How much lighting do I need?

by Steve
(Yuba City, Ca)

I recently purchased a African Sulcata tortoise. Its is almost one year old. I'm wondering do I need to turn the light off at night or should I leave it on all night? The light is one of the heat sources. The other is a under tank heat pad.

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Oct 09, 2010

Lighting
by: Robaloie

When my Sulcata's were inside a terrarium I heated them using the infrared heater(looks like a lamp, but does not emit light). After using a few different heating sources, I have a found this one to heat the best for them.

I also turned off their Fluorescent light at night, to provide a somewhat steady day night cycle.

Oct 08, 2010

Sulcata Tortoise Lighting
by: Shelly

The purpose of UVB light is to replace sunlight to aid metabolism.

As for heat, the point is to keep the temperature within the comfortable range for the tortoise. For a sulcata, that would be a low of 73 degrees F and a high of 85 degrees F.

Be sure the check the temperature at the floor level. With a heat source there, you want to be sure the total heat is not too high.

Keep it slow and steady.

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