UV lighting

[Matt2015]

Hi Guys

I am due to pick my first tortoise (3 month old hermann) up at the weekend and I have been lurking on the forums as guest for sometime now but I still have a few questions mostly about UV lighting so any help would be greatly appreciated,

What is the best way to mount the UV light above or on the side of the tortoise table I have a Arcadia 14/15w controller with a 18" T8 bulb, I have seen members on the forums with both so am I right in thinking either is safe/suitable? (Really don't want to damage my tortoises eyes)

Is there such a thing as too much UV eg. Is a 12% bulb overkill for such a small tortoise.

Do I need to add both limestone flour and nurtobal, if not which is best.

That's all I can really think of at the moment but I will probably think of some more stuff later on.

Thank you for your help.

[becciwales]

Hello, welcome to the forum
You need at least 10% UV for all torts except hinge backs. (I believe)
I use limestone flour 5 days a week on their food and nutrobal the other 2.
With the lighting, I have separate UV and heat sources but I use an I door guinea pig cage as my table currently so it is mounted at the back using cable ties on the bars.
You will need a reflector too or you will lose most of the UV upwards giving no benefit to your tortoise.
I too have Hermanns. You'll love being owned by a tortoise
Good luck xx

[mark r]

mines very similar to what Becci says

10.0 UV bulb mounted in a suitable spot either above or at the side, I have mine above set around 12-15" from the floor.
my UV is on for 14 hours a day with normal energy bulbs running for 16 hours a day for extra light.

I have cuttlefish in my enclosures all the time so only feed limestone flour twice a week and Nutrobol twice a week.

tortoises are very addictive

[emma_mcraf]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I have my UV strip lights attached to the table using tool clips. The bulbs sit in them nicely though I find the reflectors often need to be trimmed for the controller fixings to attach firmly to the bulbs.

I only use 12% UV bulbs in all my tables.

I use nutrobal at the weekends and limestone flour through the week.

[Arcadiajohn]

Good replies,

Just remember two thirds of the total energy used and turned into life giving light is wasted without the correct reflected

Also ALL light has to be above eye level, so fitted from top down is best

Fit about 10-12" from lamp to the top of the shell and at the hot end to leave a graduation into cool and shade

Good luck

John

[becciwales]

I did learn something off you when you went through it with me last time John. Ha ha x