New Red Foot Tortoise - Lighting Fixture

aholdshoe

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Bringing home my new baby in a few days and I'm not sure I have the best lights for the job. I think they will die from the humidity.

Can anyone make recommendations for what light fixture you are using for the UVA/UVB bulb that will be resistant to high humidity. Preferably the long bulb kind, but open to all suggestions. If you can link the ones you use possibly on Amazon or other sites so I could see exactly that would be great!
 

Toddrickfl1

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Here's a good uvb bulb
And you don't need a fancy fixture. You can grab one at Walmart or home Depot for a few bucks. Just toss out the bulb it comes with and install your uvb bulb instead.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Yep.
LLL reptiles
Big Al's pets
And other places sells these. And for a Redfoot, the 5.0 tube that comes with it, will be just fine.
Buying this COMPLETE light kit is the simplest way to go. Just plug it in and you're done.
Expect to spend about fifty bucks
 

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REDFOOT WRANGLER
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I have read the T5's are too potent and could cause burn so the T8 would be better.
The T5 is more powerful. But the T8 is so anemic that it must be mounted VERY CLOSE to the animal. And can not broadcast through screen.
Use a 5.0 T5 and have it about a foot away from the tortoises shell.
Itll be all you'll ever need.
I used T8s most of my tortoise keeping life with my Redfoot. T5 have changed my animals lives.
They are fantastic.
I see that you also live in Florida.... If your Redfoot can get outside for actual sunlight a few hours a week, that UVB light will be less important. And a weaker T8 might work.
Too bad you don't live closer. I have a bunch of old, unused lighting and a handheld UVB METER..
 

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REDFOOT WRANGLER
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The T5 10.0 would work great at 24"
The T5 5.0 would be better at more like 12".
This is just an educated guess. My T5 5.0 give off an ideal reading of 3.1 at 12" through a screen top with my Chameleons.
Without the screen it's over 4.0 at 12"
I'd be comfortable with a reading of 3.0 to 3.5 with a Redfoot. So, through a screen top...12" to 15".
Without going through a screen. Maybe 18" to 20".
Higher than that, I'd use the 10.0 tube.
Can you lower it a bit with some little swag chains or something?
If it must be 24" or more, the 10.0 T5 will work best.
I'm sorry that it's so confusing.
 

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REDFOOT WRANGLER
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Chameleons require about the same level of UVB.
My Redfoot tortoises however, all live outdoors 24/7.
These guys all have T5 5.0 HO lights. And at 12"....Through a screen top, have a UV reading of 3.1 more or less.
Buying a UVB meter would be a great investment.
I bought the 6.5r from JOSH'S FROGS. It's about $200
 

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