Hi everyone! I just left to New York for 2 days and I kept the basking light on because I don’t want my tortoise to be cold. I’m really scared the light bulb will catch fire. Is there any chance that will happen or will the basking light just shut off? Cheers!!
Basking light
- Thread starter Patryk
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Is there a reason you're worried about a fire? I've never heard of a light bulb just bursting into flames. But if a basking bulb fell into the substrate, it certainly could start a fire. This has happened to members here.
What kind of basking bulb are you using? One like a reptile spot basking bulb? Or an incandescent flood light?
How is the light secured? Hung from a bar or something overhead? A clamp with a dome? A stand of some kind?
What kind of basking bulb are you using? One like a reptile spot basking bulb? Or an incandescent flood light?
How is the light secured? Hung from a bar or something overhead? A clamp with a dome? A stand of some kind?
It’s hanged from this metal plate there so chance of it falling down I’m just worried if it’s on long it will burst into flames
- Joined
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- Location (City and/or State)
- Low desert 50 mi SE of Palm Springs CA
There's no reason to think it will do that just because it's on longer than usual.
What species of tortoise do you have? How old is it, and how long have you had it?
I'd like to link you to our care sheets. Have you read them yet? Lots of good info in them.
Light bulbs are not flammable. Glass and metal.
Why not use a timer? And a heat source controlled by a thermostat? Its not good to leave the light on all the time.
What species have you got? What size?
I have a Russian tortoise. Ive had him for 4 years and I would say he’s 6 years old I’ve never been told how old was he when I got him. That would be nice if you send me the care sheets
- Joined
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- Location (City and/or State)
- Low desert 50 mi SE of Palm Springs CA
Here's an excellent care sheet for Russians, and one that explains heating and lighting.
www.tortoiseforum.org
4 elements of heating: By Tom
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. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb.
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. You'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT.
Light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish.
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. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
www.tortoiseforum.org
4 elements of heating: By Tom
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. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb.
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. You'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT.
Light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish.
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. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html
Thank you so much!!! This is some really good advice!Here's an excellent care sheet for Russians, and one that explains heating and lighting.
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
4 elements of heating: By Tom
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. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb.
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. You'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT.
Light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish.
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. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html
You really should invest in a timer, I know I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my set up on for days at a time. You can also get an inexpensive camera to monitor your tort while you are away, I have cameras and it gives me great reassurance that I can peek in to make sure no one is flipped over etc. It is also wise to leave a set of keys for a friend or neighbor to pop in in case there is an emergency.
