Although red footed tortoises are native to partial sun habitats, UV is still important for raising a healthy red footed tortoise. Choosing the best UV bulb for red foot tortoise is important bc UV rays keep pet tortoise health. UV prevents metabolic bone disease and aids calcium absorption. The best source of UV is natural sunlight, but for pet tortoises that are housed soley inside, you need to use a UV bulb (or a UV tube).
Best Source of UV is Natural Sun
When the weather is nice, put your tortoise outside. Your tortoise will be happy and healthy with a minimum of a few hours of natural sun a week. Even if it’s cloudy, your red footed tortoise can absorb natural UV rays. However be careful that it is not cloudy and chilly. When letting your tortoise out, it’s still important to make sure it is still warm out.
For baby or a young red footed tortoises, ensure the tortoise is kept safe while outside within a predator-proof enclosure. Baby tortoises can go outside for at about an hour per inch of shell length. Place the enclosure in an area with shade, or make sure to provide a good shaded house. Babies can overheat easily.
A few hours a day will eliminate the need for a UV source in an inside enclosure. But, if you can’t get your red foot tortoise outside due to weather conditions, invest in the best UV bulb for red foot tortoise to use in an indoor tortoise enclosure.
Buy a UV Bulb for Tortoise
When shopping for the best UV bulb for pet tortoise, you’ll find a few name-brand options at your local pet stores. But if you’re shopping online for a UV bulb, you’ll find a lot of knock-off brands. The cheaper off-brand UV bulbs aren’t always the best, and often do not emit enough UV. They also tend to suffer more rapid UV reduction.
PLUS, the cheap, knock-off UV bulbs can be dangerous for your pet tortoise. Bulbs by the unknown brands can cause too high UV rays, the wrong wave length or the wrong type of UV. UVA and UVB rays are safe for your tortoise, whereas UVC is harmful.
Types of UV Bulbs
Mercury Vapor Bulbs
Mercury Vapor Bulbs are considered by many enthusiasts as the best UV bulb for red foot tortoises. However, others claim mercury vapor bulbs have short wavelengthes and can cause eye problems, like photokerato-conjunctivitis.
The main benefit to Mercury vapor UV bulbs is that they emit both light and heat, eliminating the need for a heat bulb and a UV bulb in the enclosure.
But, stick to well-known brands, like ZooMed and Arcadia.
Compact UV Bulbs
The other common UV bulb often sold for pet reptiles is a compact UVB bulb. Compact UV bulbs screw into a socket like a light bulb and are either straight or coiled.
This type of UV bulb is NOT recommended for several reasons.
- There are reports of eye damage, including blindness, due to the intense UV emission at a close distance.
- Compact UV bulbs often have UV spikes, especially when using a new bulb.
- Compact UV bulbs do not provide a large enough UVB zone at sufficient intensity. So, in order to achieve the right intensity, you have to place the bulb closer to the tortoise. The close proximity to your tortoise can create too strong and possibly harmful UVB gradients.
Solar Meter
Because UV bulbs naturally suffer UV reduction as they age, it’s a good idea to invest in a solar meter. A solar meter will measure the UV output of the bulb so you know when it’s time to replace the bulb. A meter can also help you determine whether or not your tortoise is getting too high intensity or too low.
On average, UV bulbs produce adequate UV rays for about six months, but you may find that some bulbs last longer than others, and vice versa.
Using a good solar meter, you can test the UV output. You may find that after six months, the UV bulb is still producing adequate UV, saving you a little cash from replacing the bulb right away. It will also alert you that the bulb is dying too quickly so that you can replace earlier than you may have intended.
Because red foot tortoises are only partial baskers, they are in zone 2 of the Ferguson Zone, with optimal UV output in the basking area between 1.1 – 3.0. Replace the bulb when the output falls below 1.0. Being that red footed tortoises need lower UV, you’ll find that the bulb just may last longer than expected, but a solar meter will ensure the enclosure health.
