If you need background heating at night then you want a ceramic bulb with a thermostat that allows day and night settings. Or if you can remember to turn it up and down everyday a normal one. But I'd spend the extra on a night and day.

hi yes i was thinking i would get a day and night one as they are not that much dearer just to make it easier,do you think it is the red bulb why they don`t bask,the place where i buy my locusts from they have 3 red foots in a viv they have no heat just uv they are running around,it was my friend who told me they don`t like the red light which is why they are not basking for long,and hiding most the time,i put this down to the fact they are young but as i am new to this wanted to ask for as much advice as i can

I've never used the red bulbs but am pretty sure other people have had problems with them and reds. As for no heat in the shop, I think reptile shops usually heat the whole shop rather than individual vivs. Is the shop quite warm?

I think they just like it to nice and warm all round. The ones in the shop probably have quite a high ambient temperature.

I don't know about other tortoises and colour perception but once you've seen them try and eat all sorts of red things you don't doubt it. Some red things mine have been attracted to, no particular order. the red button on a remote, the red section on some cheaper temp guages, toenails with red nail varnish lol

How long have you had them? They might still be settling in and littles ones do seem to like to hide a lot.

hi yes it is quite warm in the shop they all looked happy and healthy they was eating when i was in there i have had them about 2 months,i really cant make up my mind weather to change to ceramic or not i don`t want to do anything wrong,the retile shop also said to give them dog bisciuts soaked i hav`nt done this just wondering if this ok,the temp is fine following advice it is just the brightness of the red light which bothers me.