hi can anyone help i need to know whats the best uvb light size wise and basking light i will need for my indoor table and what time of day they should be switched on and off im getting a horsfield for my son and want to get the table ready for its arrival can i use one of those uvb lights that look the energy saving bulbs or will this be too small in size.

Hello

You have 2 options with the lighting for your tortoise table - you can have a single light which produces both heat for basking and also uv, or you can have separate uv and basking lights.

The combined lights are very good, for an indoor tortoise table, I would go for a 100w flood size, you do also need a ceramic holder and shade, and a secure fixing for it, Darren at Kimbos currently has the Megaray lamps, which a lot of people are using very sucessfully.  The light needs to be approx 18" from tortoise level, giving a basking heat of around 30 - 32C, you may need to adjust the height up or down to achieve this.

If you go for 2 separate lights, the basking light is just a simple 60w spot bulb in a clip on holder, or bendy desk lamp, again this needs to be at a height which will give the correct basking temp.  You can get the compact uv lights (the ones that look like energy saving bulbs) the only thing with these is that they dont give very good coverage over the whole table, so personally I think the tubes are better in that respect.  You need to be looking at at least a 5% tube, they come in different lengths, so get the longest one you can to fit your table.  You will also need a starter unit for the flourescent tube, and I would also recommend a reflector, these just clip on the top of the tube, and angle the light down towards the tortoise, making it more efficient. 

I have my lights on for around 8 - 10 hours a day, switched on in the morning when I get up, and off in the evening.

I hope this helps, but if you have any questions, please dont hesitate to ask.  Correct lighting is really important for the tortoise's health, and there are so many different lights on the market, I know how confusing it can be!  Hopefully we will get a decent summer, and your little tortoise can make the most of the sun!

atb

Arlene

Hi Arlene
I too am in process of setting up indoor table for some hatchlings due at end of July.
I was looking at Megaray but could only see the 120W version.....would that be OK...or is the extra 20W a waste of energy? I see that the Megarays are not widely available so I hope I can get one. If not are there any other brands that you can recommend. Many thanks for your help...really appreciate it :o)
Thanks, Nicole

Hi Nicole
The 120w Megaray will be fine as long as the encloure is large enough for the hatchlings to get away from the heat.

I think Darren kimbos reptile world has these in stock.

Steph
TPG

Hi.  We have a 4 month old Hermann hatchling arriving tomorrow.  The table is all set up, but I've a couple of questions.  How long should i leave the 125w solar glo UV heat light on for, and at what time of the day?  The temperatures are fine when the bulb is on, but I'm worried the table will become too cold when it's switched off - especially during the night.  Any advice please?