UVB/ SUNLIGHT???

Romeo Serback

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I know it's been discussed in 2010 about sunlight/UVB and Vitamin D absorption, but how much is too much? I've been soaking/sunning my LERATO for 30 minutes a day and was wondering how much beneficial UVB/Vitamin D does she get in those 30 minutes? Does every 15 minutes equivalent to being under the MVB for 6 hours or something like that?
 

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Tom

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There are too many variables to calculate this, and there is too little study done on the subject. Most "evidence" is anecdotal, as in a bunch of people doing different things and each of them asserting that their way worked for them. What is clear is that many things will work and the only way to induce MBD is to never take the tortoise outside, never give it indoor UV, and feed it poorly.

When we talk about sunning them, we do not mean putting them in a small tub in full sun. That will kill a tortoise in minutes on a hot day. They need to be outside in a large enclosure that is at least half deep shade. Laying a board across the top doesn't work. The shade must come from high over head, like a tree or an umbrella. "Access to sun", is a better way to phrase it. Some of them hide in the shade the whole time. This is not a problem. UV refracts when outside and they know how much UV they need.
 

Romeo Serback

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Oh! I didn't know that! So what I've been doing the past 7 days was soak LERATO in a 12"×6" tub and covered a third of it with a book to provide some shade. So is that not good? And if so or in moderation, would you suggest 15 minutes or no? And thank you for the reply!
 

tortoiseplanet

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Oh! I didn't know that! So what I've been doing the past 7 days was soak LERATO in a 12"×6" tub and covered a third of it with a book to provide some shade. So is that not good? And if so or in moderation, would you suggest 15 minutes or no? And thank you for the reply!

15 min soaks are enough, I soak mine for 30min. If you want your tortoise to get natural sun, it’s better to make an outdoor enclosure like Tom said when the tortoise is old enough to be out of a controlled environment. If I were you I would soak the tortoise indoors not to risk over heating outside.
 

Romeo Serback

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And I will do that. I will soak indoors. My Lerato is 3.5 months old and I know that she's too young for the outdoors, so even if I supervised her, I can't let her walk on the untreated lawn for 15-30 minutes to catch some rays?
 

Tom

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And I will do that. I will soak indoors. My Lerato is 3.5 months old and I know that she's too young for the outdoors, so even if I supervised her, I can't let her walk on the untreated lawn for 15-30 minutes to catch some rays?
They are never too young for the outdoors. I start sunning mine when they first move out of the brooder box at about a week old. Too much outdoor time is not good for them, but and hour a day in a large safe enclosure works great for them.

What you've been doing is very dangerous. Here are some cheap easy ways to make a sunning enclosure. In cooler weather less shade is fine. In summer weather more shade will be necessary.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
 

Romeo Serback

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Wow! Those are great idea! Especially for a budget conscious person! Thank you for adding those threads! I will definitely utilize those simple ideas.
 
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Chasen

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They are never too young for the outdoors. I start sunning mine when they first move out of the brooder box at about a week old. Too much outdoor time is not good for them, but and hour a day in a large safe enclosure works great for them.

What you've been doing is very dangerous. Here are some cheap easy ways to make a sunning enclosure. In cooler weather less shade is fine. In summer weather more shade will be necessary.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
Thanx for those links.
 
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