Help With Lighting

[Lemons]

Hi Everyone - I'm getting confused as to what kind of lights I need. I am currently using a 60W Daytime Heat Lamp for the day and a 60W nighttime incandescent heat bulb for night, as advised by pet store. I have him where he can get some sunlight from the window. What does my russian need? Thanks.

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, he needs UVB if he's an indoor tortoise. Tortoises can't metabolise their calcium unless they get UVB either from their light or from the sun. In that vein, I use Mercury Vapor Bulbs (MVB). I like them because they provide heat plus UVB all in one bulb. They are a bit pricey, but it's for the health of your tortoise. You may see a bit more activity once you get the correct light set-up going on. Russian tortoises don't really need any night time heat unless your house gets really, really cold at night. In that case, I use a 60 watt incandescent black light at night. Heat, but no visible light. Others also use Ceramic Heat Emitters (CHE) for night time heat without light.

 

[Lemons]

Well, he needs UVB if he's an indoor tortoise. Tortoises can't metabolise their calcium unless they get UVB either from their light or from the sun. In that vein, I use Mercury Vapor Bulbs (MVB). I like them because they provide heat plus UVB all in one bulb. They are a bit pricey, but it's for the health of your tortoise. You may see a bit more activity once you get the correct light set-up going on. Russian tortoises don't really need any night time heat unless your house gets really, really cold at night. In that case, I use a 60 watt incandescent black light at night. Heat, but no visible light. Others also use Ceramic Heat Emitters (CHE) for night time heat without light.

Thank you! Is there a brand you can recommend?

 

[Lemons]

Thank you! Is there a brand you can recommend?

If he is getting light through the window, does that help?

 

[Yvonne G]

No. the glass effectively blocks most of the UVB rays.

I use Zoo Med Power Sun, and the 100 watt is fine for my size tort tables.

 

[Lemons]

No. the glass effectively blocks most of the UVB rays.

I use Zoo Med Power Sun, and the 100 watt is fine for my size tort tables.

Thanks again. I can order that from Amazon )

 

[Lemons]

No. the glass effectively blocks most of the UVB rays.

I use Zoo Med Power Sun, and the 100 watt is fine for my size tort tables.

How close to my tortoise can/should the light be? Also, can I use my dome lamps that I already have?

 

[Aaron Frederick]

I use the same zoo med power sun 100w from amazon. I have mine about 10" away right now. the temperature gets in the low 90's. But i also have the (CHE) in the other side of my "TEMPORARY" tortoise tub. I use a Inferred temperature gun i bought from home depot about a year ago. And thats how i check my temps for all my reptiles.

 

[Lemons]

I use the same zoo med power sun 100w from amazon. I have mine about 10" away right now. the temperature gets in the low 90's. But i also have the (CHE) in the other side of my "TEMPORARY" tortoise tub. I use a Inferred temperature gun i bought from home depot about a year ago. And thats how i check my temps for all my reptiles.

Thanks so much.