Can we talk lights please?

Rosey-Bear · 20-04-2014, 10:43 PM

I am planning on starting the electrical side of the set up tomorrow and I have a few questions. I have been trying to look up what uv bulb I will need but I keep reading conflicting advice. I am hoping that my tort will have full access to the outside area all the time the weather is good. Does this mean I don't need a UV light until duller months if I supplement with nutrabal? Also, if I do need a uv light, what strength does it need to be?
Also, on the subject of heaters, what is better, a ceramic bulb type or a tubular heater for nights? And what light/heat would be best for duller days? I have seen uv/heat/lights advertised, but have read conflicting advice on those too. Are they to be avoided?

Looking forward to getting some advice from you lovely people.

Ozric Jonathan · 20-04-2014, 11:06 PM

Just answering on the heaters here - tubular heaters can be good but they are low output which will only keep the chill off. With a ceramic heater you can get a big one, say 150 watts and spend as much as you like on electricity! What I mean is that if you just want to keep an enclosed space a bit warmer then a tubular heater can be good but if you are looking to maintain say 15C overnight in a hut or something like that then you need a ceramic heater on a thermostat.

RacingSnake · 21-04-2014, 02:52 PM

Well, in our outdoor house (ours live outside 24/7/365)
I have a 3ft 36w 10.0UVB strip bulb, a regular spot UBA 40w (I think).
Heaters I have a 3ft Tube heater to provide more even background heat across the house, and a 150W ceramic heater at one end for the beefy heat.

They're locked in for most of the winter, but for 'average' days such as today I open the doors and they can come out if they wish... and they usually do come out for a wander round then head back in when they get bored/cold.
They're actually pretty good and usually head back into the house in the evening too (if they don't I put them back).

RacingSnake · 21-04-2014, 02:54 PM

Just to add, the lights are on a timer, the heaters are on a stat, I don't typically adjust this, as when it's hot outside, the house heats up on its own, so the heaters never actually come on.

Rosey-Bear · 22-04-2014, 02:40 PM

So, in general, night time don't let it go below 15C, but what should I aim for in the daytime.

I have had a thermometer in the shed today and bearing in mind it isn't insulated or any subsrtate it there yet, I am getting 19.9c and 65% humidity.

RacingSnake · 23-04-2014, 09:19 AM

my night time is 12 degrees, my daytime is 30.

Last year in the peak of summer, it was measuring an eye-watering 46 degrees from the sun on the roof, I had to prop the roof open with wood to keep the air moving through.

Rosey-Bear · 24-04-2014, 10:24 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reptile-Vi...item9c0d7ee638

Are these a good buy?

RacingSnake · 25-04-2014, 05:01 PM

Looks ok to me, but I have a strip light (with reflector) for UVB as I wanted it more 'even' across the whole house.

Someone might be able to comment better on a curly UVB bulb?

lonelylayla · 25-04-2014, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosey-Bear

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reptile-Vi...item9c0d7ee638

Are these a good buy?

There has been talk that this type can damage tortie eyes - seen it somewhere

Arcadiajohn · 28-04-2014, 01:49 PM

There has indeed. The biggest worry of course is that they are so hard to reflect properly and as such must if not most of the energy from the lamp is wasted. Also I have never seen this brand before????wonder what the spectrum is like?

I would not suggest my compacts for use with torts really. You are vastly better with the D3+ UVFLOOD which is high output and linear and as such vastly easier to get the energy down onto the animal where it is needed most

John

20-04-2014, 10:43 PM	#1
Rosey-Bear Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South East UK. Posts: 231	Can we talk lights please? I am planning on starting the electrical side of the set up tomorrow and I have a few questions. I have been trying to look up what uv bulb I will need but I keep reading conflicting advice. I am hoping that my tort will have full access to the outside area all the time the weather is good. Does this mean I don't need a UV light until duller months if I supplement with nutrabal? Also, if I do need a uv light, what strength does it need to be? Also, on the subject of heaters, what is better, a ceramic bulb type or a tubular heater for nights? And what light/heat would be best for duller days? I have seen uv/heat/lights advertised, but have read conflicting advice on those too. Are they to be avoided? Looking forward to getting some advice from you lovely people. __________________ Abby. Mummy to a group of Spur thighs. Malcolm and his hoes.

20-04-2014, 11:06 PM	#2
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Just answering on the heaters here - tubular heaters can be good but they are low output which will only keep the chill off. With a ceramic heater you can get a big one, say 150 watts and spend as much as you like on electricity! What I mean is that if you just want to keep an enclosed space a bit warmer then a tubular heater can be good but if you are looking to maintain say 15C overnight in a hut or something like that then you need a ceramic heater on a thermostat. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

21-04-2014, 02:52 PM	#3
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	Well, in our outdoor house (ours live outside 24/7/365) I have a 3ft 36w 10.0UVB strip bulb, a regular spot UBA 40w (I think). Heaters I have a 3ft Tube heater to provide more even background heat across the house, and a 150W ceramic heater at one end for the beefy heat. They're locked in for most of the winter, but for 'average' days such as today I open the doors and they can come out if they wish... and they usually do come out for a wander round then head back in when they get bored/cold. They're actually pretty good and usually head back into the house in the evening too (if they don't I put them back). __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

21-04-2014, 02:54 PM	#4
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	Just to add, the lights are on a timer, the heaters are on a stat, I don't typically adjust this, as when it's hot outside, the house heats up on its own, so the heaters never actually come on. __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

22-04-2014, 02:40 PM	#5
Rosey-Bear Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South East UK. Posts: 231	So, in general, night time don't let it go below 15C, but what should I aim for in the daytime. I have had a thermometer in the shed today and bearing in mind it isn't insulated or any subsrtate it there yet, I am getting 19.9c and 65% humidity. __________________ Abby. Mummy to a group of Spur thighs. Malcolm and his hoes.

23-04-2014, 09:19 AM	#6
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	my night time is 12 degrees, my daytime is 30. Last year in the peak of summer, it was measuring an eye-watering 46 degrees from the sun on the roof, I had to prop the roof open with wood to keep the air moving through. __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

24-04-2014, 10:24 PM	#7
Rosey-Bear Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South East UK. Posts: 231	http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reptile-Vi...item9c0d7ee638 Are these a good buy? __________________ Abby. Mummy to a group of Spur thighs. Malcolm and his hoes.

25-04-2014, 05:01 PM	#8
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	Looks ok to me, but I have a strip light (with reflector) for UVB as I wanted it more 'even' across the whole house. Someone might be able to comment better on a curly UVB bulb? __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

28-04-2014, 01:49 PM	#10
Arcadiajohn Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West sussex Posts: 424	There has indeed. The biggest worry of course is that they are so hard to reflect properly and as such must if not most of the energy from the lamp is wasted. Also I have never seen this brand before????wonder what the spectrum is like? I would not suggest my compacts for use with torts really. You are vastly better with the D3+ UVFLOOD which is high output and linear and as such vastly easier to get the energy down onto the animal where it is needed most John __________________ John courteney-smith MRSB Arcadia reptile products manager MBD and reptile nutrition books OUT NOW www.arcadia-reptile.com/reptile-care-books Please join us on Facebook, Arcadia reptile www.Arcadia-reptile.com

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