Right, many of you know im a newbie with a Red Foot.

I have come to realise that my heat source, a 100watt light bulb is the reason why my tort sleeps all day. And why I thought he had an eye infection.
Sunday he slept all day. I have the light on as a heat source and his eyes were shut. His head was moving, but I thought this was natural movement whilst asleep. Yesterday, (Monday) he was asleep all day again. I got worried when he was moving his head allot, like he was awake. So I took him out of his viv, popped him on the floor, and he started walking around in small circles, eyes closed. I was convinced he had an eye infection in BOTH eyes. So I washed them and they opened fine.
The misses then suggested maybe the bulb is too bright. I took the bulb out, just left the UV on and switched the heat matt on to keep the temp up. Eyes open, he actually wandered around his viv (He has never done that). He went in his water/bath. He ate his food. He stayed awake. Normally he eats out of the viv and seldomly went in his water. This morning with no light on, he was awake when I got up, having a potter about.
Has anyone else experienced a problem with a lightbulb being too bright? I use a 100W because it kept the temperatures perfect (I tested 40 and 60watts too)
I remember getting advice off BlondeSarah(?) about Red Foots being sensitive to light, and she seems to be correct (I never doubted her, I just didn't think properly about it)
So im deff getting a ceramic bulb now.

Yes i have come accross this, red foots have delicate eyes.
Think about it in the wild they live on a forest floor and hardly ever come accross sun light, they all their nutrients through their diet.

Temperature is very important, i keep mine at 27c cool end and 35 in warm, might time does not drop below 18c.
Always make sure you offer lots of water.

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I don't think they get much light on the forest floor. I ceramic is a probably best, well done for sorting it out!!

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Definately gets my vote, big believer in ceramics. Hope it works out for you.

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My lot have light a 80w bulb and a 10.0 uvb strip but they are alot older. I think its the UVb that causes the most harm.

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I also have a UV 10.0 tube and Balders is not bothered by this...I think. Although I have got it too high (Approx 40cm, some one told me to mount it on the back wall instead...prob BlazingTortoise)
When I make the table I will move the UV onto the back.
Although Sarah saying she has an 80w is somewhat of a spanner in the works. I have no idea what Wattage ceramic to get. 100w? less or more? Although I imagine it will not matter too much as the 'stat will regulate the heat.
Hopefully my last question on the subject, how high do you have the ceramic bulb off the substrate? I have read atleast 40cm...

This is very interesting.I would of thought the uv was brighter than the light bulb?

Hi, I'm new to this so please bear with me. I have had a red foot for about 7 months and was never told about a normal bulb I have only ever used a 250 watt ceramic heat lamp. However whilst visiting a reptile centre today she told me that my tortoise needed light as when the heat lamp got to temperature it would turn off and therefore not be supplying a basking area.

She also told me that the UV lamp should be about ten inches from the substrate and mine is alot higher than that, does anyone know where it should actually be and do I need a normal bulb aswell as the ceramic?

Thanks

A few people have mentioned about the UV light, but if you stare at the UV light then a 100 watt bulb you'll see the difference. I switched on the 60 watt this morning and within five mins his eyes were shut. When the UV light is on she keeps her eyes open. However I have been told my UV light is far too high. Ive just won on eBay a 2 ceramic bulbs and Habistat thermo, so hopefully all will be good soon.

Sally,
Im also new to this. Only had my Red Foot for 2 weeks now, but I have learned a great deal. After turning my bulb off I noticed my tort being more active, not sleeping as much and her eyes opening. Your UV is prob. too high. I was told by the pet shop that a UV 10.0 should be about 10 inches from the substrate too, but I have been informed several times on this board that is too high and to mount it on the back wall of my viv.
Start a new thread off and see what you get, ill be interested to know as im about to redesign my viv into a tort table.
As regards to a normal bulb and a ceramic, im going to say no. HOWEVER I am new and I will be testing over the weekend what works best. BlondeSarah is very knowledgeable on Red Foots and yesterday she said she had an 80 watt bulb with hers, but they are adults. Sarah has advised me twice that Red Foots have very sensitive eyes and in their natural habitat they would not see so much sunlight due to leaves etc. I think because our torts are nippers that the natural light and the UV should sufice.

I am finding this very interesting because I have noticed that my two baby redfoots are very often awake but stay in their hides.So now I am thinking maybe the light is too bright?

The only thing is I see the smaller one bask under the light now and then so am a bit confused as to if it is the light so I am going to try a few experiments out with lighting and heating and see what differences it makes.