Ryan L.
Member
I found these light tubes.
I found these light bulbs.
I found these light bulbs.
Anything wrong?
- Thread starter Ryan L.
- Start date
Ryan L.
Member
are they ok? or do you recommend others?
The first one is the best for UV. Follow the directions on the package for mounting height.I found these light tubes.
I found these light bulbs.
The second one produces almost no UV and is a waste of money.
The third link is an MVB and those will worsen the pyramiding. Do not buy.
The fourth link is a CHE and with the use of a thermostat, those can be good for maintaining night heat and daytime ambient.
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Ryan L.
Member
ok. thanks!
Ryan L.
Member
do you think I should need more lights? if yes, what light and any recommendations?
- There are four elements to heating and lighting:
- Basking bulb. I use 65 watt floods from the hardware store. I run them on a timer and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. You can mount a fixture on the ceiling, or hang a dome lamp from the ceiling. Go lower or higher wattage if this makes the enclosure too hot or not warm enough. Do not use "spot" bulbs, mercury vapor bulbs or halogen bulbs because these bulbs are overly desiccating and cause pyramiding even in good living conditions.
- Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species like sulcatas or leopards. I like this thermostat: https://www.lllreptile.com/products/13883-zilla-1000-watt-temperature-controller. Put the probe in the coolest corner away from all heating elements. You may need more than one heating element to spread the heat out for a given enclosure.
- Light. I use florescent tubes for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most tubes at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. I've been using LEDs lately and they are great, and run cooler than a florescent. This can be set on the same timer as the basking bulb.
- UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. If you want it anyway, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. I like the ZooMed 10.0 HO, and the Arcadia 12% HO. Which type will depend on mounting height. It helps to have a UV meter to test and see what your bulb is actually putting out at your mounting height. Plexi-glass or screen tops will filter out some or all of the UV produced by your bulb.
