Do I need more lights?

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
We have had Mikey for a week today and he, by far, is the coolest pet we've ever had. He still hasn't eaten and isnt active unless he's moved so I can soak him or put him in another area of his encloser. I have been reading some things about spot lights or floods lights to help get your tort up and going if the area they are kept is to dark. He is in the back bedroom in an L shaped enclosure that is 2.5 x 6 and 2.5 by 7. There is a 13 watt UVB at each end and one has a basking light next to it? His enclosure is relatively bright but should it have more lighting? I'm trying not to panic but him not eating is starting to worry me (although they go for weeks without food during hibernation) Please help lol
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
It looks like you may have Compact Coiled bulb UV lighting.
Many times it is those bulbs that stress tortoises into not eating, hiding, wiping the eyes and even blindness.
So from what I can see or think I see. You need different lights. Not more lights.
You need strip florescent tube lights
 

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
It looks like you may have Compact Coiled bulb UV lighting.
Many times it is those bulbs that stress tortoises into not eating, hiding, wiping the eyes and even blindness.
So from what I can see or think I see. You need different lights. Not more lights.
You need strip florescent tube lights
ok, I have heard that and have been looking for other bulbs but wasn't sure what to get. I can't find a UVB that isn't coiled, any suggestions (or is that the florescent?)
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
ok, I have heard that and have been looking for other bulbs but wasn't sure what to get. I can't find a UVB that isn't coiled, any suggestions (or is that the florescent?)
The "problem" UV lights are the ones that screw in like a light bulb.
They're called compact UV bulbs
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
These 18" fixtures I got at Home Depot.
Walmart had them cheaper.
They're called "under cabinet" lights.
Just toss out the tube that they come with and put a reptile tube in there. They are effective for about 6 months.
These are 5.0
I believe you're going to want 10.0 for a Russian
 

Attachments

  • 20190922_130710.jpg
    20190922_130710.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 24
  • 20190922_161912.jpg
    20190922_161912.jpg
    3.2 MB · Views: 23
  • 20190922_193238.jpg
    20190922_193238.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 24

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
These 18" fixtures I got at Home Depot.
Walmart had them cheaper.
They're called "under cabinet" lights.
Just toss out the tube that they come with and put a reptile tube in there. They are effective for about 6 months.
These are 5.0
I believe you're going to want 10.0 for a Russian
thank you!!! id that the same as a UVB?
 

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
These 18" fixtures I got at Home Depot.
Walmart had them cheaper.
They're called "under cabinet" lights.
Just toss out the tube that they come with and put a reptile tube in there. They are effective for about 6 months.
These are 5.0
I believe you're going to want 10.0 for a Russian
thank you so much!! this has been the hardest, most confusing part of all this, I feel like such a dunce being confused over light bulbs‍♀️
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
You can usually find the correct strip florescent lights at larger pet shops that are complete with the fixture and the tube. They cost a bit more. But they're ready to plug in and use.
Just stop the use of the coiled bulbs immediately and see if your tortoise doesn't start to act better in 24 hours.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
ok, I have heard that and have been looking for other bulbs but wasn't sure what to get. I can't find a UVB that isn't coiled, any suggestions (or is that the florescent?)
Yes
The florescent tubes in the photo are examples of some common UVB tubes.
The long tubes give off UVB in a better way than the compacts do. I use the 18" ones because of the low price and high availability.
We have multiple conversations about coiled bulbs daily here.
 

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
Don't feel that way.
Almost every pet shop sells those horrible bulbs.
its ridiculous, I asked if they had any that weren't coiled and they just stand there and stare. I'd love to open a reptile only supply store, that would solve so many problems lol. Going to get those in the next couple days
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
Tell the (new) place you want an 18" 10.0 florescent light for your reptile.
Or just Google it and get one on Ebay.
Remember that you need the light fixture AND the tube. They sell separately or you can find them together.
Your Russian will be fine during those 4 days.
 

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
Tell the (new) place you want an 18" 10.0 florescent light for your reptile.
Or just Google it and get one on Ebay.
Remember that you need the light fixture AND the tube. They sell separately or you can find them together.
Your Russian will be fine during those 4 days.
they may sell the bulbs at the pet store I go to and they will match Amazon prices.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
The fixture that holds the tubes looks like this.
You need both parts.
You can suspend it over the enclosure with little chains or some wire.
 

Attachments

  • 20190922_161912.jpg
    20190922_161912.jpg
    3.2 MB · Views: 8

Kylee L.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
337
Location (City and/or State)
Jacksonville, FL
The fixture that holds the tubes looks like this.
You need both parts.
You can suspend it over the enclosure with little chains or some wire.
just found both on Amazon , the bulb is just over $17 and so is the fixture. His enclosure has wire like shelves over parts for plants and things I'f the bulbs don't get to hot I may be able to just set them on the top?
 

New Posts

Top