UVB is IMP

UVB is important in your tortoise’s growth and development.

UVB light enables tortoises to synthesize vitamin D3 which, in turn, allows them to absorb calcium.

As with other animals, calcium is needed to develop healthy bones and, in the case of the tortoise, a healthy shell, too! It will also help female tortoises form eggshells for viable eggs.

If your tortoise does not receive sufficient lighting and UV rays, it can suffer different health issues.

Metabolic bone disease occurs when tortoises don’t receive enough UVB light and cannot synthesize vitamin D3. This causes soft bones and a soft shell, both can be very dangerous for a tortoise. It can have long-lasting effects and lead to conditions like osteoporosis and osteomalacia.

They will also become lethargic and lose their appetite, which have dangerous repercussions on your pet tortoise’s general health and well-being.

If your tortoise lives outside or has access to an outdoor enclosure, they should get everything they need from the natural light. However, if you ever have to shut your tortoise indoors for some time, or they live permanently in a tortoise table then you need to consider how to give them the UV light they need to survive.

UV light gets filtered when passing through glass or plastic therefore it will not have the same benefit on your shelled reptile if you place them by a sunny window.

You can buy bulbs for UV light, bulbs for heat, and bulbs for just normal light, so we understand how it can be difficult to know exactly what to buy. You can even buy bulbs that offer a combination of all of them!

Make sure that you have the correct fittings to be able to attach these lamps to your enclosure; some will come with special arms or a clamp to help with this, otherwise, you should look into purchasing some additional attachments.

Depending on what kind of tortoise lighting you opt for, the light needs to be a specific distance from your tortoise. If the bulb is too close, then it will be too hot and can cause thermal burns and dehydration, however, if it is too far away then your tortoise will not be getting the UV light it needs.

Depending on what kind of tortoise lighting you opt for, the light needs to be a specific distance from your tortoise. If the bulb is too close, then it will be too hot and can cause thermal burns and dehydration, however, if it is too far away then your tortoise will not be getting the UV light it needs.

How far your bulb should be will depend on the kind of bulb you have, the UV output, as well as the wattage, so check the directions before finalising the positioning of the clamp. Also, bear in mind that the distances mentioned should be measured from the top of your tortoise’s shell, and not from the ground.

You also need to be sure that there is no barrier between your tortoise and the UV lamp; UVB rays do not travel well through glass or plastic, and even mesh can drastically reduce the benefits of a UV bulb.

You may also want to consider buying a shade or cover for the bulb so that anyone coming to visit your tortoise will not be shocked by the bright light.

Also, bear in mind that whether it is a heat lamp or not, all of these bulbs can get very hot so care must be taken if you ever need to make adjustments.

In the wild, a tortoise would likely be getting 8-10 hours of light each day. Therefore, you should opt to mimic this in their indoor enclosure. You can do this by manually turning your bulbs on and off yourself, or you can buy a timer that will take away that stress for you.

Most lamps will need to be replaced every 6-12 months. Of course, you won’t be able to tell if the UVB rays are waning or not so it’s better to be on the safe side and replace sooner rather than later.

A basking lamp usually just provides heat therefore is also known as a heat lamp.

While you can get combination bulbs, as we mentioned earlier, if something is marketed as a basking lamp then you should double-check whether it emits UV light, too.

On the other hand, if you buy a normal fluorescent UV bulb, it will likely not provide sufficient heat to generate your pet tortoise’s required temperature gradient.

Getting the right lighting for your shelled reptile is just one of the few things you need to do when setting up your enclosure.

Essential for their growth and development., you should make sure that the bulbs you buy will provide all of the UV rays that your tortoises require.

When paired with adequate heating and a nutritional diet, your tortoises will surely live a happy life!

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