How much uvb does a tortoise need

There are a variety of heat lights for tortoises and turtles, but it is important to find out what bulb wattage the enclosure requires to keep it at the desired temperature. Usually larger enclosures will need higher wattage bulbs, and smaller enclosures will naturally require less wattage to maintain appropriate temperatures.

Aside from the mercury vapor bulb which also provides UVB rays, ceramic heat emitters, and regular reptile heat light bulbs are available in various wattages. Ceramic heat emitters only emit heat, no light, and screw into a clamp light.

These are great because they last a long time, are less fragile than the light bulbs, and can be used day or night since they don't give off any light. Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases of Reptiles. Merck Veterinary Manual. Housing Aquatic Turtles.

VCA Hospitals. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. UVB lamps are categorised by their output which is measured in percentage. Also known as mercury vapour bulbs , these are excellent options for your tortoise, however, you need to be aware that while your tortoise may need heat during all hours of the day, they most definitely do not require UV light all the time.

Tortoises are used to the temperature dropping relatively low at night so most will be fine if you turn off their heat source when they go to sleep. However, if your house gets pretty chilly at night or your species of tortoise is particularly sensitive to the cold, you may want to buy a separate heat lamp that can be kept on to maintain their ideal temperature.

Ceramic heat lamps tend not to emit any light so are perfect for nighttime use. Make sure that you have the correct fittings to be able to attach these lamps to your enclosure; some will come with special arms or a clamp to help with this, otherwise, you should look into purchasing some additional attachments. Depending on what kind of tortoise lighting you opt for, the light needs to be a specific distance from your tortoise. If the bulb is too close, then it will be too hot and can cause thermal burns and dehydration, however, if it is too far away then your tortoise will not be getting the UV light it needs.

How far your bulb should be will depend on the kind of bulb you have, the UV output, as well as the wattage, so check the directions before finalising the positioning of the clamp.

You also need to be sure that there is no barrier between your tortoise and the UV lamp; UVB rays do not travel well through glass or plastic, and even mesh can drastically reduce the benefits of a UV bulb. You may also want to consider buying a shade or cover for the bulb so that anyone coming to visit your tortoise will not be shocked by the bright light.

Also, bear in mind that whether it is a heat lamp or not, all of these bulbs can get very hot so care must be taken if you ever need to make adjustments. In the wild, a tortoise would likely be getting hours of light each day. Therefore, you should opt to mimic this in their indoor enclosure. You can do this by manually turning your bulbs on and off yourself, or you can buy a timer that will take away that stress for you. Most lamps will need to be replaced every months.

Mercury vapour bulbs are said to last longer than other kinds but should still be replaced once a year.

Most brands will specify how soon you should replace them so take a look before you make a purchase as this may affect your choice. A basking lamp usually just provides heat therefore is also known as a heat lamp. While you can get combination bulbs, as we mentioned earlier, if something is marketed as a basking lamp then you should double-check whether it emits UV light, too.

Especially important in hatchlings, juveniles and egg-laying females, this can lead to MBD Metabolic bone disease , characterised by a soft and sponge-like shell, and a lack of movement from your reptile due to the pain they are in. While every tortoise needs these three things, some need it in different quantities to others, and this all depends on where their species originates from. For instance, European tortoises from temperate climates require less heat than those Mediterranean or tropical tortoises that are used to a much warmer temperature.

The most likely to have a nice time outside, European tortoises like Horsfield and Russian enjoy a more temperate climate. A tortoise keepers dream, mercury vapour bulbs feature all the heat, light and UVB output needed by your tortoise. While the components of a tortoise setup and be bought separating in the form of a UVB light, halogen light and various other overhead heat lights, a mercury vapour bulb has everything covered in one. They work well enough if your tortoise tends to bask, as you have a general idea where they hang out.

Most UVB bulbs available on the market are fluorescent. This means getting two fixtures just to provide the proper light and heating. Or you might need to get a heat mat on top of getting a UVB bulb. Mercury vapor bulbs are unique in that they also produce a lot of heat on top of producing UVB. Enough heat, in fact, to keep your tortoise comfortably toasty. A downside to mercury vapor bulbs or halogen bulbs is that sometimes, they are too good at producing heat.

This makes them a poor choice for smaller enclosures. If you have a larger habitat, however, mercury vapor bulbs are an efficient way to provide proper lighting and temperature for your tortoise. This bulb comes in a 50 T8 model specifically for desert species, and a 25 T8 model perfect for forest tortoises.

Both of these models run at 15 watts and will need a specialized fixture to use. Some shops sell the fixture and the bulb separately, but there are ones that sell them together at a discount. This bulb also produces full spectrum lighting, which can help enhance the natural colours of your enclosure, as well as encourage the natural behaviour of your tortoise.

This UVB bulb has a Because of how small they are, these bulbs do need a reflective dome to be effective.