UVB lamp for a tortoise? living place? food? HELP!!?

Question

my mum might be getting a surprise tortoise for christmas, but we don't know how to look after them exactly...
also, we need to get a UVB light but all i can find is stuff about the bulbs, so does a UVB bulb fit into a normal lamp?
also, how long does a tortoise NEED the lamp? what kind of living thing do they need? can they live in a big glass tank or do they just roam free and we hope they don't run away? any help would be great!
if we dont have the info we won't get a tortoise it would be cruel if we did! Phantom x x x

we were thinking of getting a Hennmans tortoise or something? but apparentely they have problems with humidity...
so, according to Kittenslayer, i could get a UVB bulb and some of them would fit into a normal lamp? obviously i wouldn't get the tube bulb though...

Answer 1

There are some very good websites and care sheets available on line, but we would need a clearer idea of what type of tortoise you are planning on to direct you properly.

The mercury vapor bulbs that provide both heat and UVB need to be in a porcelain socket lamp. A very simple safe fixture can be purchased for $10 or $15 at pet shops or home supply stores. They are called clamp lamps, but make sure you buy the one with the porcelain or ceramic socket that can take the heat.

Small torts like russians, hermann's or red foots can be kept in an indoor enclosure made of a large rubbermaid storage tote (the one's they sell for christmas trees are good) or a plastic kid's wading pool (very cheap, lots of room) or, if possible, in a secure outdoor pen.

If you are handy, you can build a wooden pen, indoor or outdoor, or a tortoise table for them. Their requirements are simple, they are not hard to care for if you are willing and able to provide proper heat, light and food.

Word of warning. Do NOT listen to pet shop employees about tortoise care. Some know what they are talking about, but many do not. Always verify information with a good book, talking with other owners, breeders, and checking several online sources.

Torts need a good diet. Lettuce is NOT sufficient. They need a wide variety of greens. If you have a yard, you can grow many of them yourself, at least part of the year. Too much fruit is not good for them, and they are vegetarians (unlike most turtles) so NO meat diets please.

Expect to pay about $200 for initial outlay of container, light, substrate, etc.

Answer 2

What kind of tortoise?

They don't do well in glass tanks, they do best in secure outdoor pens, weather permitting. You don't "hope" they dont run away because they definately will-you have to secure them. They need a UVB light at least 4 hours a day, and daylight 8-12 hours a day. There are some mercury vapor bulbs that produce both heat and UVB but they are extremely powerful and produce a lot of heat. Most UVB bulbs are long flourescent tubes, although they do make compact flourescent bulbs that fit into regular incandescent fixtures.

Answer 3

A tortoise not 'purging' for a few days is normally no cause for alarm. However, as you mention antibiotics I assume your tortoise is already being treated for some kind of illness. What are the symptoms, what'd the vet say? A tortoise not going to the toilet for a prolonged time may be suffering from intestinal obstruction. In that case a few drops of paraffin oil (and waiting for 2-3 days for the oil to work its magic) should do the trick. Some people recommend feeding a bit of *raw* sauerkraut in addition to the oil. It's supposed to wrap itself around the foreign object(s) and make them easier to pass. Personally I can't tell you if and how well that works. If it's obstruction, force-feeding her for a prolonged time is very bad though. Note that this is pure speculation! Most importantly, have a competent vet check her up again *thoroughly*. Make sure the vet is specialized in reptiles - far too many vets don't know a lot about tortoises and make things worse by randomly trying stuff to see if it works. If you don't get a 'normal' appointment tell them it's an emergency. Does she have a cool & dark corner to seek out in addition to the heat lamp - if yes, does she alternate between them or sit under the lamp all day? Does she seem nervous? Does she walk normally, using all four legs equally?

Answer 4

A Hermann's is a good starter tortoise, but you will want to do some research for housing, diet, etc;

UVB is important, but not the most critical element. Get the housing, diet, temps, etc. down pat. UVB is available in bulbs that fit standard screw-in sockets and some that fit in standard fluorescent units.

For some great info, try http://www.tortoisetrust.org or google Tlady's site.