UVB-HOUSEHOLD=HELP

[tyler0912]

i have a redfooted tortoise and i need a uvb bulb i am a 13 year old boy who cant just pull £30 out of my back pocket...
is there any house-hold bulbs that give off enough uvb lighting for my tortoise that i can use? PLEASE X

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't keep redfoot tortoises, so I may not have the correct scoop for you, however from reading the forum I THINK that redfoots are able to get some of their vitamin d from their food, so a really good, expensive UV light isn't all that important. Some people use the tube lights for their redfoot tortoises. Send a PM to TerryO. I believe she uses a tube light for her redfoots.

 

[bikerchicspain]

I use tube lights for Redfoots at work and they work fine for me. They are situated about 60cm from the floor and they are changed every 6 months.
They are cheaper than the full pectrum mercury bulbs.

what sort of setup do you have?

 

[LindaF]

I use an Exo Terra ReptiGlo 5.0 UVB 24" strip bulb. It gives off no heat, but is my UVB source.

 

[tyler0912]

I have a Tortoise table quite basic- shelter,fakeplants(2),waterbowl,food bowl,basking bulb,2 types of bark substrate,rocks for climbing.
This is not my exact table but this is the sameone but i have put a plastic covering over mine seethrough to keep in humidity...which keeps it at about 96%
Here not my exact table but the same:

http://www.skypetproducts.com/images/Tortoise.Animal Table 100.jpg
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/images/P/tortoise-table.jpg

Mylamp-

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/img/shop/original/exo_terra_glow_light_main.jpg
http://www.thepetshopuk.co.uk/images/lhg014.jpg

Mybulb-
http://www.thepetexpress.co.uk/imag...Wdlcy9wcm9kdWN0cy9oYWdlbi8xMzk5OC5qcGc=&w=300
http://www.aquariumsuperstore.co.uk/images/exoterrainfraredheat100wlarge.gif

Mysubstrate-
http://www.bitsforpets.com/images/images_big/resized/zoomed-repti-bark-4q_pic1.jpg

sorry cant get my actual pics x
http://www.bitsforpets.com/images/images_big/resized/zoomed-repti-bark-4q_pic1.jpg

 

[bikerchicspain]

I hope that your UV is on the inside of the pen, as UV cannot be filtered through plastic or glass, You would just be waisting money and time on lighting and calcuim..

I love the tort table though, It is pretty much the same as mine, but mine is a 150cm long rabbit cage with a ceramic heater and a mercury flood lamp.
To make life easier i made a piece of wood with wheels on it and ive got the cage on that so i can wheel them outside when its not too cold.

What species do you have?

 

[tyler0912]

yes it is on the inside i started taking the plastic off the cage anyway and spray her a couple more times a day.....
She is a redfooted tortoise i called her lola.....
and i like the rabbit cage idea.... post pictures?

 

[bikerchicspain]

I got the rabbit cage because it was alot cheaper than a tort table, The cage cost me 70euro of the internet and a tort table was coming in at double that, Then i just put the heating and lighting on the inside of the grills. so easy to clean just pull the tray out empty and clean....
I will try and get some pics to you soon..

If you can get the tube light low enough that should be fine, Just write down the day you put it in so that you will know when it needs to be change, at work i write it on the tube with a marker pen..

 

[Madkins007]

Almost all animals need vitamin D to properly metabolize calcium, as well as helping with other things, like building proper nerves and muscles. Vitamin D can come from the sun, certain kinds of light bulbs, vitamin supplements, some meats and eggs, and wild mushrooms.

However, UV lighting itself is also important for proper development. It helps the eyes, deep brain glands, metabolism, and more.

Plain sunlight is best. If you can get them out in sunlight that is strong enough to give you a tan, and that does not go through any glass or plastic (or, for that matter, fine screens, etc.) for about an hour a week spread over a few sessions, then that pretty much takes care of the UV needs for all aspects. Mercury Vapor Bulbs tuned to emit UVB are pretty good but not perfect, and rather costly.

If you need to do SUPER cheap, consider a cheapo 'black light bulb', which you can often find for a couple dollars (US). They DO NOT emit the right kind of UV light (UVB) for calcium use, but do emit some of the UVA stuff for the eyes, deep brain glands, etc. You would need to add some vitamin D to the diet to make sure they get enough of that. You can get vitamin D tablets at the local chemists (did I use that term properly? In the US we would say 'drugstore'.) There is a chart of dosages of both vitamin D and calcium at http://www.tortoiselibrary.com/nutguide.html

There are other bulbs that can work that are not too expensive, but there is much debate about how effective they are. It does not make a lot of sense to spend a chunk of money on a bulb that you would STILL need to supplement with vitamin D.

 

[tyler0912]

Thanks alot madkins i'll look into a blacklightbulb...and yes it is a chemist over her could you post pictures of your torts and setups and whenever it is a nice day she is roaming our garden for as long as possible as she cannot escape here are some pics of my setup and my tort...

Cage consists of- water bowl,i dont keep her food bowl inthere for more space,pebbles,bark substrate,cuttlefish,hide, 2 fake plants and a tortoise
The light is a "EXO TERRA" 100w Infared tight beam basking bulb.....
Thank-you

---

My computer is acting up atm so i was unable to put the pictures on sorry....i will try again later on today but yes.^^^^

 

[Mean Guy]

Is the bark sub too loose for the tort? Anyone? My Russian has a mix of organic compost, fir bark (also called orchid bark) and coconut coir. Help him keep decent footing and avoid leg weakness, and permanent leg damage. The organic compost and coconut coir are very inexpensive, and hold moisture very well, but someone else who is more knowledgeable about the redfoots and their moisture needs can help with that.