Do I Need All This In My Enclosure?

2angelous7

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I'm planning everything out before I buy my Golden Greek Tortoise. This is the list I made of things I need. Am I missing anything? Do I need all of this?

1. tank (turtle table or large storage bin)
2. Water dish (large and shallow)
3. Food dish
4. Den (somewhere to hide under)
5. UVA basking light (NO coil type bulb) (HOW MANY WATTS?)
6. UVB bulb (strip or not) (HOW MANY WATTS?)
7. Thermometer and Hygrometer (do I NEED one?)
8. CHE (is this one good?)
http://www.petco.com/product/5003/Zoo-Med-Repticare-Ceramic-Infrared-Heat-Emitters.aspx
9. Bedding (coconut coir)
 
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wellington

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I wouldn't waist money on a tank. Go with the other items.for water and food dish, use a clay plant saucer that goes under flower pots for water and they can be used for food dishes too and helps to keep beak trimmed at the same time. The uvb/uvb bulbs should be able to be one bulb. The CHE is a great item for night heat, the one you listed is fine. The temp and humiditg gauge, get a good one from a Home Depot or hardware store. Not those cheap puck type ones. A point and shoot temp gun is also a great item to have, also from Home Depot or a hardware store.
 

2angelous7

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I wouldn't waist money on a tank. Go with the other items.for water and food dish, use a clay plant saucer that goes under flower pots for water and they can be used for food dishes too and helps to keep beak trimmed at the same time. The uvb/uvb bulbs should be able to be one bulb. The CHE is a great item for night heat, the one you listed is fine. The temp and humiditg gauge, get a good one from a Home Depot or hardware store. Not those cheap puck type ones. A point and shoot temp gun is also a great item to have, also from Home Depot or a hardware store.
Great Thanks! Do you know any good lamps where the UVB and UVA are in one bulb?
 

tortdad

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Great Thanks! Do you know any good lamps where the UVB and UVA are in one bulb?
mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) is an all in one bulb. Does heat, light and UVB....us this with the CHE and youre golden...FYI A CHE needs to be used with a reptile thermostat to be most effective
 

wellington

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Agree with tortdad listed above. The fixtures for the Che and the mob are cheaper at a hardware store or a Home Depot and make sure they have a ceramic socket, not plastic or metal.
 

Yvonne G

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Does this sound good for an all in one?
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Sun-Force-Mercury-Vapor-Bulbs

Also does this also count as a basking bulb or do I need a separate one? How many Watts do I need?

It's a brand I've never heard of. The popular MVBs usually cost around $50, and this one, besides being out of stock, is only $30, which makes me wonder if its any good.

The MVB is also a basking bulb. It is the only light you need for day time. The CHE is for night time. This is the MVB I use:

upload_2015-8-20_14-6-52.jpeg


I use the 100 watt bulb for all my tort tables. But you may need something bigger depending upon the size of your table.
 

Lyn W

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You may want to get a thermostat to run the che through - it will turn it on and off as required to stop it getting too hot or cold.
The mvb doesn't work with a thermostat as there is a delay after being switched off then on again.

Re the domes for mvb and che I have read somewhere here that the deep domes can make the bulbs etc overheat and burn out but someone with experience of it will have to advise about that.
 

2angelous7

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You may want to get a thermostat to run the che through - it will turn it on and off as required to stop it getting too hot or cold.
The mvb doesn't work with a thermostat as there is a delay after being switched off then on again.

Re the domes for mvb and che I have read somewhere here that the deep domes can make the bulbs etc overheat and burn out but someone with experience of it will have to advise about that.
so with the thermostat the CHE will manually turn on and off?
 

Lyn W

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so with the thermostat the CHE will manually turn on and off?
You plug the che into the thermostat, set the required temp on it - it has a probe. The probe is inside the enclosure and the thermostat will switch the che on/off when it detects if a drop or rise above the set temp.
Great for night use when the mvb goes off (torts need darkness to sleep) and also for additional heat if required - the thermostat looks after it.
 

2angelous7

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You plug the che into the thermostat, set the required temp on it which has a probe. The probe is inside the enclosure and the thermostat will switch the che on/off when it detects if a drop or rise above the set temp.
Great for night use when the mvb goes off (torts need darkness to sleep) and also for additional heat if required - the thermostat looks after it.
Thanks, I will make sure to do that :) :p
 

Lyn W

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Thanks, I will make sure to do that :) :p
They are not cheap I gave about £35 in Uk for mine but well worth it to make sure our babies don't over heat!

Another tip I've picked up from the forums is that it is better to hang the mvb and che over the viv/tables etc rather than clamp them on the sides as the clamps have been known to fail which could be a fire hazard.
It is also easier to raise/lower the MVB to adjust the temp as needed
 

2angelous7

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Oh wow, that's pretty expensive! I'll still get it tho because it's important. Last question!: How many thermometers do I need through out the enclosure?
 

Lyn W

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Oh wow, that's pretty expensive! I'll still get it tho because it's important. Last question!: How many thermometers do I need through out the enclosure?
It depends on the size of your enclosure I suppose but most people use a good combined digital temp/humidity gauge and a temp gun to spot check areas. I think in the US hardware stores, Lowes, Walmart etc stock them. If you find them andpost pics someone will tell you which are best.
 

teresaf

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Also if you're going to have A bunch of flat rocks Or paving stones you can feed him on that. you would need the food dish. I use a dish for my small tortoises because I have to cut their food up but my large leopard I don't. I feed him on a paving stone.
 

teresaf

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Ugh! Ya, probably. I don't have that type tort but I think most need calcium supplements. Get the powder kind with D3 if not going to be outside much. Cuttle bones are relatively inexpensive... There may be more supplements needed. Keep asking around...


Love your avatar picture!
 
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