How long for lights?

[den_bish]

Just a quickie - how long should I have the UV / heat on during the winter months for my 2 year old horsefield. At the moment they are on 08.00 - 20.00 but should it be longer?

[AnythingWithAShell]

Are you having any problems keeping him awake, or is he being pretty much his normal self? I don't have Horsfields myself, but I have seen others recommend upping the lights to 14-16 hours a day to trick torty into thinking it's summer, if torty is determined to go to sleep when mother doesn't want him to

I'd imagine though that if he's just being his normal self, you may not need to change anything. I haven't had to change anything for my 2, I feel lucky that they haven't been giving me any gip!

[purplepixie]

My young iberas (hatched this year) have heat from 7am until about 4oclock when they have all disappeared to bed.

[den_bish]

No he's being his normal self, although perhaps not so active but I put that down to the ambient temps and hopefully that will be sorted when is ceramic heat lamp finally arrives. He usually stays up (albeit asleep under the lamp!) till the lights click off and then toddles off to bed.
I have never changed the timing of the lights, always been 12 hours, summer and winter but also read somewhere that it should be upped to 14 hours at this time of year but just wanted to check what others had to say.

[SWsarah]

Mine are on at 7 then everyone is asleep for 5 so i turn the UVB lights off and just leave the room light on, this then gets turned off at about 7. No point keeping them on if they have gone to bed

[den_bish]

It's just that he doesn't go to bed until they go off at 20.00, I mean he is asleep but under the lamp and I think woud probably stay there if I were to leave them on for a bit longer but don't know if this is necessary or not. I am leaning towards it doesn't really matter seeing as others seem to have theirs on for less time as the torts have gone to bed so will go with that, unless of course you know different!!

[ukphd]

That's exactly what Bob does too. She just sleeps under the lamp. The only difference being with Bob is that often she doesn't bother to then go and bury down elsewhere - she just stays where she is!

I wonder if it is an ambient temperature thing for both of us? Perhaps they are sleeping under the lamp because the ambient temps are too low and only choosing to go to bed when they have no other choice i.e. when the light is off?

just a thought

[den_bish]

Could Be!

Will let you know once I get the new heating set up and see if it makes a difference.