UVB lighting

[Coconikki]

Hello! My baby Leopard tortoise enclose I am building is 48x24x24 what kind of UVB should I use?
I can’t seem to get my hands on a Arcadia 14% UVB 34 inch .
Is this is what I need for my enclosure size?
What brand and size/percent would be equal?
Can I use a 24 inch 14% in this enclosure size?

Thank you.

 

[jaizei]

the 22 inch is probably better for that enclosure. you want the uvb centered over the basking area, with the area away from the basking not under the uvb light.

 

[wellington]

Please be sure to read this. Thread 'The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...se-a-sulcata-leopard-or-star-tortoise.181503/

Also your leopard needs to be in a closed chamber so humidity stays at 80%.
Thread 'Closed "Chambers"' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

 

[Coconikki]

the 22 inch is probably better for that enclosure. you want the uvb centered over the basking area, with the area away from the basking not under the uvb light.

the 22 inch is probably better for that enclosure. you want the uvb centered over the basking area, with the area away from the basking not under the uvb light.

Please be sure to read this. Thread 'The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...se-a-sulcata-leopard-or-star-tortoise.181503/

Also your leopard needs to be in a closed chamber so humidity stays at 80%.
Thread 'Closed "Chambers"' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

Thank you!
Yes, it is a closed chamber. it is a PVC enclosure.
it is 48x24x24. I purchased a radiant heat panel but now I am unsure of how to set it up with a basking spot.
will it be too hot? should I just use the heat panel at night and the basking spot during the day?
I am also unsure of my UVB percentage and length for my size enclosure.

 

[wellington]

@Tom can explain better than I can.

 

[Tom]

Thank you!
Yes, it is a closed chamber. it is a PVC enclosure.
it is 48x24x24. I purchased a radiant heat panel but now I am unsure of how to set it up with a basking spot.
will it be too hot? should I just use the heat panel at night and the basking spot during the day?
I am also unsure of my UVB percentage and length for my size enclosure.

Your RHP is a great way to maintain the correct ambient temperature. Run it through a thermostat. The basking bulb is for warming up above ambient during the day. Totally different thing.

The Arcadia 12% HO bulbs work great and are probably better suited to this application. I agree that the 22 inch one will work fine.

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials:

1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. In most cases you'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
3. Ambient light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in LED bulb types are both fine.
4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.

Read that link that Barb left in post number 3 for you.