BRAND NEW COMBI lamp

[sandy]

Originally Posted by markbigears

John, can I ask your advice please, do you recommend that the bulb be on for 12 hours constant, or have a timer to switch it on and off during the day? Regards, Mark

If you think in the wild, they would not have the same temps all day long. They have different temps through out the day.
I have days when mine have the temps on for a while, then switched off and pretend its a dull day:0)

[markbigears]

Sandy, I've bought the new Arcadia combined D3 bulb, so I'm guessing it needs to be on everyday, I do have a T5 as well, but that obviously not for basking.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Mark. I wouldn't advise using the D3 lamp and the T5 at the same time unless the enclosure is really huge and / or you are using a uvb meter to check levels. Having both on at the same time would result in uvb levels not found in nature.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by markbigears

Sandy, I've bought the new Arcadia combined D3 bulb, so I'm guessing it needs to be on everyday, I do have a T5 as well, but that obviously not for basking.

What I am saying is they dont have to have the heat high all daylong. You can switch them off, say for a couple of hours midday, without causing any problems for your tortoises. Or vary this during a day.
Its bright light that gets them up, and the heat that gets them basking. But its not normal for them to have say 32c all day long:0)
I used to turn off everything when I went out, when one of my hatchlings kept turning over, as I didnt want them to do this under the heat. It did no harm. Not every day is hot and sunny in the wild:0)

[markbigears]

Thank you both for the input. The viv is 4ft, T5 is about 14inches up and the D3 is in a dome light fitting so I can't see a problem, it's not like the little fella is going to be under them both at the same time. I will turn the D3 off for a few hours at midday like you recommend Sandy. I never thought keeping a tort would be so stressful!

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Mark. If that's an arcadia 12% desert+uvb tube that you have then I think that would be enough uvb. Unless it is a very short tube, the uvb from your two sources would be overlapping if you use both at once. It is good to have part of the enclosure which isn't being covered with uvb.

Of course it's entirely up to you, but one option would be to use a halogen lamp in the dome instead of the D3. The D3 has be run at full blast and inside a viv there might be too much heat build-up. With a halogen lamp, which will fit the same socket, you would be able to either use a thermostat to control it or try different wattages of lamp until you get one that has the right effect on the temperature.

In a way the T5 uvb tube is for basking. Although there isn't any heat from it, the tortoise will use the uvb from the tube when it is basking even when the heat is coming from something else.

[markbigears]

Thanks Ozric, again top advice. Bit of a bugger, as I've bought both now. Read about using both online before buying both as most posts recommend using both. I'm going to do what Sandy suggested and turn the d3 off for a few hours at midday. I'll email john at Arcadia to see what he suggests. Thanks again Ozric

[Arcadiajohn]

The reflected T5 source become the workhorse with the basking lamp providing an area of UVB rich warmth. UV in this type of system does not stack up so no risk of over supply

All heat and light at one end, cool and shade at the other.

Then the animal can self regulate well

Upper index basking is set at 12-15" from reflected lamp to the top of the shell depending on species

[Alan1]

If you are going to have it switch off and on don't do it on a thermostat as those types of bulbs are not designed for cutting off and on like an ordinary heat-only bulb. You could have it on a timer and set to go off for a couple of hours as Sandy said there then back on again but I think (and I'm talking about previous mercury vapour bulbs but expect current ones will possibly be the same) you are supposed to wait 15 minutes after switching off before you switch on again.

I also had bother with young ones ending up upside down so the lamps were off if no one was in even though I had large stones arranged so that they could use them to turn themselves over with.

[markbigears]

Firstly thank you John for answering, even before i had even had time to email you! i don't think I've ever had customer service like this, ever, so a huge thumbs up. Alan, i was thinking maybe D3 on 8am-12noon and 2pm-8pm on a timer. I'm going to keep the area under the lamp and 6 inches all around it clear from anything so the little guy has no opportunity to fall over, what do you think?