Lighting help needed - quick (as i'm going shop soon)

[Proud mum & dad to Dexter]

I don't know why I'm being so dumb, but all these lighting things confuse me!!

We had a viv, just made a tortoise table (hooraah)!

Lights....help!!

Right this is what we have.....we curently have a sun glo basking light which says it omits UVA as well.

In the viv the other lights are screw in, but we want to buy a tube for the tort table, so for the table do we just need to get a uvb reptile tube??

Ive heard about these combi lights...is that basking light the combi light that we already have? Or is there a special tube light that has both in?

Im getting mighty frustrated as Im trying to get my head around this!!

THANKS GUYS!!!


Just to recap, we have the baskin light...and will one tube of uvb light be enough??

[Tina]

I thought the Sun Glo were just basking lights?!

My advice would be to buy a combined mv bulb... uv and basking light in one. For that you'll need the bulb (I use Megaray and Powersun), a ceramic holder and something to hang it off... you can make this yourself or buy a lamp holder.

I'd also advise you buy online... much cheaper and delivery should be only a couple of days max... I'd recommend this site....

Kimbos Reptile World | Supplies | Equipment | Housing | Lighting |

The combined bulb should last up to 2 years.... more expensive initially but cheaper in the long run as uv tubes need replacing every 6 months. The combined are so much better too... you'll really notice a difference in activity levels.

It'll most likely take a while for your tort to settle in a table after being in a viv too... bear in mind that in the viv s/he won't have been used to having anyone 'walk above' so that might make her nervous initially.

[purplepixie]

A bit late, but I agree totally with Tina

[Proud mum & dad to Dexter]

Thanks Tina...ive just just looked on that page and still confused ha!

Can you send me a link to which bulb exactly...what type of wattage should I go for? Our table is 5ft long by 2 ft wide, so quite big.

Does this mean we dont need a uvb tube then?

[Proud mum & dad to Dexter]

I know I sound completely stupid ha...just want to make sure we do this correctly!

[AnythingWithAShell]

You still need a UVB as your sun glo bulb is just for basking. Not sure about wattages, but get a 10.0 one, and I'd get the 4' one so you can have max coverage in your lovely big table

[AnythingWithAShell]

If you go for a combined bulb, you won't need your sun glo as well.

If you go for a UVB tube to use along with your sun glo, you'll need a starter unit for it. And a reflector if you're feeling like splashing out, but if not you can use tinfoil in the meantime

Kimbos is a great site. If you get a combined, get the largest exo terra reflector clamp lamp or the wire cage clamp lamp. You will need to suspend it though. It needs to be the largest size to ensure there's enough airflow, or the bulbs can overheat and cut out.

You can check the wattage of the longest 10.0 UVB tube (well I know the 4' one is the longest you get in Repti Glo anyway) on Kimbos as well, then get a starter unit that will take that wattage.

[Tina]

No, you don't need a UV tube as well as the combined bulbs provide UV and heat in one.

These are what I use...

Lamp Stand
Large Lamp Stand by: Zoo Med

Bulb Holder
Zoo Med Deep Dome by: Zoo Med

If you contact the site owner (Darren) he'll advise you on what mercury vapour bulbs he has in stock and what wattage to go for in that size table and to suit the environment you'll be keeping the table in.