What do I need for my indoor enclosure?

[Madisyn Morris Hill]

I need some advice about which UV/Heat lights and need and which are the best ones to buy.

Thanks in advance.

Jen

[purplepixie]

Go to www.tortoises.net or www.thetortoisehouse.co. for great information. You can always do a search on here too, lots of good solid info on here too.

[Frase]

simple answer to your Q is use a combined UV and heat bulb (mercury bulbs i think). You can get them from solaglo. Shelled Warriors website sell them from their shop site.

They are expensive to buy now, 30-50 or so pound. But they will be fine then until sort of 2 years time.,

Other option:

Get a UV tube (must be 10.0) and the longest you can fit on your table. Then get a UV starter kit and that must be the correct kit for your tubes size. Then get a lamp and a heat or spot bulb which are all fairly cheap.....problem is UV needs replacing every 6 months then mate.

Was there something else you wanted to ask about? Just curious from your title. lol.

It varies a bit from there on in depending on what species of tort you have. Not drastically, but subtle changes, substrates etc.

[Madisyn Morris Hill]

Im getting a Herman so what do I need with my cage? as for the Uv/Heat bulb, what watt would I need? what is the best kind of holder for the bulb?

Thanks

[Frase]

if you get a combi bulb, you can use something like an exo terra night glo 22cm (i have this 1, its big but its so sexy after your light charges the inner glow!)

I dont keep a hermanns actually

W£hen you say cage, you mean its not a cage it has a bottom in it made of something and is large enough to keep your tortie in.....right?

I've seen people with nice cage setups. Some pictures from the indoor enclosures page if you want to check it out. There is also a load of care sheets floating about i am sure they are giong to really put you in the right direction more than anything else. Although i am more than sure someone else here can offer you much more info on them mate.

Ive been thinking myself over the last 3-4 weeks, they should really try and make a sticky on the basic needs for a indoor enclosure. A full list, i know it will vary upon each tort with regards to the substrate, but a "general" ruling, then maybe a list below it of the most appropriate substrates for tortie in question....I would do it, if i had knowledge of other torts need's.

[Madisyn Morris Hill]

Yea it has a base hehe.
Yea I agree, I mean there is loads of info on the site but its all scattered. A focused care sheet would be amazing for newbies like myself.

You have helped muchly. What tort do you have?

Jen

[Frase]

i assure you i am a newbie, i just know a few of the tort keepers here their all amazing help!

I have a baby 4 months old horsfield. If you go back to page 2 you will see my thread of pictures of him and his new table

[annsimpson1]

if you decide to get a combined bulb (uv and heat) you will need a ceramic holder of the same preferably higher wattage than the bulb, also a shade/reflector will help direct the light down and stop it being to bright in a front room. The reflector needs to be big enough to allow a good air flow around the bulb, exo terra do a good one it comes with both clamp and a hook so it can be either hung up or clamped to the side of the house. Again check the wattage the reflector is to be used for, 125 w bulb is a good sized one for an average house, if your room is dark and your tort house large you might be better going for a strip and separate heat bulb as the combined will only light up an area below and around so you could be left with dark areas, combined are good though if the room has sufficient light. Keep the receipt and check the length of guarantee it can vary from make to make, no heat/light at night if your house room stays a reasonably warm, 32-36c under the light and around 20c everywhere else with a drop at night but not much lower than 15c (night). Prices for combined do vary you can find them on ebay for £25 upwards but might pay as much as £70 in the shops so it pays to shop around, I've had two combined blow but with the receipt they were very quickly replaced however there are people who've had them working for up to two years so I was perhaps just unlucky.

[Frase]

i think me and ann are on the same lines? I hope lol. I think the two links are all you need regards to lighting, if you wish to use additional reflectors than its a prefferential choice for the user, but mine is set at a point where everything is covered adequately and i am hitting the right temps

PS: Hope all is still well Ann Tell them i got £15 in my pocket now if they wish to re-consider my offer.

[Madisyn Morris Hill]

So the 2 links you sent are ideal.... as for a light stand, do I need one or can I just rest it on the top of the cage?
Thanks for all your help guys