Newbie - Heating and lighting advice

[Shaun_71]

Hi all.
We have just inherited a hermans tortoise and could do with some advice on heating and lighting please.
We have a vivarium as we previously had lizards.
We have a heat mat already. Is this ok for providing the heat? I keep reading about basking lamps. Are these preferable.
As for lights, I believe I need desert strength uvb, so have just purchased a reptile uvb desert BULB from my local pet shop. I'll try and attach a photo shortly. All I see mentioned on line are the uvb tubes. Are the Tubes preferable?
Kind regards
Shaun

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome to TFO

What size is this Hermann's?

Here is how to measure Straight Carapace Length
http://www.tlady.clara.net/measure.htm

Anything bigger than a baby needs an enclosure considerably bigger than a vivarium. 4'x8' - 2.5x2.2 metres is the minimum for a more mature tort.

Hermann's are grassland torts not desert torts. They need both heat and humidity. Heat mats are not suitable.

They must be able to bask at 95-100F/35-37C in order to raise their internal temperature to digest food and be active. The basking lamp must be on for 12-14 hours a day.

Those compact UVB bulbs like the one you pictured cause eye problems in torts and should not be used. UVB tube lamps are safe as are Mercury Vapor Bulbs (MVB) that combine basking and UVB in one lamp.

Please read these care guides as they are written by TFO species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Hermann's Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

 

[Shaun_71]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I clearly have a lot to learn.
Many thanks
Shaun

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome! So glad you found us and asked these questions.

-Heat mats are not safe for tortoises. You'll need a basking lamp on a timer for day heat, and you can use a CHE set on a thermostat if you need to keep ambient up a little more than your room temp.
-I agree with Joe's Mum. Some of those coil bulbs burn reptile eyes, and they are not effective UV sources anyway. Better to use something safer. I prefer the long florescent tubes. The HO types make strong UV.

I typed this up for russians, but care is essentially the same:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/