Hi, I have just got a Hermann's tortoise and have a tortoise table set up for him/her and and feeding him/her a diet of home grown weeds (pack bought from shelled warriors) that i grow in seeding trays and put them in with my tort on a cycle.

We have got him a UVB light that has a 5.0 rating and is about 5inches above the level of the ground.

Is it recommended to use this bulb with the metal reflector type things and what we are more concered about is it harmful to human eyes??

Thanks in advance for the replies, and I will try and get some photos of our setup online this evening.

Mike

The UVB level just a couple of feet from the bulb is so low as to pose no threat at all to humans, for it to do any damage you'd have to stare at the bulb at close range for some time, something you'd be unlikely to do.

Yes use a reflector, it directs the UVB where it's actually needed rather than radiating all over the place, they give out little enough UVB as it is without wasting it!

Yeah 5.0 is pretty low.

when you have to change it (in 6 months) you should really get a 10.0 one

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Cool, thanks for the advice! Where is the best place to get the reflectors from?

When i asked around everyone on other sites talked so much crap and bickered with each other i just went for the middle ground.

Will upgrade to a 10.0 next time.

The seller messed up a few times so i have 2x 2.0 bulbs aswell, shame i would have to buy the fittings aswell to use them though!!

Could you not get the seller to take them back as they are pretty useless to torts TBH. Try the not fit for the purpose intended excuse
You can get hte reflectors from here Aquatics Online UK - Home Page They are about £4.50 and just clip onto the tube so you can aim the light downwards or at an angle.
Good luck

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Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

strip UVB give off very little UVB as it is. So a 5.0 is rubbish to a tortoise.

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instead of using a tube and spot light maybe you should invest in a 2in 1 bulb these are a lot better.

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They are also alot more expensive.

£2 for spot light and already had the fitting for the tube. That was the main reason. Maybe in the future though

Fair enough, just had the torts in mind

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With the reflector the 5% will give more uvb available to the tort but I would not use the 2% ones. Make sure you use nutrobal on a daily basis to compensate for lack of uvb from the light source

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Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com