Hello

[GingerGeorge]

Hi,

Recently took in George, a horsefield who needed properly looking after, so thought it best to register to gain the correct knowledge to give him the best care. Can't believe how much conflicting information is out there! My biggest concern is having the correct heat/lighting - at the mo' he has a UV strip light, and a basking lamp, but I want to move to a combined heat/UVA/UVB. I'm in the process of finishing a new indoor table, so I want to get it right - any info' on what is best would be most welcome.
Looking forward to being part of the community

[emma_mcraf]

Hello and welcome to you and George. Well done for taking him in. I use a separate UV strip light and basking bulb in all my tables so I can't advise you on the best combi bulb.
Looking forward to photos of your table and of course George, once you've got his new table sorted.

[Wyannis]

Hello and welcome to the forum. You are right, there is a minefield of conflicting information out there but you have come to the right place for good solid advice. Unfortunately I also use separates so can't really help you with combined but I'm sure someone will be along shortly who can.

[GingerGeorge]

Thanks for the welcome!
With you both using separates, do you recommend this over the combi? When I took him, he was on a red 50w, 24/7. I changed this to a pro rep clear 60w, and turn it off at night, along with the uv strip. Can you recommend a good thermometer, I'd like to make sure the temps are right, the one that he came with seems a bit basic.
We have had him 2 weeks now, and he seems to be settling. He eats every day, got him off the iceberg, he's currently having lambs lettuce mixed with dandelion leaves and rocket.
I'm not great with uploading pic's, but when my son comes to visit, I'll get him to give me a hand

[Wyannis]

I think separates are easier to control. I have the arcadia uv flood and just use an ordinary 100w lightbulb for heat. These can sometimes be quite hard to find as they are all energy saving nowadays. The lights you have now sound ok to me though.

You need a digital thermometer. I have one at the basking spot and one at the cold end. Mine are exoterra and seem reasonably accurate. A lot of people also use the infa red gun style thermometers. It sounds like you are doing all the right things and George is lucky to have come to you.

[emma_mcraf]

I prefer separate too. We get our bulbs from toolstation http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p94263
and TLC direct http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...tor/index.html

TLC direct do great bargains if you buy in bulk. We order in store and get them for around 50p per bulb.

I have a digital thermometer http://www.onlinereptileshop.co.uk/r....o2LxGhf6.dpbs in all my tables but also have an infra red one from Maplins. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/infrared-t...argeting-n92fx

Well done for getting George onto the lambs lettuce and dandelions. Try not too overdo the dandelions though. You can buy romaine and radicchio and the weeds are growing everywhere now. Easy ones to find and identify are Cat's Ear, Sowthistle, Plantain and Bittercress. Have a look on at the plant database on TTT http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp

A really useful book is the Collins Complete Guide to British Wild Flowers by Paul Sterry. http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Wild...by+Paul+Sterry

It can often be found cheaper elsewhere.

Offer George regular baths to keep him hydrated. I do my juveniles daily and my sub-adults/adults alternate days.
Any other questions, just ask.

[Suze65]

Hello and welcome, you have come to the right place. We are a friendly lot, I also use separate lights, but you will find someone on here who can advise on combo lights. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, but you just need to get the basics right, a lot about keeping a tortoise is observation, and tweaking things like heat and hours of light to suit your tortoise. They are individuals and what suits one , might not be right for another. Keep asking.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there and welcome

I also like to use separate sources for uvb and heat.

These tubes are excellent: http://arcadia-reptile.com/fluoresce...d3plus-desert/

I find they last at least 2 years. I buy one that is smaller than the table so that part of the area is not blasted with uv. These are streets ahead of any combined lamp in terms of uva and uvb.

For heat I use a halogen like this : http://www.bltdirect.com/50-watt-syl...ood-light-beam

For £6 you get a good heat source with warm light that tortoises like and it is energy efficient. These last a long time as well.

I find I need a tall lamp stand http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rept...yqixoCWHbw_wcB

to get the lamp at the right height to produce the necessary temp underneath.

For measuring the temperature I find this thermometer is great

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rept...er-464180.html

with that you can measure the exact area you want to and do not have to leave the probe in position where it can heat up and give a false reading.

Phew I feel exhausted after all that pasting!

If you are determined to get a combined heat and uv lamp I suggest the 160 watt arcadia. In my opinion it's the best of that type of lamp and not expensive.

But there are several ways to heat and light your pet and have a look around at the options.

Welcome to sw!

[GingerGeorge]

Thank-you everyone for all the info' and advice!!
Another couple of questions if I may - George has pretty much stayed burrowed for the last two days, he has eaten fairly early on in the day, and dug down again quite soon after, and pretty much stayed put. I've not noticed any poop though. I got him up to bath him earlier (he didn't seem too happy about that!), and he definitely had a wee. Up to now, he has pooped every day, should I be worried?
Also, do you let your little ones have a wander around the living room, or is that too stressful for them? Not sure how old he is if thats a factor, he is just over 3inches long.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there

I don't see anything to worry about there. I don't let mine wander about the house but there are different views on that. The reasons I don't are that the tortoise might make a mess on the floor and it might go behind the furniture and stay there! If the tortoise is stressed perhaps it would go into a corner and withdraw.

For questions such as these ones you might get more replies on one of the other sections of the site because people will assume the posts on here are just for introductions.