Help with Heating, and also uploading photos

Joined
Jun 28, 2019
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32
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
You'll need a thermostat to run it through to make sure it doesn't get too hot or cold.
I use something like this but there are lots of different sorts available.
images

Thanks!

What is all of this attached to?

I have (two) hygrometers coming (one for each end of the enclosure). It'll be a bit before they get here but there is a therm strip on the tank for the moment.
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Messages
32
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
This is an example of a MVB lamp - available in different watts. They need a wide dome with a ceramic bulb holder.

images


This a ceramic heating element for night use and additional heat when needed, I also is a wide dome and ceramic fixture for this. Can also be white or cream.
images

I've never seen the Arcadia brand. That looks like something I'd prefer for a couple areas of the tank. I'm considering an under tank heat mat (or side, whatever)
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Messages
32
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
This is an example of a MVB lamp - available in different watts. They need a wide dome with a ceramic bulb holder.

images


This a ceramic heating element for night use and additional heat when needed, I also is a wide dome and ceramic fixture for this. Can also be white or cream.
images


Funny, I decided to look up that Arcadia lamp, realized it was from the UK, but didn't know that you were till now.
 

2turtletom

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5 Year Member
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Akron, Ohio
Hi, All!!

First, I'm having the most difficult time trying to understand how much wattage I need for Petey, my Home's Hingeback. I have him in a 55 gallon tank with a domed fixture. I will be purchasing a better clamp lamp, and I don't have the proper bulb but need one asap; I really need insight on the correct size. I'm leaning toward 25w, but do I need larger? I will also be purchasing a heat emitter for the opposite side of the tank, which is where his hide is located. Anything you can do to guide me would be most appreciated, and if you could help me understand how it works (how you came up with the bulb size), that would be great as well. I don't have to worry too much (that I'm aware) that he needs humidity because he's pretty good at tipping his water/bath on a consistent basis. I wipe it out so it's not soaking, but eventually it dries and, in the meantime, the process of tipping starts all over again. I always have water in there one way or another. I will be purchasing a hygrometer and something better to identify temperature.

The other thing is, I cannot seem to get my photos of Petey to load.

Sorry for the book, but I want to get this correct.

Thanks!

Lisa

In general, Home's hingebacks don't need any extra heat AT ALL. I keep mine perfectly fine at room temperature- as long as they can get to 75 degrees, that's about the max temperatures mine experience. What most people do with Homeana is keep them WAY TOO HOT, and they end up drying them out and dehydrating them to death. Keepers think they need heat and light, when what they really need is humidity, water, and shadows.

Here's my five-step guide to keeping Kinixys homeana:

https://hingeback.blogspot.com/2019/10/help-my-homes-hingeback-tortoise-is.html

Finally, can the moderators help me understand why I didn't receive an alert for this post in the hingeback group? Was it because this was posted in another forum and moved to the hingeback forum? Thanks!

Cheers,

-Tom
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Messages
32
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
In general, Home's hingebacks don't need any extra heat AT ALL. I keep mine perfectly fine at room temperature- as long as they can get to 75 degrees, that's about the max temperatures mine experience. What most people do with Homeana is keep them WAY TOO HOT, and they end up drying them out and dehydrating them to death. Keepers think they need heat and light, when what they really need is humidity, water, and shadows.

Here's my five-step guide to keeping Kinixys homeana:

https://hingeback.blogspot.com/2019/10/help-my-homes-hingeback-tortoise-is.html

Finally, can the moderators help me understand why I didn't receive an alert for this post in the hingeback group? Was it because this was posted in another forum and moved to the hingeback forum? Thanks!

Cheers,

-Tom[/QUOT

Hi,

Well, now I'm a bit confused. I thought they needed special lighting for prevention of bone disease, and help with calcium? And that UVB/A bulbs help with the colorblindness?

I'm def keeping the habitat hydrated and he has a large bowl (hopefully later update to a larger one in which to swim) where he can soak. I spray the bark (whatever it's called to keep it moist), and it keeps good moisture. I'm considering getting coconut fiber substrate to help with hydration as well).

I put in a bulb today which covers all the bases--heat, UVB/UVA, and basking. It provided a cozy temp and made his bath water, like bath water. I'll more regulate the air if I see the temp get too high. It stayed between 80-84, and moist.

Lisa
 

2turtletom

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5 Year Member
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324
Location (City and/or State)
Akron, Ohio

Well, I'm not sure what you mean about colorblindness. Could you talk a little bit more about that?

80-84 degrees is definitely on the high end of the range, and what I have found it is very challenging to keep humidity up at those temperatures, especially if you are using an open enclosure. Could you describe your setup a little more? In general, I would recommend flourescent UVB options for Kinixys homeana and not heat lights, as they don't like bright lights at all. Make sure the enclosure has very shady spots in addition to bright areas is my recommendation.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
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Well, I'm not sure what you mean about colorblindness. Could you talk a little bit more about that?

80-84 degrees is definitely on the high end of the range, and what I have found it is very challenging to keep humidity up at those temperatures, especially if you are using an open enclosure. Could you describe your setup a little more? In general, I would recommend flourescent UVB options for Kinixys homeana and not heat lights, as they don't like bright lights at all. Make sure the enclosure has very shady spots in addition to bright areas is my recommendation.

I'm unsure about the colorblindness, except that I have read it on a couple of sites with regard to the uvb/uva lighting.

As far as the enclosure. It's a 4' x 20" (and I can't remember how tall) tank. I have a huge 15 1/2" hide (from previous owner) on one end of the tank (which takes up most of the depth), which he utilizes off and on. Toward the side of the hide, I place his shallow food dish. Toward the middle right of the enclosure, I have the bulb. On the far right, I have a water bath bowl large enough for him to soak (which he goes in every day, for the most part). I'm able to open the curtain and he gets nice, natural sun/light (which he likes to be near). I spray him, and the enclosure, especially underneath the bulb. The bulb is closer (but not directly over) the water bath so that helps with humidity, and warms it up, as well.
 

2turtletom

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5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2018
Messages
324
Location (City and/or State)
Akron, Ohio
A warm bulb does not help with humidity....it Actually does the opposite...it reduces the relative humidity of the air in the enclosure.. As the temperature warms, the relative humidity drops because warm air can hold more water vapor than colder air.

A Homeana that is constantly in the water is a good indicator that is being kept too warm in my experience.
 
Joined
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Messages
32
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
A warm bulb does not help with humidity....it Actually does the opposite...it reduces the relative humidity of the air in the enclosure.. As the temperature warms, the relative humidity drops because warm air can hold more water vapor than colder air.

A Homeana that is constantly in the water is a good indicator that is being kept too warm in my experience.

I didn't mean to imply that He is constantly in the water, just that he likes to go in their every day (which he did even before I put in the new bulb. I'm also not saying I'm using the bulb for humidity. I tried to say that the bulb over the bath helps with humidity, as well as the warming of the areas I sprayed. I have an area where I can reduce/increase the amount of heat which remains in the enclosure. I'll be getting a hygrometer to check the humidity levels.

Thanks for all your help.
 

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