Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just aquired an adult male Greek tortoise and was curious as to what lights most of you use.

I plan on purchasing a self ballisted mercury vapor bulb to supply both basking heat and UVB light but was curious as to which brand to choose, or are all of them about equal?

I see so many choices such as T-Rex, Zoo Med, Fluker, Exo Terra...etc.

Any suggestions?
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1.0 Greek Tortoise
0.0.1 Normal Corn
0.1 Ball Python
1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.1 Green Iguana

for my redfoot i use a reptisun 10.0 fluorescent tube bulb with a reflector behind it for uva/uvb since it seems to be the best performer based on test results i've read about. for heat i use a zoo med ceramic heat emitter; i chose that brand primarily because theirs is the only one that is ul approved.

site with some numbers on various bulb outputs:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

Very good reasoning and very good selection of products. I agree with Unchikun.

What would be a good UV light for baby Mt.Tortoises. I have supected eye damage from uv lights in the past. In nature they live in very dark forest with little Sun exsposure. What I do now is filter the light with plants or pegboard and other things to brake up or filter the light and limit the exsposure to a few hours. My concern is if they are getting what they need with a 2.2 or should I use a 5.0 or more, the way I am doing it. Some eye damage is only suspected and slight and I also suspect the ones that just dont thrive "might" be because of this. I do know that there IS damage of a high degree with long hours of UV. It could also just be a young baby's eyes that are at risk. The UV is of cource being used very close to the animal as required by the makers of the lights. I am able to keep them on a screen porch with natural but limited UV from three weeks old until about late Nov.(this has helped a lot in many ways) Any other tripple canapee deep forest tortoise keepers experence this concern. Always trying to improve to the point of perfection. Vic

what a cute, grouchy little face!

i've read what you mentioned elsewhere, regarding redfoots -- that forest tortoises don't require as much direct light and that too much may actually harm their eyes. i always optimistically assumed that if given shade, a hide, or other "escape" from the light/heat, instinct would lead them to do what they need to do. junior has always seemed to self-regulate, whether as a baby living in an aquarium or now as she freely wanders in and out of her enclosure. she gets to hang out on the porch with us sometimes, too.

With that shape can you really be critical of how it was kept?

>> junior has always seemed to self-regulate, whether as a baby living in an aquarium or now as she freely wanders in and out of her enclosure. she gets to hang out on the porch with us sometimes, too.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

welllllllll.... long story! the cliff's notes of it is that she was as the vet said "too well cared for" and is overweight/oversized for her age; this he believes is why she hit sexual maturity so soon (she had ovarian stasis, which was the case of her weakness and why she was spayed). also her liver is fatty, so she's on a "diet"... never thought i'd have to count calories, especially for a tortoise!

but she's doing much better and has perked up over time.

junior says: "thanks for the compliment!"

I don't have that problem I keep mine in shoe and sweater boxes.

>>What would be a good UV light for baby Mt.Tortoises. I have supected eye damage from uv lights in the past. In nature they live in very dark forest with little Sun exsposure. What I do now is filter the light with plants or pegboard and other things to brake up or filter the light and limit the exsposure to a few hours. My concern is if they are getting what they need with a 2.2 or should I use a 5.0 or more, the way I am doing it. Some eye damage is only suspected and slight and I also suspect the ones that just dont thrive "might" be because of this. I do know that there IS damage of a high degree with long hours of UV. It could also just be a young baby's eyes that are at risk. The UV is of cource being used very close to the animal as required by the makers of the lights. I am able to keep them on a screen porch with natural but limited UV from three weeks old until about late Nov.(this has helped a lot in many ways) Any other tripple canapee deep forest tortoise keepers experence this concern. Always trying to improve to the point of perfection. Vic
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Well,that clears things up! ?

LOL!

you mean you don't use one of these?! check out the see-through sides -- that means your tortoise can get light from all angles!

Hi Vic, dont wont to start WWIII here, only a suggestion I had success with in baby box turtles and tortoises. Throw out the uv lamp and provide a appropriate size incadescent lamp for both heat and light. Then add calcium with d3 to their meals. I'm not going to defend myself on this issue other than saying it works for me and my tortoises are healthy and happy.(they told me so)

Thanks,That is the best sorce. Its just the first year I have to deal with it,because its the fastest development they go through. After that they can stay outside just about all year.I think I'll try a group that way and compare. Thanks again. Vic M. ps WWIII is with USHS & Peta. Please support your Python Bros. go to the Wild life forum to see whats going on because we are next. NEED CALLS & FAX TODAY