VinceB23]

So I brought home my baby tortoise 2 days ago. The man at the store said that just a regular night heat lamp would do ( the black light looking one) I red that 80ish is good for the night but I'm afraid the light isn't doing its part. I don't want to wake up to a frozen tortoise. I'm keeping his day lamp on for the night but without the UV one so that I can maintain the heat until I figure out what needs to happen. Any suggestions?

 

[GBtortoises]

A standard incandescent light (not soft white) along with a UV flourescent tube. The incandescent will provide basking heat as well as localized lighting. The actual basking temperature can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the wattage of the bulb and moving it farther out or closer in to the substrate. The UV tube will provide good overall enclosure lighting as well as good overall UV throughout.
Night time heat, if necessary, can be provided by a CHE (ceramic heat element). These fit in a standard incandescent bulb socket. They have the advantage of providing good heat without producing light which is what is preferred at night.

 

[VinceB23]

I went to the store today and got the red, melt your eyebrows off bulb. I got a humidity gauge. I have a UVB fluorescent light bar and I am using the black light bulb that came with the kit. We will see how he does. I've actually become more concerned about my house with that cyclops ray bulb than I am about the turtle lol

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How does that look for now any advice? I'm thinking that this ultra bulb might be a little to harsh next to the UVB light bar. It's already hot. I need some input. Tryin to make this perfect for my dude. He seems to be a lot more active after I installed it.

 

[jtrux]

IMO you really should consider a larger aquarium. He's gonna outgrow that rather quickly.

 

[wellington]

You need a larger enclosure to get the proper temps. The basking should be 95-100, humidity 80% all over temp 80. A larger water bowl, one he can easily get into to soak himself should he want. Also a flat piece of rock, slat or tile works good for food. Helps keep beak filed. The enclosure you have will not do. A large 50 gal plastic tote from Home Depot or any store will work good.also best to have no light at night. A CHE works best for night time, heat no light.
Please check out the threads at the bottom of my post for a proper way to house and raise a smooth, healthy sulcata.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Congrats on bringing home your new tortoise! They are wonderful to have and we all want to give them the best care possible. Wellington gave you some great tips and the links in her signature will give you so much wonderful information that you'll be able to go back to that pet store and educate the man who works there

I know you are asking about tortoise lighting and how to keep him warm at night but a larger enclosure will really help you in that area. You will be able to have a better range of temperatures that way. CHE or ceramic heating elements/emitters work great to keep your tort warm and cozy at night with out any light. They like lights off at night just like we do. The plastic totes as enclosures are very inexpensive but if its the aquarium look you want search CL for great deals. You'd be surprised how many 60gal I come across for $20 or so.

 

[VinceB23]

You need a larger enclosure to get the proper temps. The basking should be 95-100, humidity 80% all over temp 80. A larger water bowl, one he can easily get into to soak himself should he want. Also a flat piece of rock, slat or tile works good for food. Helps keep beak filed. The enclosure you have will not do. A large 50 gal plastic tote from Home Depot or any store will work good.also best to have no light at night. A CHE works best for night time, heat no light.
Please check out the threads at the bottom of my post for a proper way to house and raise a smooth, healthy sulcata.

Do they like these plastic totes? Does it matter to them that they can't see out of it? Cause I could go get a gigantic one and make him a fortress lol.

 

[Rover15]

From my understanding as I'm not a Tortoise lol they do like the totes or tables because they can't see out the side there for less stress also with glass I see torts a lot of the time walking into the walls and head butting. If you can get a large totes bigger is better just make sure you can control the temps and humidity

 

[Neal]

How does that look for now any advice? I'm thinking that this ultra bulb might be a little to harsh next to the UVB light bar. It's already hot. I need some input. Tryin to make this perfect for my dude. He seems to be a lot more active after I installed it.

Do they like these plastic totes? Does it matter to them that they can't see out of it? Cause I could go get a gigantic one and make him a fortress lol.

The 10 gallon aquarium is not suitable at for a sulcata of any age in my opinion, and it's hard to say from your picture, but it looks like your heat lamp might burn or melt the UVB florescent lamp. If you go with a plastic tote, get the biggest one you can afford. Opaque is better in my opinion. Your substrate is good. If you go with a bigger enclosure, you'll probably need to adjust you're heating and lighting set up. Other than that, the only other thing I would recommend is a humid hide.