uvb

[lolly123]

does any one know what would be better for a hermanns tortoise 5.0 uvb lamp or 10.0?

[Alan1]

10.0 I would say

[Watermelon]

definetly 10.0

[Alan1]

there are other types of bulb available by the way, like heat+uvb combined and T5 lights

[Arcadiajohn]

Ahh man,,,,,

This question simply cannot be answered!

The % printed on the box of a lamp stands for nothing!!! It simply denotes the total amount of UVB in a calculation where the total amount of light is 100%.

You can ONLY choose what lamp is required by using the wild exposure verses the size of the enclosure verses the limitation of the lamp!

Fortunately we now know enough about reptile care and the limitations of science, we should be able to walk away from the old fashioned thinking of " a her mans needs a 12% and an iguana needs a 5%"

It is all about the distance between lamp and animal.

If you post the size and decoration of your viv I am happy to advise what set up is required.

Using informed info and crossing that with the dimensions of enclosures will help all of our animals to thrive not just survive.

John.

[romski]

I very much agree with John.
I kept silent when I read the post as this subject comes up again and again.

Please look at the section for evolving husbandry as there are two extended threads that may give you some insight of the complexity of your question.
One is on permeable plastics and one is on T5 lamps.

I dont keep tortoises on tables. If I did I and if the table were say 4 foot long or more, I would use the new 34" T5 tube from Arcadia with a reflector. It would probably be the 6% one.

http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.p...n=en&sub=&id=4

I would use reflectors. as they nearly double effiency of irradiated light.

I would use a twin electronic starter. like this.
http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.p...n=en&sub=&id=4

The other tube would be a high output tube providing a broader spectrum light like this.
http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.p...n=en&sub=&id=4

I would also go to B&Q and get a PAR 38 120W lamp. (the par38 tells you its size) it will have an ES fitting.
Something like this.
http://www.ryness.co.uk/products/601...lamp-bulb.aspx

This will provide the heat basking required.They come in all sorts of powers.

You can hang it up with this
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/e...lb-holder.html
or
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/e...amp-large.html


I would be happy with this arrangement as this will provide a lighting environment that come closest to natural light that I can afford.
The UV light will be reliable and the tube will last at least one year.

I would adjust the PAR38 lamp height so that in the centre of the flood lit ground I measure no more than 40c. I would have the hot spot at one end of the table. The same adjustment can be made by changing lamp power.

Power consumption would be about 200w about 2.5p per hour.

At the other end of the table I would offer shade and check that it gets much cooler.

Rom

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by Arcadiajohn

It is all about the distance between lamp and animal

so does the 10% UVB bulb have a recommended minimum distance which is much higher than a 5% bulb?

I've never used a strip (apart from my fish) so wouldn't know but it's an often asked question on here "what height should my tube bulb be at?"

[romski]

Heres the problem;- it is linked with this power descriptor for the lamps.

The product says 10% of the light emmitted is UVb BUT there is no statement by most manufacterers as to how much light is produced or indeed its decay time constant - so you dont actually know quantitavely what you are getting.

The percentage values are in fact useless as one manufacturers 5% may be the same as anothers' 10%.

Look out for the manufacturer that states the actual irradiated light produced in uw/cm squared or as a UV index value (UVI).


I also like the T5 because of the UVa output - often forgotten but is also important.

Rom

[Alan1]

so the T5 lets you know how much light is produced?

I simply don't have enough electrical sockets for the T5 set up. I have one socket I can use. I currently have an extension but as the max is 13amps I can only use 4 x 3amp items at most. How many amps is the control unit?

I have a Stanley extension somewhere with 6 sockets on it, is there 13amp limits on all extensions? why have 6 sockets if so? maybe there's not a limit

[Ozric Jonathan]

The limit on extensions is generally 13Amps in total because that is what the wire and everything else is designed for. Appliances requiring more than 13Amps need different hardware.

This why its useful to have extra power sockets on the wall if at all possible and not relying too much on extensions and adaptors.

A lot of lighting aplpiances are 3 or 5 Amp.

A lot of people do use extensions with loads of sockets and plug in numerous 13Amp appliances all going into one plug. It can be unsafe.