Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm having trouble deciding on the specific light fixture for my setup. My enclosure is a 50 gallon rubbermaid that is 12 inches high so I'd like to clamp a mercury lamp on one side. However, I've read guidelines where the minimum distance for a 100 spot is 18" and a 100 flood is 6". I was going to buy a spot thinking it would focus on a small area for basking but maybe it would be too strong for my setup. Would a flood be better, any ideas?

Also, do you keep a mercury lamp on all the time or turn it off at night and back on in the morning? Thanks,

Fred

What kind of tortoise do you have? From the size of your enclosure, I think that a mercury vapor light would be too much. Mercury vapor lights are really great because they provide UVA, UVB and an intense light. If you end up using a spot light or flood light, you will have to augment it with UVB lighting. At 100W, I think either the flood or spot light would fit your needs. Having used both of those types of lights, I prefer the use of the basking spot lights for my reptiles.

I keep my tortoises outdoors during the day and take them in at night, but provide mercury vapor lights for some of my juvenile monitors. I keep their mercury vapor lights on for only 8 hours a day and other UVB lighting on for 10-12 hours depending on the time of year. I keep all my different types of lighting on different timers so they turn on and off automatically. With the colder temperatures at this time of year, I know that keeping tortoises outdoors is not an option for most people in the US.

Michael

Fred,

Sorry for not reading your earlier post. From where you live in Florida, you should be able to keep your Russian Tortoise outside during the day and take it in at night. Lighting gets better and better with technology, but there is nothing that replicates the benefits of natural sunlight. I keep most of my hatchlings in big plastic kiddie pools with cut grass substrate and take them in at night.

Sind Sie ein Deutsche? nimmer froh= never happy.

Michael

My dad is German - mom is from Ecuador. I think that's why he came over here, got picked on for his last name. I know some German, I studied over there for a year but like they say, if you don't use it, you lose it. Most non-Germans get stumped on the 'nimmer' part of my name so am I to assume that you have some German roots in your family?

Fred

Fred,

Yes, 50% German. My father is American. I grew up with the German language and keep in close contact with my family in Germany. I know what you mean about using it or loosing it. I lost the ability of speaking Spanish and Tagalog, although I still understand quite a bit. I have trouble keeping the other 4 swimming around in my head.

If you are really serious about reptiles, there are some outstanding publications and journals in the German language. The Germans tend to take their herpetoculture (husbandry of reptiles and amphibians) very seriously. Of course, you probably already know that the Germans take most things a little bit too seriously The DGHT (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde- German Association for Herpetology and Art of Terrariums) publishes some of the best information available in any language (often in English also).

Michael

Thanks for your help. I plan to purchase a male Russian tortoise. I work part time so I'm at home for the good part of most days and I love spending time with my pets so I'll take him/her outside as much as possible (I live in Florida so I'll have to pick the non-humid days for outside roaming I suppose). While inside I'm leaning towards the T-REX 100 watt UV heat (mercury vapor) flood lamp as I hope this will take care of the UVB and heat requirements for my tort. I know now that the light goes off at night (thanks). The Bed-a-beast and Timothy hay looks like a good substrate foundation with a water/soaking container. Your system of timers for lights sounds great and certainly advanced beyond my novice effort. I wonder if it's ok for my tort to graze on the backyard grass. I live in a condo and I don't know if they treat the grass or not. Anyway I feel better about the lighting issue, thanks.