UVB lights
- Thread starter MBelcher
- Start date
4-6 hours a day is enough. But there are a few variables to consider:
1. Enclosure size. For a 40-50 gallon tote used for hatchlings 12.5" is large enough to have UV exposure over 1/3-1/2 and areas without UV. For a 8x4 this is not sufficient (and likely you will underprovide UVB)
2. Tortoise habits and favourite spots. If your tortoise naps when UVB lamp is on - obviously you underprovide UVB. Either shift schedule or increase timings.
3. Tortoise species and amount of shade. In some setups long, less powerful UVB tube, running 8-10 hours a day (with 14 hours overall photoperiod) can be more suitable. When more powerful lamps were not available, full day UVB timings were the only option to ensure sufficient UV exposure at expense of less natural lightning dynamic.
Hi thanks very much, yes this is a 3 month old. She is in a 35 gallon, getting ready to buy 75 gallon to increase her living space. She’s getting around well and really growing well. Would a plastic container “moisture hut” that is slightly colored but transparent block the uvb? It seems like she stays in the moisture hut when the uvb is on. After I turn off the uvb she comes out and basks under the 65 watt flood light. Just seemed she didn’t like the uvb. The radiant heat bulb, the uvb and flood light are outside on the top of the bin lid. She has been basking regularly but just seemed to avoid the uvb. The lights, heat bulb are placed so one side can be warmer than the other side of the enclosure.
1. If you can jump straight to 120 gallons this will serve you for a couple of years. Or go as planned for 75 gallons and then start drafting "forever home" - closer to 8x4 ft.
2. Most glass and plastics block UVB completely and UVA partially.
3. What is the distance from UVB lamp to substrate (even 1-2 inches can make a huge difference in UV exposure)? And what linear bulb you have - 5.0 or 10.0? Another thing is that some chinese T5 lamps have bad UVB output spectrum (potentially harmful), what fixture/brand do you use? If it's ZooMed (and not ReptiZoo) - perfect
I will be building a summer outdoor home by spring. Then will work on the winter permanent adult inside enclosure. Right now I can better control the environment in the closed system. I guess this is chinese model, OiiBO 8-Watt T5 HO Terrarium Hood for Reptiles with 5.0 UVB UVA Lamp provides essential UVB and UVA rays that simulate the UVB spectrum. I can look into a ZooMed, probably move up to the 10.0 for a larger encloser?1. If you can jump straight to 120 gallons this will serve you for a couple of years. Or go as planned for 75 gallons and then start drafting "forever home" - closer to 8x4 ft.
2. Most glass and plastics block UVB completely and UVA partially.
3. What is the distance from UVB lamp to substrate (even 1-2 inches can make a huge difference in UV exposure)? And what linear bulb you have - 5.0 or 10.0? Another thing is that some chinese T5 lamps have bad UVB output spectrum (potentially harmful), what fixture/brand do you use? If it's ZooMed (and not ReptiZoo) - perfect
Yes, it's better to stay away from chinese UVB lamps.
10.0 lamps are preferred, because they can be installed higher and still provide good UV level (18-20" for 10.0 lamps and only 11-12" for 5.0). It's a general tip to keep lamps higher for more diffused light, which is more comfortable for animals.
For the 75 gallon enclosure 12.5 inches lamp is fine. 5.0 or 10.0 depends on installation height. Important to keep in mind, that young tortoises need higher humidity for smooth growth and you can't achieve that with open top enclosures.
What are dimensions of the box you are getting?
Currently the humidity range is 65-70%. I will go with the 10.0 since I will be using it on her big girl enclosure next year. Plan is that she will be in outdoor enclosure for the summer. This will be located under a large enclosed pergola with the sun directly on a portion of the enclosure.
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What species are we talking about? And what size? They grow at vastly different rates and for a wide variety of reasons, so the age doesn't tell us the size.
No 3 month old tortoise should be outside full time, regardless of weather and climate. Babies do better when kept mostly indoors until they get larger. My general rule of thumb is an hour of outside time in favorable weather per inch of tortoise.
Your tortoise's behavior tells me that the UV bulb you are using is not right in some way or other. It may be too close, or it might be burning the eyes. Do you also run bright ambient lighting during the day? It should be bright enough in there that you can tell if the UV tube is on without looking at the bulb.
To answer your question, the transparent plastic hide does block 100% of the UV.
No 3 month old tortoise should be outside full time, regardless of weather and climate. Babies do better when kept mostly indoors until they get larger. My general rule of thumb is an hour of outside time in favorable weather per inch of tortoise.
Your tortoise's behavior tells me that the UV bulb you are using is not right in some way or other. It may be too close, or it might be burning the eyes. Do you also run bright ambient lighting during the day? It should be bright enough in there that you can tell if the UV tube is on without looking at the bulb.
To answer your question, the transparent plastic hide does block 100% of the UV.
Punkin is a Russian and will not be going outside until summer. Her carapace measures 2.5” across by 2.75” long. Currently I have her in a closed bin with lights on top. My house humidity is real hard to regulate so this has helped me maintain temp and humidity. I’m going to look for one of the 10.0 recommended uvb lights and replace the chinese uvb I have. Currently the 5.0 uvb is about 14” from substrate.
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Some outside time in summer will be great. Living outside full time in summer will not be so great for a baby, but it will be great for summer of 2026 or 2027.
No 3 month old tortoise should be outside full time, regardless of weather and climate. Babies do better when kept mostly indoors until they get larger. My general rule of thumb is an hour of outside time in favorable weather per inch of tortoise.
Good advice, I was going to introduce her to the outside enclose slowly at first. This won’t even begin until June. She will be 8 months by then.
That's a decent size, very close to 120 gallon reptile enclosures (48x24). Height isn't optimal though, when you add 3-4 inches of substrate (distance of 15" is too far for 5.0 lamps and too close for 10.0 lamps). What I'll do: I cut the box lid to place the Terrarium Hood on top, add some sort of "riser" (out of Lego bricks or whatever will be at hand) to get 17" above substrate and then seal it with Gorilla tape so there will be no holes in the lid around around the UVB lamp and it doesn't move/fall when you open the lid.
Also, you can cut out the side wall to make "doors" - this will make cleaning much easier without opening the lid.
Or you can put a portable greenhouse top over the box and get rid of the lid. All heating lightning fixtures can be attached to a greenhouse frame.
I cannot find a Zoomed hood with a T5, 10.0 bulb in it. The Zoomeds T5 all say HO. I was able to find a huge one but it’s too big for my enclosure. Need a 14”, they say they make them but no one has them for sale. Any suggestions?
T5 HO (high output) is the full name for this type of bulbs.
This shop has 14" in stock (I don't know how reliable are they, though):
Zoo Med Reptisun T5 HO Fixture with 10.0 Bulb
nvest in the health of your desert-dwelling animals, or animals in larger habitats by using this high-quality, high-output combination. The 10.0 bulb provides higher UV indexes at similar distances to its 5.0 counterpart, projecting farther into a habitat. When used with the highly polished...
kensfish.com
Other option is to get a hood with 5.0 lamp in it and buy a 10.0 replacement lamp (about 20 bucks in Walmart, for example).
Hey thanks for sharing Ken’s, had to buy a light and a bunch of stuff, lol!T5 HO (high output) is the full name for this type of bulbs.
This shop has 14" in stock (I don't know how reliable are they, though):
Zoo Med Reptisun T5 HO Fixture with 10.0 Bulb
nvest in the health of your desert-dwelling animals, or animals in larger habitats by using this high-quality, high-output combination. The 10.0 bulb provides higher UV indexes at similar distances to its 5.0 counterpart, projecting farther into a habitat. When used with the highly polished...
Other option is to get a hood with 5.0 lamp in it and buy a 10.0 replacement lamp (about 20 bucks in Walmart, for example).
Tell us how delivery goes. Having more reliable shops for reptile supplies is good.
will do!
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