I have an Eastern Hermanns hatchling. I posted pictures of my set up on my introduction post
Thread 'Introductions'
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/introductions.192856/
I supply UVB with a reptisun T8 10.0 tube. It is 48 inches long. Right now the enclosure is 3ft x 2ft so I have the tube light sitting diagonally across the enclosure. It is 12 inches above Opal’s shell. It has been in use for almost 2 months. I got worried that I don’t really know what the UV output is since it is a T8 bulb. It is on 12-13 hours per day but Opal usually goes into the hide or buries herself after about 9-10 hours, until the next morning.
I purchased a solarmeter 6.5r so I could see what the lamp was putting out. I’m worried it isn’t doing enough. The center of the tube is reading at 1.8-1.9. The ends are 1.1-1.2. I can’t lower the tube any further because of its length. Originally I was going to have a 4x4 ft enclosure but the breeder recommended starting smaller. Should I change to a different tube? When opal is a little bigger I plan on going to a 4x4 ft that will be covered by a plasic green house. Then increase to the adult sized pen later.
We’ll build an outdoor pen when Opal is big enough for warm months but we’ll always need a large indoor enclosure. If I’m going to purchase a new tube and fixture, I’d like to get something that will work for the current enclosure and the the bigger indoor enclosures.
Do I need to change my current tube? What length do you think would be best? I suppose I can use my current fixture in the adult enclosure since I should be able to drop it closer to the substrate if needed.
Thanks,
Joanna
Thread 'Introductions'
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/introductions.192856/
I supply UVB with a reptisun T8 10.0 tube. It is 48 inches long. Right now the enclosure is 3ft x 2ft so I have the tube light sitting diagonally across the enclosure. It is 12 inches above Opal’s shell. It has been in use for almost 2 months. I got worried that I don’t really know what the UV output is since it is a T8 bulb. It is on 12-13 hours per day but Opal usually goes into the hide or buries herself after about 9-10 hours, until the next morning.
I purchased a solarmeter 6.5r so I could see what the lamp was putting out. I’m worried it isn’t doing enough. The center of the tube is reading at 1.8-1.9. The ends are 1.1-1.2. I can’t lower the tube any further because of its length. Originally I was going to have a 4x4 ft enclosure but the breeder recommended starting smaller. Should I change to a different tube? When opal is a little bigger I plan on going to a 4x4 ft that will be covered by a plasic green house. Then increase to the adult sized pen later.
We’ll build an outdoor pen when Opal is big enough for warm months but we’ll always need a large indoor enclosure. If I’m going to purchase a new tube and fixture, I’d like to get something that will work for the current enclosure and the the bigger indoor enclosures.
Do I need to change my current tube? What length do you think would be best? I suppose I can use my current fixture in the adult enclosure since I should be able to drop it closer to the substrate if needed.
Thanks,
Joanna