I need light help ? ( sulcata)

[Xaxi]

Hello new to tortoises i Used a 150w spot for basking but after reading here that spot is not good I got 60w daytime heat bulb. and I use the 60w with a reflector is this ok I included pictures?

Oh and temperature is 100f at tort level

 

[Xaxi]

Pictures didn't load?

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

You are on the right track. The "intense" basking spot will cause "intense" pyramiding in your tortoise. The daytime bulb in a reflector should work as long as the basking temp under it is correct. You could save yourself a lot of money and trouble by staying away from the pet store.

There are four elements to heating and lighting:

1. 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 wattage if this makes the enclosure too hot. I like the overnight low to be 80, and daytime high to rise into the low 90s for a sulcata baby.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. It helps to have a UV meter to test and see what your bulb is actually putting out at your mounting height.

Check these out for the correct care info:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Markw84]

Yes, that will work for a small sulcata. The reptile brand bulbs are quite expensive. A generic incadescent bulb at a hardware store would work just as well.

 

[Xaxi]

Hello and welcome.

You are on the right track. The "intense" basking spot will cause "intense" pyramiding in your tortoise. The daytime bulb in a reflector should work as long as the basking temp under it is correct. You could save yourself a lot of money and trouble by staying away from the pet store.

There are four elements to heating and lighting:

1. 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 wattage if this makes the enclosure too hot. I like the overnight low to be 80, and daytime high to rise into the low 90s for a sulcata baby.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. It helps to have a UV meter to test and see what your bulb is actually putting out at your mounting height.

Check these out for the correct care info:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Thank u
I really try to change everything but I got so much wrong info from the pet shop and it is hard to understand what is good info or not but luckily I found this forum

 

[xMario]

Thank u
I really try to change everything but I got so much wrong info from the pet shop and it is hard to understand what is good info or not but luckily I found this forum

This forum is definitely the way to go! [emoji1]
Pictures of ur setup would be great so we can give u even more help [emoji217]