UVB

[jharrris]

My tortoise Shelly had to go to the vet for some skin issues that the vet said are not serious and are related to UVB deficiency. I do not have a UVB bulb but I had been taking Shelly outside for hours a week and assumed it was enough UVB. I think now I'd like to put in a UVB fixture, I know that the tubes are best but are there any screw-in UVB bulbs that will work? I have a light fixture that I could easily put a bulb in without having to buy and mount a tube fixture. Even if they aren't very strong, maybe I could take her outside AND use a UVB screw in bulb? If absolutely necessary I will get a tube or make a really good outdoor enclosure but I would prefer to save money

 

[jharrris]

My tortoise Shelly had to go to the vet for some skin issues that the vet said are not serious and are related to UVB deficiency. I do not have a UVB bulb but I had been taking Shelly outside for hours a week and assumed it was enough UVB. I think now I'd like to put in a UVB fixture, I know that the tubes are best but are there any screw-in UVB bulbs that will work? I have a light fixture that I could easily put a bulb in without having to buy and mount a tube fixture. Even if they aren't very strong, maybe I could take her outside AND use a UVB screw in bulb? If absolutely necessary I will get a tube or make a really good outdoor enclosure but I would prefer to save money

I had been putting her in a large plastic utility box full of substrate with a water dish and a pot for shade for UVB, inside of a large dog crate for protection. I had her in there usually around 4 hours a week spread across multiple days but it's small so I don't like keeping her there for long. Maybe there is a better solution for an outdoor enclosure that she feels actually comfortable in

 

[Tom]

My tortoise Shelly had to go to the vet for some skin issues that the vet said are not serious and are related to UVB deficiency. I do not have a UVB bulb but I had been taking Shelly outside for hours a week and assumed it was enough UVB. I think now I'd like to put in a UVB fixture, I know that the tubes are best but are there any screw-in UVB bulbs that will work? I have a light fixture that I could easily put a bulb in without having to buy and mount a tube fixture. Even if they aren't very strong, maybe I could take her outside AND use a UVB screw in bulb? If absolutely necessary I will get a tube or make a really good outdoor enclosure but I would prefer to save money

First, vets don't know tortoises. I know of no "skin issue" that is caused by a lack of UV, and four hours of sun per week is more than enough to meet their UV needs. UV allows them to generate D3 in their skin. D3 allows them to absorb and use calcium in the diet, which allows them to grow correctly and prevents MBD. Lack of UV does not cause "skin issues".

None of the screw in type UV bulbs are suitable. If you want indoor UV, you need the newer HO tube types. I highly recommend the Arcadia 12% Pro T5 Kit. Its the best of the best. The ZooMed 10.0 HO tubes can work too.

What species, size, and age?
What size and type of enclosure? Indoors and out?
What substrate? How thick and how damp?
What are your four temperatures? Warm side, cool side, basking area, and over night low?
What heating and lighting equipment?
What do you feed the tortoise?

 

[jharrris]

First, vets don't know tortoises. I know of no "skin issue" that is caused by a lack of UV, and four hours of sun per week is more than enough to meet their UV needs. UV allows them to generate D3 in their skin. D3 allows them to absorb and use calcium in the diet, which allows them to grow correctly and prevents MBD. Lack of UV does not cause "skin issues".

None of the screw in type UV bulbs are suitable. If you want indoor UV, you need the newer HO tube types. I highly recommend the Arcadia 12% Pro T5 Kit. Its the best of the best. The ZooMed 10.0 HO tubes can work too.

What species, size, and age?
What size and type of enclosure? Indoors and out?
What substrate? How thick and how damp?
What are your four temperatures? Warm side, cool side, basking area, and over night low?
What heating and lighting equipment?
What do you feed the tortoise?

Makes sense. I think I will just make a better outdoor enclosure which I originally planned on doing anyway.

1. Russian, full grown probably about 6-7 inches, and 5-6 but could be older cause she was an adult when we got her.

2. Indoor enclosure is 4x8 and made of plywood. Eco earth substrate in both enclosures. Outdoor is about 3 feet by 1 foot, plastic utility box as I mentioned before. Shelly doesn't seem to like it in there very much which is why I want to upgrade

3. Eco earth, I mist it every day and mix in a bunch of water about once or twice a week, and Shelly has a humid hide.

4. The basking area is about 93-95 with the black pond liner I have absorbing heat and often being about 100 degrees but Shelly rubs up against it so I assumed it wasn't too hot. The warmer side around the basking light is 70-80 and the rest of the enclosure is about 70. I keep the house temp at 69. Everything turns off around 7 pm so Shelly is at house temp at night.

5. Basking light is an incandescent flood bulb in a ceramic dome light fixture. It's on an adjustable light stand if I need to raise or lower it. I have a different type of dome-like fixture with a regular LED bulb in it for ambient lighting.

6. Shelly eats a spring mix with soaked grassland tortoise pellets and I have the kapiolo farms testudo mix. I mix in a different dried weed from it every day. Then I soak all of it. Twice a week I sprinkle some calcium powder and every once in a while I put some food grade diatemacous earth. The vet said Shelly needs more vitamin A so I will start feeding 9occasional spinach

 

[wellington]

Yes, an outdoor enclosure is where she should be living all summer long. It should be at least a 4x8 foot same size her indoor enclosure needs to be. Hopefully you can go bigger outside.
I second Toms post.

 

[Tom]

Makes sense. I think I will just make a better outdoor enclosure which I originally planned on doing anyway.

1. Russian, full grown probably about 6-7 inches, and 5-6 but could be older cause she was an adult when we got her.

2. Indoor enclosure is 4x8 and made of plywood. Eco earth substrate in both enclosures. Outdoor is about 3 feet by 1 foot, plastic utility box as I mentioned before. Shelly doesn't seem to like it in there very much which is why I want to upgrade

3. Eco earth, I mist it every day and mix in a bunch of water about once or twice a week, and Shelly has a humid hide.

4. The basking area is about 93-95 with the black pond liner I have absorbing heat and often being about 100 degrees but Shelly rubs up against it so I assumed it wasn't too hot. The warmer side around the basking light is 70-80 and the rest of the enclosure is about 70. I keep the house temp at 69. Everything turns off around 7 pm so Shelly is at house temp at night.

5. Basking light is an incandescent flood bulb in a ceramic dome light fixture. It's on an adjustable light stand if I need to raise or lower it. I have a different type of dome-like fixture with a regular LED bulb in it for ambient lighting.

6. Shelly eats a spring mix with soaked grassland tortoise pellets and I have the kapiolo farms testudo mix. I mix in a different dried weed from it every day. Then I soak all of it. Twice a week I sprinkle some calcium powder and every once in a while I put some food grade diatemacous earth. The vet said Shelly needs more vitamin A so I will start feeding 9occasional spinach

All of this sounds pretty good.

2. Definitely time to upgrade and go much bigger outside. Here is one way I like to do it to keep them safe ad contained:


3. I find coco coir to be too messy for adults. I prefer orchid bark if you can get it. Cypress mulch can work too.
4. Make it closer to 100 under the basking lamp. Measure this by laying a digital thermometer on its back directly under the lamp and letting it cook there for an our or more. You should put a piece of 3/4 inch plywood or a flat rock that size to raise it up a little bit and get it to tortoise shell height.
6. You are doing okay with the diet, but better to feed more natural foods like weeds and leaves. Use endive or escarole from the store more than spring mix. I would not intentionally feed DE to a tortoise. Everything tortoises eat is full of vitamin A. Tortoises rarely if ever suffer from vitamin A deficiency. That is an aquatic turtle thing, and more indicative of your vets lack of tortoise knowledge.

 

[jharrris]

All of this sounds pretty good.

2. Definitely time to upgrade and go much bigger outside. Here is one way I like to do it to keep them safe ad contained:
View attachment 371355

3. I find coco coir to be too messy for adults. I prefer orchid bark if you can get it. Cypress mulch can work too.
4. Make it closer to 100 under the basking lamp. Measure this by laying a digital thermometer on its back directly under the lamp and letting it cook there for an our or more. You should put a piece of 3/4 inch plywood or a flat rock that size to raise it up a little bit and get it to tortoise shell height.
6. You are doing okay with the diet, but better to feed more natural foods like weeds and leaves. Use endive or escarole from the store more than spring mix. I would not intentionally feed DE to a tortoise. Everything tortoises eat is full of vitamin A. Tortoises rarely if ever suffer from vitamin A deficiency. That is an aquatic turtle thing, and more indicative of your vets lack of tortoise knowledge.

Thank you!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

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