Jan A
Well-Known Member
As a newer member without a tort, the newest aspect of concerns about UVB lighting is (1) certain brands don't work or work for only a short period of time & then fail, (2) cannot be measured as to output without a guage, (3) may be responsible for harming the the tort's eyes or causing the tort's shell to dry out & cause pyramiding, & (4) may be unnecessary if your tort can be outside for an hour or so in sunlight 3 or 4 times/week. If you look thru some recent threads, you will see a debate ongoing about UVB lighting among several owners, including Tom, about new recommendations regarding UVB.Ok, I am very confused. Everywhere else I see says I need uva light but "Tom" says it I bad to have it. I will add a cover, top layer of cypress mulch and a better uvb bulb, but I am still confused on lighting.
With respect to keeping temps & humidity up in indoor enclosures, especially for hatchlings & young torts, Tom's right. In any climate with colder temps, you can't with open enclosures. Again, look thru the recent threads. There are many owners who use a greenhouse tent over the open enclosure, mount their lights, etc., for cheap buying the tent on Amazon.
There are all kinds of ways to get thru the care sheets & make adjustments, & almost everyone on this site has done it or this forum would not be here. They do it & they talk about what works & what doesn't work. We support each other all around the world.
Do the very best you can do for your tort & offer him the best care you can. The care sheets represent the very best & current info we have, put together by owners & breeders with years & years of experience. And all of it is subject to factors like your climate, your home, your family, other animals you own, your job, your health & everything going on in your life.
Use the forum for questions. Look on Craigslist for used equipment. There are ways to get done what you want to get done, so don't be discouraged. There are people to bounce things off of & think things thru here. We are here to help.