Heating lamp

[Grimasz]

Dear All!
I have two small (1 and 2 year old) greek tortoises. I keep the terrarium in the window, (which is open, without a mosquito net) where they get 3 hours of direct sunlight from 9 am to noon, and I heard that should be enough for the UVB, but they stay out there all day mostly.

So during this time of the year, they are more, than fine. The winter is a bit problematic. I was strongly advised against buying an under tank heater, since it "causes shell and spine deformities". I was advised to get a ceramic heater for those cold, winter nights (since my place can either get heated up too little or too much for a tortoise, there is no balancing there). I've tried some 75W exoterra bulb for daylight heating but the heat did not reach down to 30 cm, so that was a waste of money. I had an infrared 100W bulb which I had to use instead and it did the trick. But anyways, my questions are:

- What's the most energy saver option if I want a ceramic heater bulb to be effective? My terrarium is big, but it's ok if it only heats up one side, where they'll sleep. A 40 or 60W ceramic heater would be fine in your experience?

- What's really against energy saving bulbs for daytime heating? The ones, that take up like 8-12W. They don't give much heat?

I'll have to replace the 100W bulb with something cheaper if I want to keep the tank at a feelgood temperature during the nights as well. For example if a 40W bulb would go during the day and a 60 ceramic during the night, it could work. But would you recommend that? That's all for now. Thanks for the answers.

 

[wellington]

It's really hard for us to say what will work for you. Only you can say. The ceramic heat emitters are fairly cheap and last a very long time, years. They are worth the money. If I were you, I would get the 100 watt and see how it does. You can always add another. Also if you cover your tank, at least at night, it will help hold the heat in

 

[Grimasz]

It's really hard for us to say what will work for you. Only you can say. The ceramic heat emitters are fairly cheap and last a very long time, years. They are worth the money. If I were you, I would get the 100 watt and see how it does. You can always add another. Also if you cover your tank, at least at night, it will help hold the heat in

Yes, a 100W would not work, because combined with the daytime heating it would cause some problems at home. But it's a good advice to cover the tank for the night, thank you!

 

[Tom]

A couple of questions first:

What are the dimensions of your enclosure?

Where are you?

 

[Grimasz]

A couple of questions first:

What are the dimensions of your enclosure?

Where are you?

I'm in Hungary. The terrarium is 120x60 cm, + about 30cm tall.

 

[Tom]

I'm in Hungary. The terrarium is 120x60 cm, + about 30cm tall.

The wattage of your bulb shouldn't matter. What matters is the temperature under it. You can use a 50 watt or a 500 watt bulb as long as the distance from the tortoise is correct and the temperature is appropriate. Put a thermometer under your bulb and adjust the height until the basking temperature directly under the bulb is about 35-37.

I usually use a 65 watt regular flood bulb. You are correct that your tortoises UV needs are met if they are getting daily access to direct sunshine. I worry about them over heating in direct sun, but if you are taking precautions, it can work. If I need night heat, I use a 100 watt CHE and set it on a thermostat. This way it cannot over heat the enclosure. The thermostat will shut it off.

Care for all the Testudo species is pretty similar. These will explain a lot for you.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

 

[Grimasz]

The wattage of your bulb shouldn't matter. What matters is the temperature under it. You can use a 50 watt or a 500 watt bulb as long as the distance from the tortoise is correct and the temperature is appropriate. Put a thermometer under your bulb and adjust the height until the basking temperature directly under the bulb is about 35-37.

I usually use a 65 watt regular flood bulb. You are correct that your tortoises UV needs are met if they are getting daily access to direct sunshine. I worry about them over heating in direct sun, but if you are taking precautions, it can work. If I need night heat, I use a 100 watt CHE and set it on a thermostat. This way it cannot over heat the enclosure. The thermostat will shut it off.

Care for all the Testudo species is pretty similar. These will explain a lot for you.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

Thank you. Only half of the tank gets direct sunlight and they have a hiding place as well, so I'm not worried for that 3-hour time daily. Seems like a good idea. Others said that a 40-60W flood spotlight bulb is perfect for daytime heating, I'll probably go with that, and try a CHE during the nights.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. Only half of the tank gets direct sunlight and they have a hiding place as well, so I'm not worried for that 3-hour time daily. Seems like a good idea. Others said that a 40-60W flood spotlight bulb is perfect for daytime heating, I'll probably go with that, and try a CHE during the nights.

Spot bulbs concentrate too much desiccating heat in one small area. They contribute to pyramiding. Flood bulbs spread out the heat a bit more, which is good.

 

[Gillian M]

Welcome to the forum!

Please post pictures of your torts and the terrarium. And read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread, as well as the care sheets available.

What is the weather like now, back there? Kindly note that torts need: humidity as well as warmth.

 

[Grimasz]

Welcome to the forum!

Please post pictures of your torts and the terrarium. And read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread, as well as the care sheets available.

What is the weather like now, back there? Kindly note that torts need: humidity as well as warmth.

Um, ok... Thanks. I'm not completely a beginner, I know all these things, especially that most stuff they sell for tortoises are not very good for tortoises. The weather is extremely unpredictable, but nowadays it's about 28-32 Celsius during the day and 15-20 during the night. Here are some pictures, one of them is about to get 2 years old, and the other one is about to get 1, both female. (There are much less pebbles in the terrarium now, I just overdecorated it, but I thew out 2/3 of 'em out of caution.)

 

[Gillian M]

Um, ok... Thanks. I'm not completely a beginner, I know all these things, especially that most stuff they sell for tortoises are not very good for tortoises. The weather is extremely unpredictable, but nowadays it's about 28-32 Celsius during the day and 15-20 during the night. Here are some pictures, one of them is about to get 2 years old, and the other one is about to get 1, both female. (There are much less pebbles in the terrarium now, I just overdecorated it, but I thew out 2/3 of 'em out of caution.)

Great to hear that you are not a "beginner."

Here it is extremely ho and dry: desert climate so as to say. Moreover the country went through a heatwave last week, when temperature reached 39 degrees C! I gave Oli three to four soaks a day!

 

[Yvonne G]

Don't waste your money on those compact fluorescent energy saving bulbs. They sometimes hurt tortoise's eyes. If you set your ceramic heat emitter on a rheostat or thermostat, setting the temperature, it goes off and on to maintain the temperature you want. Also, if you cover the habitat it keeps the warm air in and the cooler air from your house out.

 

[Grimasz]

Don't waste your money on those compact fluorescent energy saving bulbs. They sometimes hurt tortoise's eyes. If you set your ceramic heat emitter on a rheostat or thermostat, setting the temperature, it goes off and on to maintain the temperature you want. Also, if you cover the habitat it keeps the warm air in and the cooler air from your house out.

That seems reasonable. Having just one ceramic bulb 24/7 next to the UVB light. But I'm not very good with thermostats. What should I keep in mind when I'm looking for one? Besides placing it in the terrarium.

 

[Grimasz]

I think a Zoomed Repti Temp 500R should do the trick...