Do I really need both lighting.

[Kevlar]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and have been reading some threads and have learnt a lot. I currently live in Hong Kong and at this time of the year, it is usually really hot and humid.

Do I really need a heat lamp?
I actually asked an expert in the pet shop and he advised me that I can just use a uvb lamp and no need to use a heat lamp. Also he told me that during the winter, I would need one.

So I want to ask if it is okay to just use a uvb lamp and get a heat lamp when it starts to get cold during autumn-winter?

 

[apromann4]

Erosal is from hongkong too, he has leopards too, pm him ask him advice

Sent from my S100 using TortForum mobile app

 

[Tom]

This depends on your temperatures. Heat lamps and lighting are tools we all use to maintain the correct conditions for our animals. If you are able to maintain the correct temps and conditions without heat lamps, then of course you can skip them I don't see how you will achieve a daily hot spot of 100 degrees indoors and maintain night temps of 80 with out some sort of heat source, but that is your call.

This also depends on your species and their age and size. Different species have different requirements for day and night temps.

 

[JoesMum]

Do you keep him indoors? Do you have air conditioning? If you have air con, then yes you will need a heat lamp as well as UVB.

A tort needs to be able to bask at around 95F in order to digest its food. It's pretty unlikely that, even without air con, you tolerate that sort of temperature indoors.

 

[erosal]

Hi Kevlar, nice to hook up with someone in HK.

I have 2 leopards as well and yes you still need a heat lamp. You need to maintain a basking spot for your torts that is around 38-40C. I am pretty sure that our current climate now although its extremely hot andnhumid can not make a constant 38-40C.


You also need humidity to be around 80%. I was able to achieve it by adding sphagnum moss which retains water really efficiently.

Dont trust those jerks in Prince Edward, not once I got a correct advise from those guys.

 

[Kevlar]

@JoesMum
Yeah I keep him indoors and also use air-conditioning and I guess I would just have to use both heat and uvb.


@erosal
Yep it really is and I've just seen some of the pics of your leopard tortoises and they are exactly the same ones as mine.

I am thinking of just buying one lamp that has a combo of heat + uvb because my tortoise enclosure is really small. not sure whether to buy the powersun, because it is quite expensive. Do you know any alternatives to powersun that has around < 100watts?.

Thanks for the advise about sphagnum moss, I might try it, even though it seems like I am getting a constant rate of around 75-80 for the humidity level.

 

[WillTort2]

Kevlar, this is a scary situation. I'm extremely concerned that you and other new members identify pet shop workers as tortoise experts.

Until someone has proven themselves as a tortoise specialist i would always seek to verify the information with additional expert sources.

I'm glad you've found this forum. You will not find everyone agrees on every topic; but I've learned to respect the experience here.

I would put the combination of tortoise experiences shared on this forum ahead of any other group available when it comes to what works for most species of tortoises.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[JoesMum]

MVB lamps providing combined basking spot heat and UVB are very good. They need to be replaced every 9 to 12 months as they become less effective with time.

Just in case you were wondering, the cheaper tube UVB must be replaced every 6 months as they become less effective more quickly

 

[Levi the Leopard]

If you can give your tortoise regular access to the outdoors and natural sunlight then you do not need a UV light.
I don't use artificial UV lighting and only use a heat lamp inside because my leopard spends most of the day in an outdoor pen.
If you can provide a few hours a day outside, great! If not then make sure to provide the artificial UV

Heather
Sent from my Android TFO app

 

[Weda737]

If you can give your tortoise regular access to the outdoors and natural sunlight then you do not need a UV light.
I don't use artificial UV lighting and only use a heat lamp inside because my leopard spends most of the day in an outdoor pen.
If you can provide a few hours a day outside, great! If not then make sure to provide the artificial UV

Heather
Sent from my Android TFO app

I second this. I have never used a UV bulb with my sulcata, he spends daytime outside and comes back in to his hot and humid home at night. He's 2 now and healthy as can be.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

You have to maintain a certain temp but as long as the temps are maintained you will be ok

 

[Kevlar]

I got the Repti Glo 10.0 UVB and a seperate 50w Exo Terra Intense Basking Spot lamp.

My parents telling me to turn off the heat lamp when no one is at home, in case of fire (sad I know) but do you think it will be okay if I occasionally turn off the heat lamp during the day? the UVB lamp will be on for around 12 hours though. I think without the heat lamp during the day, I get around 30c.


Will post pictures up soon.

 

[Tom]

No you will not be okay. 30 is not warm enough. An occasional day at 30 won't kill him, but most days he needs to have a warmer spot.

Did you buy a coil type 10.0 or the long tube type? The coil type can damage their eyes.

50 watts is pretty small for a basking lamp, and spot lamps can easily over heat and dry out their carapace. Check your basking temperatures carefully and adjust the height of your bulb accordingly. If you mount your light fixture carefully and hang your fixture from above, the risk of fire is pretty minimal. Also be sure to use a ceramic based fixture, NOT one of those plastic ones.

You need to deal with these issues right away. A tortoise kept in the wrong conditions can get sick pretty quickly and once they get noticeably sick they almost never come back. You should have had all you heating and lighting set up and running and tested BEFORE the tortoise ever came home.

 

[Kevlar]

Thanks for the info..

Too bad its the coil type and I done some research after I had bought it.
Its quite expensive and want to keep it.

What type of light and heat lamp would you recommend?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Re: RE: Do I really need both lighting.

Thanks for the info..

Too bad its the coil type and I done some research after I had bought it.
Its quite expensive and want to keep it.

What type of light and heat lamp would you recommend?

Did the light cost more than your tortoise?
If it causes them to go blind are you ok with that?
If eye complications get so severe that your tortoise dies, would you still be glad you used the "pricey" bulb?

You might be ok and have no issues...you might not.

Heather
Sent from my Android TFO app

 

[Tom]

Thanks for the info..

Too bad its the coil type and I done some research after I had bought it.
Its quite expensive and want to keep it.

What type of light and heat lamp would you recommend?

My preferred method is a flood bulb set on a 12 hour timer with the height adjusted for a 100 degree basking spot, and a ceramic heating element set on a thermostat to 80 degrees. If your room temp and your enclosure stays warm, the CHE will stay off. If it cools too much one night, the CHE will kick on and prevent a chill. If you need additional lighting, long tube style florescent lights work well.

 

[Kevlar]

Thanks for the info..

Too bad its the coil type and I done some research after I had bought it.
Its quite expensive and want to keep it.

What type of light and heat lamp would you recommend?

My preferred method is a flood bulb set on a 12 hour timer with the height adjusted for a 100 degree basking spot, and a ceramic heating element set on a thermostat to 80 degrees. If your room temp and your enclosure stays warm, the CHE will stay off. If it cools too much one night, the CHE will kick on and prevent a chill. If you need additional lighting, long tube style florescent lights work well.

Thanks,
But are coils in general dangerous to have? or just that particular product I have? What if I buy a different uvb coil? because I have no money to buy a fluorescent fixture =/.

 

[luvpetz27]

I have heard that ALL coil bulbs are bad. If your tortoises eyes get hurt, you will probably have to pay double for a vet visit and meds for his eyes. Could you possibly get a loan from someone for
the right bulb? This is very important for your tortoise!

 

[JoesMum]

But are coils in general dangerous to have? or just that particular product I have? What if I buy a different uvb coil? because I have no money to buy a fluorescent fixture =/.

ALL Compact UVB Light Bulbs, including Coil bulbs, are dangerous. The brand does not matter.

As we keep saying, the ONLY safe UVB sources are:
1. The sun outside
2. A TUBE UVB bulb
3. An MVB bulb which is a combined UVB and Basking Spot lamp

Nothing else.

 

[Kevlar]

Thanks everyone.
Yes, I will definitely need a tube.

Can you recommend which type of tube I should get?