Arcadia d3 100w basking bulb

[Laura1412]

Can people who use one of these bulb please just give me some insight on how high they have there bulbs please mine at the mo is 12 inches away from my torts shell and he does nt go near it is this maybe too close or not hot enough

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by Laura1412

Can people who use one of these bulb please just give me some insight on how high they have there bulbs please mine at the mo is 12 inches away from my torts shell and he does nt go near it is this maybe too close or not hot enough

Can you tell us the age and size of your tortoise, the reason I ask this is that I have found for very young small tortoises, these bulbs are too hot. For my babies I use a separate basking spot and uv strip. My basking build is an ordinary household halogen bulb. I use the combined Arcadia bulb for my adult torts.

[Laura1412]

I'm not sure on his age but his shell is 5 inches in length and iv ad him3 years everythi fused to be fine till I made his enclosure bigger now nothing seems to goin right

[CherryBrandy]

Hi laura, I can say that I have my 100w D£ at 10 inches and it has temps of 27 - 29 and little ones are placed underneath if they don't come out. they are 4 months old - they rest are 80 W and that's slightly higer as more heat. Jonathan had a good diagram of surface coverage because if tort table is thin in length then the temps can also build up, bouncing off the sides, bit like sun trap in the garden. I would say 12 inches would be about ok for your tort but aim for temps rather than height so if sides are retaining heat then perhaps go higher but all sounds ok from what you describe, CB

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by CherryBrandy

Hi laura, I can say that I have my 100w D£ at 10 inches and it has temps of 27 - 29 and little ones are placed underneath if they don't come out. they are 4 months old - they rest are 80 W and that's slightly higer as more heat. Jonathan had a good diagram of surface coverage because if tort table is thin in length then the temps can also build up, bouncing off the sides, bit like sun trap in the garden. I would say 12 inches would be about ok for your tort but aim for temps rather than height so if sides are retaining heat then perhaps go higher but all sounds ok from what you describe, CB

That's why I think, a halogen bulb and uv strip are better in a small set up.

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by Suze65

That's why I think, a halogen bulb and uv strip are better in a small set up.

Thanks suze so iv just got to sort out a wattage fora halogen then what wattagedo u think

[Ozric Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Laura1412

Thanks suze so iv just got to sort out a wattage fora halogen then what wattagedo u think

I suggest a 50 watt halogen or maybe less in this type of enclosure. If it was me I would try different wattages at different heights till it seemed right. The good thing is that halogen bulbs can be got quite cheap but make sure its the correct fitting.
Hope this helps a bit!

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

I suggest a 50 watt halogen or maybe less in this type of enclosure. If it was me I would try different wattages at different heights till it seemed right. The good thing is that halogen bulbs can be got quite cheap but make sure its the correct fitting.
Hope this helps a bit!

Thank you johnathan this helps a lot thanks I'll look into the bulbs my room temp is 21 so would that be ok on the cool end

[Laura1412]

I'm wondering cherry brandy if that's my problem my enclosure is a box which is has sides 17 inches high so I'm wondering if the heat is bouncing of the sides and keepin heat in coz at the mo iv just temped under the bulb wi temp gun and it's 36c again it starts off at 32/33 under it but as the day goes on it gets hotter at the mo it's 15.1/4 inch away fromsubstrate

[CherryBrandy]

probably ...if too high though it may not provide sufficient uv A / B. Can you think about a lower or wider table? didn't you say near window also ...id keep curtains drawn, it would be good to see some pickies if can CB