Hi everyone, I am another 'newbie' who WAS very confused with the UVB and Basking lights.  After reading this forum, I now understand the difference!...but....how far away from the substrate (sand/soil) should I have the Mercury Vapour Bulb (120w) suspended?  Also, how long does it stay on whilst they are this young?  Of course, they will have adequate shelters and water and fresh greens.

I'm sooo excited preparing to get some baby Hermans, just want to make sure I don't end up boiling them to death on their first day!

Also, should I start sprinkling calcium at this early stage?

Thanks Heaps for any advice offered!

Forgot to say...they are only about 6 weeks old at the moment, thanks!

Hi and

It is really exciting isn't, it reminds me of how I was before I got my two.

Hopefully Dave from the TPG admin will come in on this as he is really good with questions like this. Until he does maybe I can help a little. The basking area should be 30-32c so you will have to adjust the bulb accordlingly until that temp is reached, you will have to keep on eye on it though as the temperature will increase after a few hours.
I dust the food every day with nutrabol and twice a week with lime flour, and always put a cuttlefish in which is a good source of calcium, she will take what she wants, it is also good for keeping the beak trimmed. They don't generally like clean cuttlefish and advice that it is put in the garden for a few days then put it their pens.
Hope this helps
Jane, Keya & Molly

Thanks Jane,Keya & Molly!

Will keep watching for Dave's reply, but thank you for that useful advice - I will remember to use it.  I seemed to have trawled through so much advice on this site and many others (all very helpful) but think that it gets to be too much to take in sometimes and a little simple straight talk helps loads!

Thanks again,

Azra

I'm blushing

The recommended minimum distance for the old 100 watt megaray was at least 12" from the animal. The 120 watt may be putting out a little more heat, I don't actually have one but Megaray are very good at explaining the restrictions, the side of the box usually has a UVB spreadchart that shows minimum distances. Always remember to take these sort of measurements from the top of the tortoises shell, so 12" from the highest point of the tortoises carapace if it was basking directly under the lamp (probably not very much for 6 week old babies!). Personally I would aim to keep the basking spot between 32-34 centigrade.

Hope this helps

Forgot to add about how long the lamp should be on for. I have little Hermanns tortoises just over a year old and although they spend a lot of time tucked away somewhere I still let the lamp run for 12-14 hours a day. They tend to come back out towards the evening, I'm sure this is because the ambient temperatures of the room drop a little.

  Thanks for your help and advice!  Still looking for babies!

Hi again, I have another query!

The UVB lamp again .... or more like the bulb.  If the wattage is 100w for example, what are the ones sold in the pet shops as UV bulbs and 23w????  They are £29.99 - I am curious?

Can someone clear this up, because I don't understand why they are so different? thanks again!

Hi there,

These are probably compact UV bulbs. They are likt a coiled flourescent tube. They don't produce heat so dont act like a combined heat/Uv bulb and an additional basking bulb is required.

Thank you very much again for your help!