What UVB/UVA/UV light do I need for a Russian tortoise

MatthewMTB

New Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
Pennsylvania
Hi! This is my first post here, I’m getting a Russian tortoise really soon and I’m wondering what light I should get for the tortoise. I have read some places that they need a UVB and some say they need a UVB and a UV. What kind do I need? Thanks!
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Hello and welcome to TFO. Before you buy anything, I recommend you read and reread the TFO care guides and compare them with your intended setup. We are happy to advise before you buy :)

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Most pet stores in the US sell wild caught sub adults, but in case you’re going to a breeder for a baby then read this too:

Baby Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

With regard to lighting, your tort needs:

1. A basking lamp
This must hang vertically, not at an angle. Basking is essential to raise your tortoise's core temperature so it can digest food. This must be on continuously for 12-14 hours and must not be used with a thermostat.

2. UVB light
Read the instructions for the source to see how close to the substrate it must be. UVB is essential so your tort can process dietary calcium and have healthy bones and shell. This must also be on for 12-14 hours.

Both 1 and 2 are available from the sun for those able to live outside.

UVB does not pass through glass or perspex(plexiglass) - light must be direct to be effective not through a window. Mesh screening can also interfere with UVB.

3. A minimum overnight temperature (see the care sheet for your species) and complete darkness at night to sleep.


Notes

(a) A Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) provides combined UVB and Basking. Alternatively you can use 2 bulbs: a tube UVB and a reflector bulb for basking (a household reflector - not low energy or halogen - from a hardware store will do the job; it's the wattage that counts) It must not be used with a thermostat, rheostat or dimmer.

(b) Ignore any references to UVA you may read - it's misleading marketing speak.

(c) Compact coil UVB harms tortoise eyes and must not be used.

(d) Basking and UVB should be on a timer so the light(s) are on for 12 hours a day. Temperature under the basking is regulated by its height above the substrate.

(e) Overnight, depending on your home, you may need additional heat. You get this from a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) which must be on a thermostat.

(f) Torts have outstanding colour vision and love red and purple food. Coloured heat lamps colour tank decor and torts don't always apply intelligence to what they eat, resulting them in eating tank decor. Coloured bulbs should not be used.


Measurements

There are 4 important temperatures that you must know for an indoor enclosure.
- Directly under the basking lamp
- Warm side
- Cool side
- Overnight Minimum

You will need digital thermometers for accuracy.

A temperature gun thermometer (inexpensive from Amazon) measures temperature accurately in specific places like directly under the basking lamp.

A min/max thermometer so you know the min/max temperatures in your home by day and night.

You should also get a good digital probe hygrometer to measure humidity.

Thermometers and hygrometer that stick to the side of the enclosure tend to be less accurate.
 

MatthewMTB

New Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
Pennsylvania
Hello and welcome to TFO. Before you buy anything, I recommend you read and reread the TFO care guides and compare them with your intended setup. We are happy to advise before you buy :)

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Most pet stores in the US sell wild caught sub adults, but in case you’re going to a breeder for a baby then read this too:

Baby Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

With regard to lighting, your tort needs:

1. A basking lamp
This must hang vertically, not at an angle. Basking is essential to raise your tortoise's core temperature so it can digest food. This must be on continuously for 12-14 hours and must not be used with a thermostat.

2. UVB light
Read the instructions for the source to see how close to the substrate it must be. UVB is essential so your tort can process dietary calcium and have healthy bones and shell. This must also be on for 12-14 hours.

Both 1 and 2 are available from the sun for those able to live outside.

UVB does not pass through glass or perspex(plexiglass) - light must be direct to be effective not through a window. Mesh screening can also interfere with UVB.

3. A minimum overnight temperature (see the care sheet for your species) and complete darkness at night to sleep.


Notes

(a) A Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) provides combined UVB and Basking. Alternatively you can use 2 bulbs: a tube UVB and a reflector bulb for basking (a household reflector - not low energy or halogen - from a hardware store will do the job; it's the wattage that counts) It must not be used with a thermostat, rheostat or dimmer.

(b) Ignore any references to UVA you may read - it's misleading marketing speak.

(c) Compact coil UVB harms tortoise eyes and must not be used.

(d) Basking and UVB should be on a timer so the light(s) are on for 12 hours a day. Temperature under the basking is regulated by its height above the substrate.

(e) Overnight, depending on your home, you may need additional heat. You get this from a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) which must be on a thermostat.

(f) Torts have outstanding colour vision and love red and purple food. Coloured heat lamps colour tank decor and torts don't always apply intelligence to what they eat, resulting them in eating tank decor. Coloured bulbs should not be used.


Measurements

There are 4 important temperatures that you must know for an indoor enclosure.
- Directly under the basking lamp
- Warm side
- Cool side
- Overnight Minimum

You will need digital thermometers for accuracy.

A temperature gun thermometer (inexpensive from Amazon) measures temperature accurately in specific places like directly under the basking lamp.

A min/max thermometer so you know the min/max temperatures in your home by day and night.

You should also get a good digital probe hygrometer to measure humidity.

Thermometers and hygrometer that stick to the side of the enclosure tend to be less accurate.
Hi! Thank you for replying, this really helped me!
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,042
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
(b) Ignore any references to UVA you may read - it's misleading marketing speak.

.

UVA should not be ignored. UVA is part of the visual spectrum for tortoises and they use that increased light sensitivity to judge their world. It is a big part of circannual rhythms. It changes the way things look and is a key part to identifying foods and social interactions. When providing UVB, the UVA part is visible to the tortoise and helps them see where to bask and how to judge intensity. Artificial sources of UVB for reptiles all should provide about 5-6 times the UVA as UVB in my opinion. Natural sunlight has about 20 times the UVA as UVB. Etc, etc, etc....
 

TortoiseRacket

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2018
Messages
259
Location (City and/or State)
New York
UVA should not be ignored. UVA is part of the visual spectrum for tortoises and they use that increased light sensitivity to judge their world. It is a big part of circannual rhythms. It changes the way things look and is a key part to identifying foods and social interactions. When providing UVB, the UVA part is visible to the tortoise and helps them see where to bask and how to judge intensity. Artificial sources of UVB for reptiles all should provide about 5-6 times the UVA as UVB in my opinion. Natural sunlight has about 20 times the UVA as UVB. Etc, etc, etc....
Most Basking bulbs by zoo med provide UVA. Hope that helped
-Mickey
 

Oogway the russian tort

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2016
Messages
224
The Zoo med powersun provides both uvs and heat. I use the powersun with a outdoor lamps from Homedepot/Lowes, with a halogen basking lamp, and a Zoomed light fixture with the Repti sun uvb/uva/led.
 
Top