Red light

[shelloise]

HI, I have Shelloise with a red basking light, I had read that it would be easier on her eyes than a white bulb, does that seem like the right info?

 

[Yvonne G]

No. During the day Shelloise needs a UVB light, a light that gives off the UVB rays that the tortoise would be getting if it lived outside. This is crucial to the tortoise's health and well-being.

Besides that, some turtles will eat substrate if a red light is shining on it.

 

[yagyujubei]

I have used the red bulbs in the past, but I have found them to be very unreliable. The filament is fragile while on, and a slight bump can cause failure. They just never lasted very long for me. Fire hazard is a big concern as well. Most of the spring barn fires are caused by these. So, I wouldn't recommend.

 

[Moozillion]

Off topic, but I LOOOVE the name Sheloise!!!

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Also, a red light could lead to your tortoise developing a bad reputation...

Welcome to both of you, btw!

 

[Madkins007]

More realistically, though- tortoises see in color, and eyes only develop properly if they get good light- that means as close to real white as possible (most fluorescent and MVB bulbs are not very white). Also, since the see color and probably some UV. a red bulb is probably a lot brighter than you think it is at night, so may interrupt the sleep cycle.

 

[shelloise]

I also have a Repti Glo 5.0 uvb light in there. It's a coil bulb which I am now reading is harmfull because it can hurt/damage the eyes. I bought what the pet store recommended, it is so frustrating reading what works what doesn't work, because everyone has a different opinion. I can take the red heat bulb out, should I with the repti glo on too? We don't get some of the brands here in winnipeg that you do. What should I be using for heat and for uvb?

More realistically, though- tortoises see in color, and eyes only develop properly if they get good light- that means as close to real white as possible (most fluorescent and MVB bulbs are not very white). Also, since the see color and probably some UV. a red bulb is probably a lot brighter than you think it is at night, so may interrupt the sleep cycle.

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Thanks!

Off topic, but I LOOOVE the name Sheloise!!!

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HI,,,sorry,I should have mentioned that she does have a uvb light too

No. During the day Shelloise needs a UVB light, a light that gives off the UVB rays that the tortoise would be getting if it lived outside. This is crucial to the tortoise's health and well-being.

Besides that, some turtles will eat substrate if a red light is shining on it.

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lol,,thanks

Also, a red light could lead to your tortoise developing a bad reputation...

Welcome to both of you, btw!

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Does Shelloise get to go outside and experience real sunlight? If she does, even for an hour or so at a time, a few X a week, you can go w/o an UV lamp until it gets too cool (70 or thereabouts)...ths gives you time to order the right type of light via the internet.

No artificial light is as healthful as real sunlight, so get her out into the sun at every opportunity you can!

 

[shelloise]

HI,,Yes, I have her out daily while our weather is nice. Which should be ok for a while yet (hopefully)

I should be able to find a light that is the right one in my city, just not sure what to get anymore.

Does Shelloise get to go outside and experience real sunlight? If she does, even for an hour or so at a time, a few X a week, you can go w/o an UV lamp until it gets too cool (70 or thereabouts)...ths gives you time to order the right type of light via the internet.

No artificial light is as healthful as real sunlight, so get her out into the sun at every opportunity you can!

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so which light is the right one to get?? for heat and for uvb?

More realistically, though- tortoises see in color, and eyes only develop properly if they get good light- that means as close to real white as possible (most fluorescent and MVB bulbs are not very white). Also, since the see color and probably some UV. a red bulb is probably a lot brighter than you think it is at night, so may interrupt the sleep cycle.

 

[Alan RF]

Im using an infrared red heat lamp with a 12% UVB strip light as the light during the day this is 2ft away from the tortoise. The red lamp stays on, on a night for heat. I've not had a problem with him eating the substrate or bulbs going wrong etc

 

[The4ts]

We've used both white basking lights and red lights with a UVB light as well and found the box turtles are much more energetic with red lights, they hide from white basking lights but our Russian tortoise likes the white light better, so it might just depend on your tort. But having UVB is crucial and red lights do tend to be more fragile and go out often like other comments have mentioned. We've gone through two in one enclosure in less than 6 months.

 

[Alan RF]

We've used both white basking lights and red lights with a UVB light as well and found the box turtles are much more energetic with red lights, they hide from white basking lights but our Russian tortoise likes the white light better, so it might just depend on your tort. But having UVB is crucial and red lights do tend to be more fragile and go out often like other comments have mentioned. We've gone through two in one enclosure in less than 6 months.

Yikes I'd better buy a spare one just in case! I've only been using this set up for over a month but so far so good.

 

[shelloise]

HI,,I will use the red heat lamp still then, but I do not have the set up for a strip light,,is there another type other than the coil lights that I can use?

Im using an infrared red heat lamp with a 12% UVB strip light as the light during the day this is 2ft away from the tortoise. The red lamp stays on, on a night for heat. I've not had a problem with him eating the substrate or bulbs going wrong etc

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ok thanks, Shelloise is a cherry head red foot. what type of light is the white one?

We've used both white basking lights and red lights with a UVB light as well and found the box turtles are much more energetic with red lights, they hide from white basking lights but our Russian tortoise likes the white light better, so it might just depend on your tort. But having UVB is crucial and red lights do tend to be more fragile and go out often like other comments have mentioned. We've gone through two in one enclosure in less than 6 months.

 

[Redstrike]

I'm not particularly fond of the red lights. The lighting in my indoor enclosure already stinks at replicating true sunlight, the red lights make it seem even more artificial to me. Just my two cents...

 

[Tom]

You can just use a regular incandescent flood bulb from any hardware store for some heat and light, since your tortoise gets regular outside time and real sunshine. Many redfoot keepers here on the forum use a long tube type florescent for light and UV, and a ceramic heating element on a thermostat to maintain the ambient temp day and night. From what I know this seems like the best compromise for this species.

I would not use that coil bulb or that red bulb personally.

 

[shelloise]

the problem is I can only count on decent weather where it si warm enough for another couple of weeks. So I do need a uvb light. I don't have the set up for a strip one, and don't want to use the coil kind. also was told 100 to hot, and 50 is to cool for heat. The red bulb keeps one end of the enclosure at 80-87 or so. and that is a 60 . I was also told that the 40 watt daylight blue bulb I bought would work, from the pet store. same with the coil bulb, so other than constantly spending money on the wrong things, I thought I would check here, but there seems to be a lot of different opinions and I am trying to find out what I can use. I realise that everyone is trying to be helpful, but I still don't know what to use light wise other than coil or strip

You can just use a regular incandescent flood bulb from any hardware store for some heat and light, since your tortoise gets regular outside time and real sunshine. Many redfoot keepers here on the forum use a long tube type florescent for light and UV, and a ceramic heating element on a thermostat to maintain the ambient temp day and night. From what I know this seems like the best compromise for this species.

I would not use that coil bulb or that red bulb personally.

 

[Tom]

I understand. Everybody has different preferences based on their experiences and their particular situation. You can buy a fixture for the tube type fluorescents at the pet store or any hardware store.

There is not one single "right" way to do it. I think you are going to need to do a bit of experimenting to find out what will work best for you. All we can do is share our opinions about what has worked for us.

 

[Redstrike]

I understand. Everybody has different preferences based on their experiences and their particular situation. You can buy a fixture for the tube type fluorescents at the pet store or any hardware store.

There is not one single "right" way to do it. I think you are going to need to do a bit of experimenting to find out what will work best for you. All we can do is share our opinions about what has worked for us.

Well said.

 

[shelloise]

Thanks, yes, I know from being on different animal forums over the years that you can learn a lot and just have to sort out what works best, as you said. I am going to the pet store in the morning to get the right lights for her. I do appreciate being able to ask questions and learning from the forum.

I understand. Everybody has different preferences based on their experiences and their particular situation. You can buy a fixture for the tube type fluorescents at the pet store or any hardware store.

There is not one single "right" way to do it. I think you are going to need to do a bit of experimenting to find out what will work best for you. All we can do is share our opinions about what has worked for us.

 

[Alan RF]

The strip light is a zoomed reprising 12uvb bulb in a strip light fitting ... You can get different lengths 15inch to 48inch I think ...I got mine from blue lizard reptiles in the uk but you could view their website?