What Distance Is Ok?

[H20]

Can anyone please tell me what height a uvb tube light should be above a tortoise?
ie. can it be too close...is there a set distance.
Thanks.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there. Mostly you get an instruction on the packet on on the manufacturer's website.

For example if you got an Arcadia T5 desert + tube (which is a high uv tube) then you would get 169 cw/cm2 at a distance of 30 cm from tube to tortoise. Arcadia provide the information in a chart:

http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/fluor...d3plus-desert/


Most uvb tubes will need to be closer to the tortoise than a T5 desert+tube.

It is possible to have an excess of uvb but just as important is fixing the tune at the right height to maximise the spread of uvb underneath.

Hope this helps. Do come back if you're still struggling with it.

[Arcadiajohn]

It is a great question,

But it all depends on The actual lamp, the species and the quality of reflector

We should seek to provide wild re-creation, to allow a species to obtain the level of energy that it obtains in the wild as part of a safe and well measured system of light and shade.

This will then supply the animals needs as it would in the wild which of course is the very best way

John

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hello again. Yes using a reflector makes a huge difference and uvb output from a tube declines over time.