urgent lighting help

[hollieolivia]

Today I bought a horsefield tortoise and I am unsure which lights to keep on at night. I have a red one which I was told is a night light to be on from 9-9 a white light which I assume is to be on during the day and a heat mat. Does the heat mat and white light stay on 24 7?

any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi hollieolivia:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

You have a lot of reading to do!

First and foremost, your new steppe tortoise will do much better outside. Is there any way you can make a safe and secure outdoor pen for it? If it were outside, the light problem would go away.

If you MUST keep it in the house, normal house temperatures are probably ok for night time and no light or heat source is required until winter time. The day bulb should be a UVB bulb, which takes the place of the sun, providing the vitamin D the tortoise needs in order for his calcium to keep his bones and shell strong.

Steppe tortoises need a lot of space. They are wanderers. They are not happy in a small habitat. So if he can't be outside, you need to get the very largest tub/box/bookcase, etc. you can afford.

Can we see a picture of your new tortoise?