Need new light fixture help

[alex_ornelas]

I just moved my greek tortoise into a larger terrarium. The light fixture i had for the smaller tank works but is going out. And it doesn't allow much heat without a towel and something on top if that. Its a 40-50gallon glass tank, any ideas on what i should buy to keep at the right heat an humidity?

 

[gtc]

I just moved my greek tortoise into a larger terrarium. The light fixture i had for the smaller tank works but is going out. And it doesn't allow much heat without a towel and something on top if that. Its a 40-50gallon glass tank, any ideas on what i should buy to keep at the right heat an humidity?

Welcome to the forum.

1. Dont use sand. It doesn't keep humidity at proper levels (50-60%) and it can cause impaction that may require surgery.
2. Your enclosure is too small. Proper temp gradiants are not possible in your present enclosure and your tort should have more space. Your tort should be in something at least 3 times bigger.
3. Its hard to tell from the pics but your tort may be pyramiding. Could you 5 post a close up pic of your torts shell?
4. What kind of light are you using now? Is it a uvb light?

 

[alex_ornelas]

Yes it is uvb

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[mikeh]

You have a Sulcata tortoise, not a Greek.

If you want a happy, healthy growing animal you may want to look at closed chamber threads for sulcata on the forum and redo your entire husbandry, from substrate to heating/lighting, diet, higher moisture, shallow water dish, size of the enclosure.
An immediate thing to do is to NOT allow the tort eat of the fine sand.

 

[Tom]

You have a Sulcata tortoise, not a Greek.

I was zooming in on the pic trying to tell for sure, but that's what I thought too.


Alex, Are you aware that your tortoise can get to 36" and weigh more than 150 pounds eventually. And that they are burrowers and landscape destroyers?

Mike is right. You need to redo your whole set up there. Here is a care sheet explaining how: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-79895.html
Please don't wait. Your tortoise is in serious danger right now. In needs to get off that sand, get a soak, and get into the right temperatures and humidity immediately.


Here is a diet sheet:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-76744.html

Here is a thread that will give you some additional knowledge:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html

 

[alex_ornelas]

THANKS the guy i bought it from said greek

 

[alex_ornelas]

i have fixed his enclosure. and read your post and they were very helpful thank you. when i was reading about the uv and lighting i got confused, i am trying to build a closed top tank, would just a large plank on top of the enclosure work? and i have the uvb bulb, a blue night vision/ heating bulb, as well as one of those heating mats mounted to the side of the enclosure. do i need the uvb bub on all day ? do i even need the night vision bulb on at night? if anything needs to be changed on that, that is also costly efficient my mom is worried about pg&e going up. how long will the tortoise live indoors

 

[gtc]

Do you have a big yard to house such a big tortoise? Do you live in a warm climate appropriate for a Sulcata?

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i have fixed his enclosure. and read your post and they were very helpful thank you. when i was reading about the uv and lighting i got confused, i am trying to build a closed top tank, would just a large plank on top of the enclosure work? and i have the uvb bulb, a blue night vision/ heating bulb, as well as one of those heating mats mounted to the side of the enclosure. do i need the uvb bub on all day ? do i even need the night vision bulb on at night? if anything needs to be changed on that, that is also costly efficient my mom is worried about pg&e going up. how long will the tortoise live indoors

If you read Tom's link you will find answers to those questions. No lights at night, just a CHE to keep the temps right. Get a hydrometer quickly to check your humidity levels, this will also show you if the large plank is enough. Can you post pictures of the fixed enclosure and close up pics of your tort? If your mom is worried about the costs you might want to reconsider keeping this tort. Keeping tortoises costs money and especially a Sulcata, those torts eat a lot!

 

[alex_ornelas]

I live im the bayarea of of california and yes i do have a yard larage enough

 

[gtc]

I live im the bayarea of of california and yes i do have a yard larage enough

Great!

 

[Tom]

For YOUR lighting heating situation you need three things:
1. You need a low wattage flood bulb from the hardware store, in a ceramic based fixture set on a timer for about 12 hours a day. This will give your tortoise its basking spot. It should be mounted over one side of the enclosure and the basking temp under it should be 95-100, so you will need a remote probed thermometer to measure this.
2. You need a Ceramic Heating Element set on a thermostat to 80 degrees. This will maintain your warm ambient temps day and night. It also need to be in a ceramic based fixture and it should be mounted over the middle of the tank.
3. Due to your cold clammy weather up there, I think you will need to provide an indoor UV source. A long florescent tube should work well for you and light up the enclosure too.

4. As an alternative to 1 and 3, you could use a Mercury Vapor Bulb. This will give you heat, light and UV all in one. It might be simpler for you to go this way. You will still need number 2. to maintain ambient temps at night when your MVB is off.

If you live at home you will need to start saving your allowance. Sulcatas are big tortoises with big expenses. They have big appetites and they need big housing that can be expensive to build and heat. Please consider what your are realistically going to be able to do in the coming years, and decide what is best for that tortoise. Heating costs can easily top $1500 a year. Food can run up to $5 a day unless you spend the time and effort to scrounge up weeds and grow your own stuff. The large enclosures needed cost several hundred dollars to build and you need to be a bit handy with some tools to do it yourself, or get help from someone who is handy. I'm not saying it can't work. I'm just asking YOU to consider if YOU can make it work. If you can, then awesome! We will help you as much as we can. If you can't make these ends meet, then there is no harm in giving your tortoise to someone who can, and starting over with a pet that would be more suitable for your situation. You know, not everyone is set up to house a 200 pound english mastiff. A pug might be more reasonable for some people. Nothing wrong with that.

I don't know what UV bulb you already have, but if its the coil type cfl, I would not use that. They can damage tortoise eyes sometimes.

I would not use colored bulbs over a tortoise enclosure. I don't like them for day especially, but even at night, I prefer to have it dark in there.

There is no way to predict how long it will take your tortoise to get big enough to live outside. Could be one year, could be 6 years. If you care for it correctly, and if it was started well, it might only be one year.

 

[alex_ornelas]

Thanks alot guys this is very helpful and i do intend to keep him and make it work he is my baby again thanks for te help

 

[alex_ornelas]

One last question j can find the mvb at a hardware store correct?

 

[mikeh]

No, you can not. Order from internet or pet store. Zoomed Powersun 100W. You will need a large deep dome fixture with CERAMIC base, by Zoomed or from hardware store.

Hope this wasn't your last question

 

[alex_ornelas]

And also what wattage ?

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Thank you

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Whats the difference between the ones in a hardware store and the other one? If its the same wattage ?

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And y ceramic?

 

[Tom]

Hardware stores do not sell MVBs. It is a reptile specialty product. You can get a regular bulb for heat only at the hardware store. If you need UV AND heat, you'll need a mercury vapor bulb.

What wattage you need depends on your enclosure. There are many variables. Room temp, enclosure size, temps desired, size of the basking area you wish to create, etc... You'll need to try one, check the temps with your thermometer and make adjustments if necessary.

There are two types of fixture bases. Ceramic or plastic (Bakelite). The plastic ones don't hold up to the constant high heat of our reptile bulbs. They are a dangerous fire hazard when used the way we use them. The ceramic fixtures cost a few dollars more, but they are much safer, and they last forever.

 

[alex_ornelas]

Oky doky oliver and i thank you