Yes. Correct.
Its totally fine to use an indoor UV source for a tortoise that also spends lots of time outside. Won't hurt a thing.
New baby Russian tortoise
- Thread starter Milinda
- Start date
Its totally fine to use an indoor UV source for a tortoise that also spends lots of time outside. Won't hurt a thing.
Milinda
Member
This is awesome! I am going to make the changes today. I really appreciate how much time you have spent with me. It is really a learning curve to get the appropriate stuff for these guys. I've read so many conflicting things online, and as you said, the pet stores don't know. Even the man who sold me the tortoise didn't know about indoor care, because his torts were always outside.
That is precisely why we are all here on this forum. To learn and share with others what we have already learned. Glad we could help!
Milinda
Member
Hi it's me again. I took the coiled UV bulb back to Petco and bought a Repti Sun UVB 10.0. I asked about the mercury vapor bulb and the man at the reptile store said it was around $100 so I opted for this UV and the 100 watt basking bulb. Here is a photo of my set up. I am trying to get the basking area in the low 90's. Does the set up look ok? Also, will this UV bulb be alright given that it sticks way out of the dome? Thank you!
mojo
Member
Hi and welcome
Sorry. Your pic didn't show up. It sounds like you went from one cfl to another. NONE of the screw in type compact florescent bulbs should be used. You need a long tube type florescent or a mercury vapor bulb, or just skip the indoor UV entirely and put your baby in a safe outdoor enclosure for an hour here and there throughout the week.
In time you will learn to stop listening to the pet store kids. Most of them are clueless and will give you bad advice. A Powersun can be shipped to your door for about $40.
Try to get your basking spot into the high 90's for a russian.
In time you will learn to stop listening to the pet store kids. Most of them are clueless and will give you bad advice. A Powersun can be shipped to your door for about $40.
Try to get your basking spot into the high 90's for a russian.
Milinda
Member
Hi, I don't know why this is so confusing to me. Anyhow, I totally get what you are staying now and did not use the UV bulb. I have the basking bulb in there for now and will take her outside. I am also going to see if I can find the mercury vapor bulb on Amazon for when it gets colder outside. Thanks for your patience. I don't know why the photos didn't come up, but I'll try a bit later. Totally got it now!
Milinda
Member
Do you recommend the
Milinda
Member
Do you recommend the 100 watt vapor bulb or the 165 watt?
Milinda
Member
Thanks so much! I am learning a lot right now.Hi and welcome
Either will work. The 160 gives a large basking area and is nice for larger enclosure. The 100 watt bulb will usually work just fine for smaller enclosures.
I wouldn't use it in the deep dome fixture though. That can sometimes make them over heat and burn out pre-maturely. I like the 11" aluminum fixtures from Home Depot for $12. They come with a ceramic based fixture and a heavy duty cord. Saw them at HD online for $9 recently.
Milinda
Member
Thank yo so much! I ordered the 100 watt bulb and will look at home depot for the 11" dome. Yay!
Milinda
Member
Just wanted to let you know that I went home today to check on her, and she was up and walking around and eating. She seemed pretty alert and happy now that I have the basking light overhead. The heat made all the difference!
Milinda
Member
Some photos of my little baby. She seems happy! She's been digging and eating.
ChloeCrull
Active Member
Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!
I'm Chloe—a 15 year-old girlie from Canada, but I'm currently residing in Fresno, California. I received my first tortoise for Christmas. She was purchased from an online website (unfortunately, she passed away two months later).
Before you set up a new enclosure, please be aware that see-through terrariums are very bad for tortoises. Animals do not understand the concept of "glass" or "plastic" and often get stressed while trying to walk through it. Unfortunately, pet stores around the world advertise these poor structures through YouTube videos, display shelves, care sheets, and other sources.
Once their enclosure is properly set up and maintained, the price of upkeep dramatically decreases—greens are a lot cheaper than dog food!
Moving on.
Tortoises (especially Russians) love to burrow underneath their substrate. Mine do it so often that I have to given them little "showers" instead of "baths" to rinse off the dirt from their shells! If you're finding that substrate is terribly expensive, @Tom , a very, very intelligent member of the forums here suggested a very cheap, yet useful, substitute for the $30 bag of dirt at the pet store. Here's the link—you can find it at Lowe's.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_58586-78212-GT00023_0__?productId=3731889
It's currently $3.71 in the US.
Being a teenager, I understand the frustration of not being able to run out to the stores willy-nilly to purchase the mandatory supplies. However, there are some cheap alternatives, such as plastic tubs (and even kiddie pools). Fortunately, you are a hard worker and have some funds saved up, which can definitely make life easier for you and your parents.
* * *
Moving on again.
Tortoises are solitary, independent animals. Reptiles don't necessarily have "emotions" or "feelings" towards you, but there are some arguable situations. For example, over the first few months of raising my tortoise, he was very shy and cautious. However, he eventually felt comfortable around me and situated me with food and warmth. He seems to recognize my scent—or something of that matter—as he is much more comfortable around me than any other person or being in my household.
Your tortoise will definitely warm up to you. Don't make sudden movements or move your hands near him too much. Hovering over him and casting a shadow across his shell and head will often frighten him and he'll duck into his shell. Tortoises are grumpy, but sweet, little creatures!
* * *
Concluding this intimidating block of text.
In all fairness, I learned most of my "skills" and gained most of my (or lack of) "knowledge" from experience. Watching my tortoises and connecting their behavior to previous concerns and posts I had read allowed me a deeper understanding of my little shells. Don't be afraid to make a thread and ask a question, even if it has an obvious answer. Chances are, you're bound to be taught a revolutionary trick or two. However, before making a new thread, always check the related ones to see if you're question is already answered.
Even if you've mastered the most advanced skills of caring for your tortoise, you should always refresh your mind with the appropriate (not PetSmart or Petco) caresheets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpful links:
Enclosures:
1. Cheap, Easy, Simple Sunning Enclosure (Thank you, @Tom !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
2. SUGGESTION for Setting Up a Baby Habitat (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/suggestion-for-setting-up-a-baby-habitat.105903/#post-997616
3. New Setup - Good read for beginners (Thank you, @TestudoGreek )
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/new-setup-good-read-for-beginners.661/
4. Ideas for Indoor Enclosures (Thank you, @Jacqui !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ideas-for-indoor-enclosures.65798/
5. Ideas for outdoor enclosures (Thank you again, @Jacqui !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ideas-for-outdoor-enclosures.65797/
Lighting
1. Summary: Lighting for Russian Tortoises (and most others) (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/summary-lighting-for-russian-tortoises-and-most-others.90826/
Substrate
1. Indoor substrate for Horsefield (dust free!) *Note: Read all of the posts. @Tom provides some excellent information in multiple posts).
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/indoor-substrate-for-horsefield-dust-free.106177/
Health
1. Tortoise Vet List (Thank you, @Josh !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/tortoise-vet-list.126/
2. How to find a good tortoise vet (and maybe an excellent one!) (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ortoise-vet-and-maybe-an-excellent-one.97523/
Diet and Food
1. Pictures of common plants - both edible and toxic for tortoises (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ts-both-edible-and-toxic-for-tortoises.14564/
Other Important Links:
1. Beginner Mistakes (Thank you, @Tom !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
2. Why not to keep 2 tortoises together - a lesson learned the hard way (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
3. Why does my Russian tortoise stay buried? (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/why-does-my-russian-tortoise-stay-buried.59575/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lot of useful threads pop up in the forum section that is specifically for Russian tortoises here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/russian-tortoises.81/
I hope this helps.
I'm Chloe—a 15 year-old girlie from Canada, but I'm currently residing in Fresno, California. I received my first tortoise for Christmas. She was purchased from an online website (unfortunately, she passed away two months later).
Before you set up a new enclosure, please be aware that see-through terrariums are very bad for tortoises. Animals do not understand the concept of "glass" or "plastic" and often get stressed while trying to walk through it. Unfortunately, pet stores around the world advertise these poor structures through YouTube videos, display shelves, care sheets, and other sources.
Once their enclosure is properly set up and maintained, the price of upkeep dramatically decreases—greens are a lot cheaper than dog food!
* * *
Moving on.
Tortoises (especially Russians) love to burrow underneath their substrate. Mine do it so often that I have to given them little "showers" instead of "baths" to rinse off the dirt from their shells! If you're finding that substrate is terribly expensive, @Tom , a very, very intelligent member of the forums here suggested a very cheap, yet useful, substitute for the $30 bag of dirt at the pet store. Here's the link—you can find it at Lowe's.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_58586-78212-GT00023_0__?productId=3731889
It's currently $3.71 in the US.
Being a teenager, I understand the frustration of not being able to run out to the stores willy-nilly to purchase the mandatory supplies. However, there are some cheap alternatives, such as plastic tubs (and even kiddie pools). Fortunately, you are a hard worker and have some funds saved up, which can definitely make life easier for you and your parents.
* * *
Moving on again.
Tortoises are solitary, independent animals. Reptiles don't necessarily have "emotions" or "feelings" towards you, but there are some arguable situations. For example, over the first few months of raising my tortoise, he was very shy and cautious. However, he eventually felt comfortable around me and situated me with food and warmth. He seems to recognize my scent—or something of that matter—as he is much more comfortable around me than any other person or being in my household.
Your tortoise will definitely warm up to you. Don't make sudden movements or move your hands near him too much. Hovering over him and casting a shadow across his shell and head will often frighten him and he'll duck into his shell. Tortoises are grumpy, but sweet, little creatures!
* * *
Concluding this intimidating block of text.
In all fairness, I learned most of my "skills" and gained most of my (or lack of) "knowledge" from experience. Watching my tortoises and connecting their behavior to previous concerns and posts I had read allowed me a deeper understanding of my little shells. Don't be afraid to make a thread and ask a question, even if it has an obvious answer. Chances are, you're bound to be taught a revolutionary trick or two. However, before making a new thread, always check the related ones to see if you're question is already answered.
Even if you've mastered the most advanced skills of caring for your tortoise, you should always refresh your mind with the appropriate (not PetSmart or Petco) caresheets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpful links:
Enclosures:
1. Cheap, Easy, Simple Sunning Enclosure (Thank you, @Tom !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
2. SUGGESTION for Setting Up a Baby Habitat (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/suggestion-for-setting-up-a-baby-habitat.105903/#post-997616
3. New Setup - Good read for beginners (Thank you, @TestudoGreek )
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/new-setup-good-read-for-beginners.661/
4. Ideas for Indoor Enclosures (Thank you, @Jacqui !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ideas-for-indoor-enclosures.65798/
5. Ideas for outdoor enclosures (Thank you again, @Jacqui !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ideas-for-outdoor-enclosures.65797/
Lighting
1. Summary: Lighting for Russian Tortoises (and most others) (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/summary-lighting-for-russian-tortoises-and-most-others.90826/
Substrate
1. Indoor substrate for Horsefield (dust free!) *Note: Read all of the posts. @Tom provides some excellent information in multiple posts).
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/indoor-substrate-for-horsefield-dust-free.106177/
Health
1. Tortoise Vet List (Thank you, @Josh !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/tortoise-vet-list.126/
2. How to find a good tortoise vet (and maybe an excellent one!) (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ortoise-vet-and-maybe-an-excellent-one.97523/
Diet and Food
1. Pictures of common plants - both edible and toxic for tortoises (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ts-both-edible-and-toxic-for-tortoises.14564/
Other Important Links:
1. Beginner Mistakes (Thank you, @Tom !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
2. Why not to keep 2 tortoises together - a lesson learned the hard way (Thank you, @biochemnerd808 !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
3. Why does my Russian tortoise stay buried? (Thank you, @Yvonne G !)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/why-does-my-russian-tortoise-stay-buried.59575/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lot of useful threads pop up in the forum section that is specifically for Russian tortoises here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/russian-tortoises.81/
I hope this helps.
Melinda:
I wouldn't use that Reptisun bulb either. None of the compact fluorescent bulbs should be used with baby tortoises.
I wouldn't use that Reptisun bulb either. None of the compact fluorescent bulbs should be used with baby tortoises.
Donna/Turbo
Well-Known Member
Welcome Milinda!! The pet store sold me the zoo med repti basking spot lamp 150 w. Is this the same thing as the powersun mercury vapor bulb?? I only use it during the day because it is so bright and Turbo is in my bedroom. I turn that off at night and use just the Ceramic Heat Emitter 100w.
Welcome your baby Russian is adorable!
