The black (UV) light does not transmit vitamins – but instead gets the body to synthesize vitamin D3. With out UV the Tortoise body does not have the ability to synthesize vitamin D3 – resulting in metabolic bone disease. Vitamin D3 is used in observation of calcium. As a result if you keep your Tortoise indoors – you should give it a source of UVB light.



I use self ballast mercury vapor lamp – it produces both heat and UV light. This allows proper D3 creation. I think the lamp is on for 4 hours a day.



The other way you can supply D3 is too feed food high in Vitamin D3 (Some calcium is supplied with Vitamin D3 – But be warned too much Vitamin D3 can be toxic to your Tortoise). Some people talk about feeding meat.

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• blacklights? - tripletoes, Sun Mar 23 17:58:30 2008
• RE: blacklights? - renardv74, Wed Mar 26 03:01:18 2008
• RE: blacklights? - T.B, Fri Mar 28 10:57:28 2008
• RE: blacklights? - tripletoes, Fri Mar 28 21:56:08 2008
• RE: blacklights? - T.B, Sat Mar 29 08:34:24 2008
• RE: blacklights? - tripletoes, Sat Mar 29 09:34:07 2008