what a difference a table and D3 makes

[tuftybunny]

After a stressful couple of weeks with the rehomed little fella - I think Rommel seems to have stuck as his name, I think we have finally cracked it.
When we rehomed him he had been in a viv with nothing in it baring some pellet substrate and a food bowl. And he was very listless and not really eating. He was also not drinking and loosing weight.
So when my eldest son Tom rang me from town to say the pet shop had indoor large rabbit cages reduced I shot down there and snapped one up. He is now in a 100cm by 50cm "table" complete with topsoil, sand, rocks, a birch log, 2 hides created out of broken large terracotta pots and a "pool" oh and some weeds planted into the soil, an aloe plant and some other plants. Heat was a problem as he was used to being in the viv, so hubby kindly brought me a Arcadia D3 160w bulb and rigged up a nice bar to hang it off (used the rod bit from the plumbers tool to turn off your water outside). He also has a small heat bulb to provide a basking spot. Within hours of the bulb going on his was looking more alert - I really rate these bulbs after seeing the difference in him. Will be looking at getting a smaller one for Kiwi the baby hermanns when she gets up in a couple of weeks.
Well what a difference - it has taken him a couple of weeks but he is now almost walking properly on his front feet (his claws front and back were well over 1" long and had to be cut) is climbing up things and generally exploring. He had a long drink the other day almost 6 minutes without bringing his head up - i was getting worried thinking he was trying to committ tortiscide, but he was drinking constantly. And now is eating... wooohooo.
His legs are not as strong as kiwi my little hermanns but he is getting there. I've been so worried about him, but fingers crossed we have turned the corner now and he will start to thrive. I'm still slightly worried about his eyesight as he seems to "sniff" everything but perhaps that is what these torts do. Kiwi has never sniffed anything in her life, she just piles in but i guess that is her personality.

[Pussygalore]

can i ask why you need a heat bulb for basking when the main arcadia bulb should be providing this, you shouldn't need two, if you have dark areas then a normal house bulb in a free standing lamp can provide extra light without heat. You only need the area under the combined bulb to be the hot/basking area the rest should be room temp or around 20c. The tort has to be able to find cool areas as well as hot to regulate its temp.

[yuna1971]

I suppose it can depend on what temps are being registered under the basking spot to ascertain whether extra heating is needed. Factors like the size of table, room temps - where the table is situated in terms of cold draughts coming in can play a part.
IMO - although the Arcadia lights are excellent (light, UV output and decay rate), the heat I find is less intense than that of a similar Mega Ray 160w.
But as I say, I think it all depends on temps. Basking, ambient, and cool end/sleeping area as to whether additional heat is needed. xx

[emma_mcraf]

Wonderful to hear that Rommel is eating and looking so much better. His table sounds very nice.

[tuftybunny]

The basking spot is not very hot under the D3 if it is at the correct height so he has a small 45w bulb if he wants to bask at one end of his table, the D3 is in the centre, so he has an ambient temp of around 21c and 35 under his spotlight. Although the far end of his table is 19-20c he also has 2 hides to get out of the way if he feels like it. But doesn't seem to spend much time down the cooler end of the table, just a quick perimeter patrol even though that is where all the weeds and plants are

[Pussygalore]

if he's going to bask you want it under the D3 bulb not one that's not giving of any uv, like yuna suggested maybe putting the extra bulb next/near to the D3 would be better rather than having it away from it.

[abelly08]

Can you not lower the bulb to see what temps would read of a thermometer? The acardia should provide the right temp as people have suggested, I have a 150w basking bulb and that can reach 40c ok at a distance of 1ft gap from soil to substrate.

[yuna1971]

I think see what temps you get with the Arcadia on its own first. With a digital thermometer or infrared (laser) one - you will be able to tell this quite quickly. Remember at the moment - outside weather is good. The night temps are dropping like they probably will in a really cold snap (like last year). If you lower the light remember there is a minimum height. You must not go below this. And it must face directly downards, not at an angle for any combined bulb.
Depending on the size of table, and as you are overwintering - you need to wrap the room up like fort knox. No draughts. Keep the table well lit. And away from things that are likely to cool it.
Ambient temps like PG said - aim for 20/21 degrees. Your basking spot needs to be at around 32-34 degrees and your cool end around 23/22 degrees. This enables torty to thermoregulate.
If you are not getting the warmth up then an additional bulb can be used. But set it back. Angled in perhaps. Also consider perhaps a ceramic heat emitter rigged up to a thermostat - which you can program to kick in if the temps drop below what you need.

I would consider these things - but only if your temps warrant the change. Hope you get things sorted. It really is only a bit of tweaking if nothing else. xx

[abelly08]

Originally Posted by yuna1971

I think see what temps you get with the Arcadia on its own first. With a digital thermometer or infrared (laser) one - you will be able to tell this quite quickly. Remember at the moment - outside weather is good. The night temps are dropping like they probably will in a really cold snap (like last year). If you lower the light remember there is a minimum height. You must not go below this. And it must face directly downards, not at an angle for any combined bulb.
Depending on the size of table, and as you are overwintering - you need to wrap the room up like fort knox. No draughts. Keep the table well lit. And away from things that are likely to cool it.
Ambient temps like PG said - aim for 20/21 degrees. Your basking spot needs to be at around 32-34 degrees and your cool end around 23/22 degrees. This enables torty to thermoregulate.
If you are not getting the warmth up then an additional bulb can be used. But set it back. Angled in perhaps. Also consider perhaps a ceramic heat emitter rigged up to a thermostat - which you can program to kick in if the temps drop below what you need.

I would consider these things - but only if your temps warrant the change. Hope you get things sorted. It really is only a bit of tweaking if nothing else. xx

Good advice what Rachel has given you.

[tuftybunny]

Well purchased a new thermometer and the temps are higher than I was reading before. Not put the spotlight on for the last couple of days and he us basking happily under the d 3 bulb. So will only use the spot if it gets colder or may put in a dark spot for night time temps. He lives in the family room at the moment so quite warm anyway as it's also my office when working from home