Please give me some advice (new)

[Coconut0000]

Hi, I have an 3 inch Indian star tortoise. Set up in a 2 ft fish tank with corn bedding. Have to lamp clip, 1 is for heat and the other for uvb. Am staying in Singapore so just want to check what watt to get for heat and uvb bulb from exo terra brand? I have been googling on the web to find more info but each time different answer so I'm confused. As Singapore weather is quite hot so do heat bulb really a need for her? And how long for the lights to be on. I really hope that u can guys can offer some advice so that I can provide the best care for her. Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

A young tortoise needs humidity and a moist substrate, and corn bedding can't offer that. Change to coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark. You can read the care sheet for leopard tortoises, as the care for your tortoise is similar:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

Doesn't matter that the weather is hot or not. The tortoise still needs a basking spot, so he still needs the heat light. I keep my lights on 14 hours a day. I like the 100 watt mercury vapor bulb because it provides heat and UVB all in one bulb.

 

[Coconut0000]

A young tortoise needs humidity and a moist substrate, and corn bedding can't offer that. Change to coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark. You can read the care sheet for leopard tortoises, as the care for your tortoise is similar:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

Doesn't matter that the weather is hot or not. The tortoise still needs a basking spot, so he still needs the heat light. I keep my lights on 14 hours a day. I like the 100 watt mercury vapor bulb because it provides heat and UVB all in one bulb.

Hi thanks for the fast reply. Can u recommend me exo terra products for heat and uvb bulb? Coz over here this products more easy to get it. And the duration for these 2 bulb? Is it on together or? Actually quite worried it may be too hot as currently I have a 75 watts heat bulb and 150 watt for uvb both from exo terra but the duration I'm still not sure.

 

[Yvonne G]

You can use this one for UVB:

https://www.chewy.com/exo-terra-100...DBdU8NF7xFEsSQtgV6q56GIwkArnuKLiS8aAjN68P8HAQ

...and this one for heat:

https://www.chewy.com/exo-terra-day...espj55IN3U8yyTuPpnRtH6bGmtRqaecJrMaAnTV8P8HAQ

(except the 25 watt might not be hot enough)

The UVB bulb shown in my link doesn't provide any heat. You can either use it all day (14 hours) or turn it on for a couple hours around noon. The heat bulb would be on 14 hours a day.

If you have a 150 watt UVB bulb, you don't need the 75 watt heat bulb. The 150 watt bulb is providing the heat. and you would keep it on for 14 hours a day.

 

[Coconut0000]

Hi I finally found the pic of the bulb that I have purchase. Sorry, I think previously my info wrong. Can u pls advise me again. Do I carry on using these 2 bulb or buy another 2 to replace. And the duration pls. Thanks a lot

 

[Coconut0000]

This is the uvb

 

[JoesMum]

Your basking spot in the first picture is good, but be sure to measure the temperature underneath it accurately as you don't want to burn your tortoise.

Your UVB in the second picture is not good. It is the compact type that harms the eyes of tortoises. It needs to be replaced with a long tube type UVB lamp.

 

[Coconut0000]

but is it ok if I change to 75w intense basking spot, same as the pic but diff is up to 75w? As I have another bulb for this so u mean I have to get another uvb bulb? Can I use another not so high watt for uvb as I don't have a holder for the long type

 

[JoesMum]

You could take both bulbs out and use a 75W Mercury Vapour Bulb (MVB) instead.

The MVB is a combined bulb that will give you both basking heat and UVB.

 

[Coconut0000]

Where can I get this bulb?

 

[Coconut0000]

Found it! Same brand exo terra, the duration for the bulb to be on and the height for the bulb to be install?

 

[JoesMum]

Where can I get this bulb?

Do you have access to a pet store or online shops like Amazon? The shop that sold you the compact UVB bulb may also sell MVB bulbs.

If your tort gets to go outside for one hour a day in a safe outdoor enclosure then you can just take the UVB bulb out and not replace it.

 

[Coconut0000]

Is this the 1? Mvb bulb?

 

[JoesMum]

Is this the 1? Mvb bulb?

Perfect

 

[Coconut0000]

On for 14 hours? But I can't find 75w only have 80w and above. And the height to fix up the light?

 

[JoesMum]

On for 14 hours? But I can't find 75w only have 80w and above. And the height to fix up the light?

The lamp needs to be on for 12-14 hours.

I can't tell you an exact height for it. You need to adjust the height so you have the correct basking temperature directly underneath it. (I am not sure what that is for your tortoise. Probably 30-35C)

 

[BrianWI]

Here is what I do...

I have 2 uvb coil bulb like yours. They are safe. One on cool side, one on the warm. On the warm side I have a CHE on a thermostat (and small under tank heater to bump up humidity and keep hide warm at night). Using the separate heat and uvb lights is more versatile for me, may be for you , too.

 

[Tom]

I have 2 uvb coil bulb like yours. They are safe.

No they are not safe. You just haven't experienced a bad one yet.

(and small under tank heater to bump up humidity and keep hide warm at night).

These aren't safe either. Many tortoises are burned by them. If you want to risk your tortoise, that's your deal, but recommended that others do it is a different thing entirely.

 

[BrianWI]

No they are not safe. You just haven't experienced a bad one yet.



These aren't safe either. Many tortoises are burned by them. If you want to risk your tortoise, that's your deal, but recommended that others do it is a different thing entirely.

No, you just have bad data. Safe.

Burned by a 5 Watt under tank heater thru 5 inches of substrate? You must have big Watts where you are LOL!

 

[BrianWI]

No they are not safe. You just haven't experienced a bad one yet.



These aren't safe either. Many tortoises are burned by them. If you want to risk your tortoise, that's your deal, but recommended that others do it is a different thing entirely.

I thought about it a bit. I will concede perhaps YOU cannot use CFLs and under tank heaters safely. Beyond that, we will have to disagree.

Heck, people burn their torts with CHEs, too. I suppose any heat source can be dangerous if not used properly. Lighting, too, for that matter. What I will do is help people use these great tools safely and effectively. You can scream "Danger"! I suppose there will be some that will find each approach useful. No insult intended.