Thanks for the info. Too bad I just got it after setting up the new tortoise setup. I got a rubbermaid bin that's kind of a hazy clear...I'm hoping that the haziness will make it easier for the tortoise to realize it's not clear. If he/she does have any problems with it, then I can switch it with another one.

The container I got is about 34" long, 13-14" wide, and 12" tall (which will be fine until the little guy/girl reaches 4"...we will have the new enclosure done long before then though). It has about 3-4" of dirt in it, so the UV bulb is around 8-9 inches away... in some spots more like 10-11". I really don't believe that those flourescent tubes do much as it is. I personally believe that the proper supplementation is infinitely more important than UV lighting, but being that tortoises seem to do better outdoors, I am using a UV lamp for mine. The bulb I've got in now is a little old, so I'm planning on replacing it this week. If I can find an appropriate sized mercury vapor bulb for not much more money, I will opt for that, at least while the little thing is growing quickly. With calcium and d3 in their diet though, reptiles can do awesome with no UV....I just don't suggest it to anyone, because it's nice to have UV in your enclosures.

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