Thanks again for the reply guys!!

Camille, are you suggesting that I should go for a 10.0 UVB? And for the night heat, will a 50w infrared be enough and how often do infrared dies off? I'm still contemplating on whether to use a 60w tungsten or an infra. And has anyone actually used repti glo 10.0 before? Do they fit on normal commercial lamp holders or it is restricted to exoterras only? Also, is the socket head the same with infras?

good thing i got an alligator snapping turtle, no need to bask

but changing the water every few days is kinda tiring, quite a messy eater. but watching it rip fish apart is sorta cool.

pic

get it bro.normally we will place the bulb at around 30cm tall rite?

---

Added on June 12, 2009, 10:29 pm
JBL cost a lot than exoterra,if i am not mistaken

This post has been edited by eddie88: Jun 12 2009, 10:29 PM

No experience on 50w heat output. Back in the days when i put my star-studded RES in the office, I use 75w infrared for 2.5' aquarium. Fully negates the ill-effects of air cond. (Uzairi, you still remember the good old days, didn't you? )

Those compact repti-glo and IR bulbs are both screw-type, the fixing is pretty standard.

For IR, however, I recommend using exoterra or other tough fixing, as unlike repti glo which produce minimal heat, these IR are heat merchant and will literally eat through plastic fixing.

Notes:
i) For UVB, i strongly recommend using linear fluorescent bulb (the long ones) and not those compact variety.

ii) For heating purposes, as for long term practicality and economic factor, Osram's RM1.50 bulb is my poison.

(After a while, you'll get tired of specialized product and will begin to search for generic products that serve the same purpose - that i'm sure of.)

---

Added on June 12, 2009, 10:40 pm

yup. 30cm right but i still don't get it.

effective range is dependent on UVB output not voltage. voltage is always a constant.

i.e. 36W is still 36W when placed at 30cm or 60cm, at output 5.0 or 8.0.

the only thing that increase power usage is increment in bulb size

This post has been edited by camillenoir: Jun 12 2009, 10:43 PM

i heard some said ally need basking oso. just to promote good shell growth.

A silly question here. How do you guys normally bask your tortoises/turtles? Are they suppose to bask on indirect sunlight or direct sunlight? My home has got like bad spots for direct sunlight, most are indirect.

Nice ally there bro, about the basking thing they need it too but not that much. Maybe you can just put a drift wood or a big stone so that it can climb out from the water if it wishes to do so.





Correct.


They should never be put on direct sunlight, and you should prepare a hiding place too if its too hot for them so that they can hide inside it.

Hey guys, I just got back from Purchasing a medium sized clamp lamp and a Osram 100w Tungsten Bulb. It's a little too hot and too bright as well. I'm thinking of switching to a Osram 60w Colored bulb(RED) to act as a infrared bulb. Warm but dimmer. Don't know if anyone has tried it before.

Anyway guys, I'm using a 1.5 ft x 1ft x 1ft glass aquarium for a 2.5 inch ST at the moment and I'm wondering is my tank size alright and is my clamp lamp way too big for a tank that size?

i am using 60w and i think it is quite sufficient already as the basking spot is around 90f(at the height of around 1ft),plus u r using aquarium,the tank can heat up very fast.
for ur glass tank,i think is better to increase to like 2ft so u can provide them a cold and hot place.the main thing u hv to concern is the ventilation since u r using aquarium tank.
well kar,my opinion is get the guidance here and try out ur own method which is most comfort to u.
eg. the basking bulb.everybody's house got a different temperature, different height of placing the basking light,different kind of enclosure,so try out the best voltage and determine the basking spot temperature. as well as not overheating them, i think it is good enough.

correct me if i am wrong.

At that size tank both the 100 W or the 60 W will cook it in no time !! Try 40 W first and better connect to a dimmer !!

ok.....
can i use florecent uvb bulb and mix with a normal bulb to make the heating effect?

Ya

any senior here whr can i get these specimen?
and the price

Hey guys, opted a 40watt Osram Tungsten to counter my temperature during nightfall problem. I suppose this time it's more appropriate as from what I'm feeling, its got a good warm and comfy feel unlike the 100watt's burning sensation. I hope this would be the last bulb I purchase!!

On a side note, is it actually necessary to provide a hide? My ST currently prefers to sleep at one corner of the enclosure instead of going in to the hide to sleep. And funny thing is the little thing actually tries its very best to avoid getting near the dark area of the hide. Is that normal or have I done something wrong?

And oh yes, what time do tortoises usually sleep and how many hours do they usually sleep? My ST seems to wake up during intervals of minutes at the moment. It's also constantly trying to get out of my tank! LOL it's as though as it doesn't know that it's a glass and it can't really escape.

anyone here looking for mata-mata ? i found 1 pet shop is selling them around 1.5k i think for 3-4inch.

I reckon that your st had, by now, learned to embrace the dark side

Acclimatization is a time-dependent thingy.

p/s: your tiny stardust might just be afraid of the boogey man tort

This post has been edited by camillenoir: Jun 16 2009, 04:55 PM

I rofl-ed at the Boogey Tort lol.

And YES it has learned to embrace the dark side. Funny little thing actually even knows how to use the toilet as well lol. It only poops in the water dish that I've provided it. It'll soak itself and poop there!!

Also, I wonder if anyone know the frequency of ST hatchlings eating. Mine ate like really little, I usually would cut up about 1 branch of Green Mustard(Sawi) or 3 Hibiscus leaves but it usually can't even finish a branch of Green Mustard or for Hibiscus leaves, most of the time, just 1.

My ST is surely a super shy one as well, it'll even hide if it notices the presence of shadow lol.


EDIT : After keeping it for a few days, I've realised that I really can't bask my ST under sunlight and the only possible option that seems alright now is using a UVB bulb. Of course not the linear ones but more like the compact ones. I'm not really sure how good are they and I would like to ask if anyone has got some experience in using it, please do share some experience. I'm looking in to the 10.0 Compact Repti Glo or the 5.0 Compact Repti Glo.

My questions are,

1) Are Compact bulbs prone to contributing eye problems for Tortoises? If so, issit more recommended to use 5.0s instead of 10.0s?
2) Will 5.0s be sufficient seeing that I do supplement my ST with D3 twice a week.
3) Do I need create a hotspot to direct the tortoise to bask under the UVB bulb or will they naturally bask under the UVB bulb if placed on top?
4) 13w or 26w? What difference do they make? Previously I read that it probably affects the height which also means that it may affect the distance in which the UV wave can travel, is that true? And if I use a higher voltage bulb for smaller tanks/lower distance, will it harm my tortoise?

Thanks again, peoples!

This post has been edited by Kar: Jun 16 2009, 05:54 PM

The missus took some photos of our turtles. Thought it's appropriate to share here, since we have all embraced.. the dark side

1) The problem is specifically addressed on Exoterra 10.0, more evident in compacts than linear. Feel free to use 5.0 until that #$**@&@ Hagen sort this problem out or use other brands.

*note: usage of UVA linear alongside 10.0 linear would reduce the risks involved.

2) You are overdosing. Use either one, but not both.

3) Taking their form factor into account, i don't think that they are even capable of creating hotspots unless manually blocked. Just leave them be.

4) To answer that question once and for all



both have uvb intensity at 10.0, both have effective range maxed out at 30". The only difference is the size, which in compacts IINM would make a little difference in irradiance and coverage area, but still not effective range.

for mercury vapor, wattage affects heat but not uvb output.

---

Added on June 16, 2009, 6:54 pm

This side gets darker exponentially with each specimen added

This post has been edited by camillenoir: Jun 16 2009, 06:59 PM

Thanks again Camillenoir, you are one helluva informative bugger!!

I have three more questions to solve the puzzle once and for all!!

1) Will placing my UVB bulb higher/lower affect the well being of my tortoise? Also, how long should I actually turn on my UVB bulb per day?

2) How long should I actually turn on my UVB bulb per day?

3) Back to my previous question No.3, I'm actually referring to creating a hot spot via another source of light. As I've read, most people would include a hot spot for basking+a UVB bulb. My question is actually referring to whether do we need to create a hot spot or it is unnecessary if your overall temperature of the enclosure that you are keeping it in is warm/hot enough?

Thanks in advance!!