Tortoise UV bulb

[speedyTortoise]

Hello all. I currently have one compact fluorescent bulb 1 foot above my tortoise. I heard that fluorescent bulbs are harmful to tortoises. Is this true, even at a height of one foot? If so, what bulbs should I get instead. I have read many other threads and got mixed results. I keep the lamp on for eleven hours.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Do not use a compact UVB bulb. This category is the same (to me) as any UVB bulb that has a screw-in base. This would include the MVB and mini spot uvb as well.
You want a T5 linear strip ho UVB TUBE assembly. A 10.0 or a 12% depending on manufacturer

 

[wellington]

Hello all. I currently have one compact fluorescent bulb 1 foot above my tortoise. I heard that fluorescent bulbs are harmful to tortoises. Is this true, even at a height of one foot? If so, what bulbs should I get instead. I have read many other threads and got mixed results. I keep the lamp on for eleven hours.

Fluorescent bulbs are not harmful to tortoises. The coil ones are, the Mercury vapor bulbs are and the halogens are.
You need a tube fluorescent. Arcadia are the better ones

 

[Tom]

Hello all. I currently have one compact fluorescent bulb 1 foot above my tortoise. I heard that fluorescent bulbs are harmful to tortoises. Is this true, even at a height of one foot? If so, what bulbs should I get instead. I have read many other threads and got mixed results. I keep the lamp on for eleven hours.

Arcadia 12% HO tube. Available in a "ProT5 Kit". Find it at @Kapidolofarms.com or at lightyourreptiles.com

Your heat lamp and ambient bulbs need to be on at least 12 hours.

Your UV tube only needs to be on for 2-4 hours a day.

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.

 

[speedyTortoise]

Arcadia 12% HO tube. Available in a "ProT5 Kit". Find it at @Kapidolofarms.com or at lightyourreptiles.com

Your heat lamp and ambient bulbs need to be on at least 12 hours.

Your UV tube only needs to be on for 2-4 hours a day.

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.

Ok thanks. I’ll get those bulbs, except the solar meter I’ll have to think about because it’s quite an investment.

 

[Tom]

Ok thanks. I’ll get those bulbs, except the solar meter I’ll have to think about because it’s quite an investment.

You won't need that meter for at least two years if you only runt the bulb for a couple hours per day.

 

[speedyTortoise]

You won't need that meter for at least two years if you only runt the bulb for a couple hours per day.

Oh, ok. Sounds good!

 

[speedyTortoise]

Is the Arcadia D3 12% UVB T8 bulb a good choice? I also found some nice light fixtures for the T8. By the way, I am buying a new lamp for my tort's new enclosure. It is inside and 8*4 feet. Are those the right ones? Because I saw videos of people hanging those tubes over giant enclosures.

 

[Tom]

Is the Arcadia D3 12% UVB T8 bulb a good choice? I also found some nice light fixtures for the T8. By the way, I am buying a new lamp for my tort's new enclosure. It is inside and 8*4 feet. Are those the right ones? Because I saw videos of people hanging those tubes over giant enclosures.

You want the T5 HO type tubes, not the old T8 types.

 

[speedyTortoise]

You want the T5 HO type tubes, not the old T8 types.

How long should it be? 34 inches?

 

[Tom]

View attachment 361520
How long should it be? 34 inches?

Any size will be fine. I use 22' and 34" ones. Both work in any enclosure. Try to mount it close to the basking lamp. The tortoise's skin needs to be warm for the UVB to work its magic.

 

[speedyTortoise]

Any size will be fine. I use 22' and 34" ones. Both work in any enclosure. Try to mount it close to the basking lamp. The tortoise's skin needs to be warm for the UVB to work its magic.

Aaaaaaaalrighty!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

You'll need the tube AND the fixture.
Don't buy just the tube if you don't already have the fixture.
The length of tube will correspond to the length of the fixture you've chosen.
For example, a 24" fixture takes a 22" tube.
It's best to buy it complete the first time. Then you can replace the tubes as needed. The electronic fixture will last a very long time and it won't need replacement

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This is just the idea I was talking about.
This is a ZOOMED HO T5 UVB.
ARCADIA is probably superior. But either one you chose. You want the entire kit.

 

[speedyTortoise]

This is just the idea I was talking about.
This is a ZOOMED HO T5 UVB.
ARCADIA is probably superior. But either one you chose. You want the entire kit.

Ok, good thing you told me before I bought it. The picture you sent is the whole kit? The tube plus the fixture? I am buying it tomorrow or after tomorrow.

 

[speedyTortoise]

The picture you sent is the whole kit?

Nevermind that question. I mean, is that just the fixture? Then the tube costs 30 dollars?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Ok, good thing you told me before I bought it. The picture you sent is the whole kit? The tube plus the fixture? I am buying it tomorrow or after tomorrow.

Yes.
That's a complete system. Ready to use. And the brand that I myself use.
But, like I said, the ARCADIA is probably superior.....

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Nevermind that question. I mean, is that just the fixture? Then the tube costs 30 dollars?

That's everything in one box.
It comes with a new, correct tube.
Please order the "10.0"
Not the "5.0"
You'll get a longer service life and they're both the same price.
(ARCADIA has 6% and 12%)

 

[speedyTortoise]

That's everything in one box.
It comes with a new, correct tube.
Please order the "10.0"
Not the "5.0"
You'll get a longer service life and they're both the same price.
(ARCADIA has 6% and 12%)

Ok! I will probably buy zoomed like you because I’m already using a lot of zoomed products. Unless if Arcadia has better deals or course.