Hi there

This is a great site, I have not yet got a tortoise as have found it hard to get a breader in Scotland, I have asked my dad to make me a tortoise table as I was going to buy a vivarium until I found this site.  Can anyone suggest which type of lighting to buy for the table top?

Thanks

Evonne

 welcome Evonne and thank you for all your comments. If you click on THE TORTOISE in the menu bar on the left of your screen you will find care sheets for each species in there. With in the care sheets the UV/B lighting is explained. There is also a supplier listed in the links section and if you give him a call Darren will advise you on what light system would best suit your set up. What part of Scotland are you from? I agree with finding a Scottish breeder; it is very hard but please don't weaken and buy via a pet shop, they are normally quite poorly after their long journey from afar.

Feel free to ask away once you have read the information on site. Good to have you here.

TC

Elaine

Hi there

Thanks for your reply, I stay near Glasgow, I went to my local pet store and felt really sorry for the tortoise"s in the vivarium, they did not even have there own tank, I think it was a type of Lizard they shared with. I asked if they had been imported and they had.    My son does not want to buy from a pet store or on- line.  Is there any dealers who use reliable postal service.

Thanks

Evonne

On-line are even worse than pet shops in my opinion. I use to live in Cumbernauld, then Kirkintilloch, small world when your online! Some breeders may be willing to travel half way to meet you with a tortoise. If you look at the breeders list and give the ones closest to you a call, that might be an idea. Perhaps someone else reading may have more of an idea how to help. I'll get my thinking cap on.

TC

Elaine

Hi Evonne,

Did you contact the breeders on the list (the ones furthest north) to see if they'd be prepared to meet up with you part way at all?


TC
Draren

Thanks all,

I will try and do that as that would not be a problem traveling half way.

Thanks everyone

Good Luck Evonne - it's so good to see people taking care when taking on tortoises and not making a snap decision. Even if it seems a lot hore hassle initially, in the long run at least you know your new addition(s) will be healthy,

TC
Darren

I am also wondering this. I have looked in the care sheet for Hermans, but i could not find much in there. I am not sure if i should get one of the heaters which also emit UVB or if i should get seperate heater and UVB light?

I also a curious as to the height of the heater. I know it should be towards the end of the table, and also so the tort cant touch it, but is it literraly a case of making it higher and lower to enable the correct temperature at the top of the torts shell?

Hi there

Lighting for a tortoise does two things - provides warmth where the tortoise can bask to raise his body temperature, and also provide uv which the tortoise needs to produce vitamin d to convert calcium in his diet into healthy shell and bone.  There are bascially two different options for the lighting:-

1. a single combined unit which gives out both heat and uv.  These are very good, but do run quite hot and must be used with the correctly rated ceramic holder and a suitable shade.  More expensive initally than the separate uv source and heat source and they do need to be securely fitted, but these are very good, and the bulbs generally last a couple of years before needing replacing.  For a tortoise table set up, I would go for a 100w flood version.

2.  Separate basking and uv lights.  The basking lamp can be as simple as an ordinary household spot light in a suitable holder - it just needs to produce warmth.  I prefer the tube uv lights to the compact bulbs as they provide better coverage over the enclosure.  These will also need a starter unit, and a reflector is also recommended.  The 2 separate units are cheaper initially, but the tube will need replacing after about 6 months use.

The temperature in the basking area needs to be around 28 - 30C for young tortoises, so the height of the lamp is dependant on gaining the correct temperature underneath it and will therefore depend on the wattage of the bulb, ambient temperature etc. 

I hope this helps a bit, as has been mentioned in a previous post, Darren will always be happy to recommend the best combination of lighting if you let him know details of your set up.

regards

Arlene

thanks for all the information, you have cleared things up a lot. I was just wondering if you can use a single spot light on a thermostat which can be set so it alters so for the evening it can be lowered, it would save me having to turn it off every night as i may not be in the house or something?

can anyone please link me up with some suitable spot lights and uv lights for a table which is 2ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft?

Also who is this daren guy, and how do i contact him?

I have been looking at heating solutions. I am a bit flabber-gasted by the number of different kinds and the values for them all. I have a few questions to ask:-

1. what is the difference between:
Sun Glo Day Light Basking Lamp
Standard Clear Reflector Spot Bulbs (ES)
Standard Clear Reflector Spot Bulbs (BC)

2. What does the ES and BC mean on the above two bulbs - there both the same price and wattage.

3. the ES is R60, and the BC is R80 - what is the difference between R60 and R80?

Finally, am i right in thinking these bulbs will need to go in a ceramic holder or could they go in a desk lamp or something similar as it is the bulb itself which produces the heat and not the ceramic holder? obviously the holder should be metal or a suitable material as to not burn and melt.

(heating found on http://www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/incandescent.html)

Hi there,

Lighting can be really confusing, the ES and BC are the way the light fits, ie either a screw in or bayonet fitting.  The R60 and R80 are the spread of the beam on a spot light.  In an indoor tortoise table, you can easily and cheaply set up a basking lamp using a spot light 60w (from B&Q, Tesco, etc) in a bendy desk lamp or spot lamp holder, just make sure the holder is rated to take the wattage of bulb.  These sort of bulbs should not need a ceramic holder.

regards

Arlene

I wouldnt bother with a thermostat - a simple timer will work well if you need something to turn the lights on and off.   If you click on the Links section on the left hand side, and go to Equipment Suppiers, you will find Darren at Kimbos Reptile World.

All the best

Arlene