Zoo med power sun alternative
- Thread starter Nrc470
- Start date
Better to use a less desiccating lower wattage flood bulb from the hardware store and a HO florescent tube for UV and light.
Without a UV meter, there is no way to know what any MVB is doing.
Without a UV meter, there is no way to know what any MVB is doing.
Depends on the height you want to mount it.
I love the Arcadia bulbs you posted, but they make very strong UV. They need to be mounted at least 18" and 22-24" when new and used with a reflector hood. They also last for years. Mine give a UV index reading of 6-7 at about 20" high, and that is very strong UV. I have them on timers to come on for 3-4 hours mid day to simulate the UV spike that occurs outside daily.
For closer mountings, the ZooMed 10.0 HO bulbs are also very good.
In either case I highly recommend a UV meter to check the bulb's status and make sure you have the correct amount of UV reaching your tortoises. This is the meter to get: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65r.html
I usually use 65 watt floods, but it depends on your application and mounting height. In my new 18" tall closed chambers the 65s were too hot. I had to go down to 39 watt regular round bulbs. In most cases the 65 watt bulbs work well. I adjust their height to get the correct temperature under them.
Be sure that you aren’t housing them together. Tortoises are completely solitary, and can’t make friends. They only see other tortoises as mates or combatants
Ah, okay!
