Russian Tortoise UVB lighting?

Question

Well I heard that I need a UVB light for my Russian Tortoises, and at the pet store they said UVB lights provide calcium and D3 vitamins but at my pet store the light bulbs cost between, $45 - $85 and I cant afford to keep buying one every few months. Well I found a Vitimin formula thing at the pet store that I add to their food and it provides calcium and D3 vitamins. So can I just use this powder and dont need to get the UVB light bulb or is the UVB light a must have.

Answer 1

Supplementing with vit D3 is an option that many keepers use but the tricky part is getting the dosage right.
Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin and a can reach toxic levels if over-used and cause calcium deficiencies if under used. Exposing your tortoise to sufficient UVB light allows him to manufacture vitamin D3 naturally and avoids both these potential problems. Vitamin D3 allows your tortoise to absorb calcium from his diet. The light does not actually provide calcium; sufficient calcium must be provided through the diet. The lights are a replacement for natural sunshine. If you are able to expose your tortoise to unfiltered sunshine for a few hours a day then that would be the ideal alternative. I am able to keep my tortoises outside for several months and supplement with vit.D3 only over the winter.

Answer 2

You need a UVB light. Pet stores are overpriced though. Try reptilesupply.com. I use a hood in my set-up for my Russian and replace the bulb once a year. The bulbs are about $15.

This is the one I have: http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=878

Several times a year they have great deals on the tube UV lights.