Hi all, i know im a nuisance with all the questions ive posted but as im continusley making modifications to twiglets housing to try and get it as good as i can i really get stuck so can somebody please help on this one xx

whats the best temp for the inside of her hutch during the day, her thermostat is set at 11 during the night so she gets chance to cool but at the moment its about 23 in her hutch and shes happy under the heat lamp

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her uv strip light is not fitted in her hutch at the moment but she does have a megaray outside but i think the weather is too awful for her to even contemplate venturing out all advice very welcome

sharon xxxx

Hi Sharon

At this time of year I don't have my basking lamp on all day.  I set it to come on for 2 hours in the morning and then in the late afternoon.  As it is a basking lamp I set the temperature for 30°C.  At this temperature my torts will warm right up and become active.  They can then wander outside to eat and because they are warm enough then they will digest their food easily. 

The background temperature should be around 20°C and as that is roughly the external temperature during the day I see no need for lamps throughout the day. 

I'm not sure I see the point of a megaray outside to be honest.  If I needed to put a lamp outside then it would be an ordinary heat lamp (but I never put lamps outside).  There will be more UVB from the suns rays (even on a dull day) than there will be from the megaray.  These are more suited to indoor enclosures where the tortoise cannot benefit from natural UVB.

Does this help any?

Helen

Hi Sharon

Just had to say thank goodness you it was you this time with the questions, between  you and me we keep the team busy don't we teehee

Jane

hi helen,

i use the megaray on her outside enclosure as she is under the pergola where she wont get wet but as it has a clear plastic roof it will let in light but not the uvb she needs, my husband has just put her uvb strip light in her hutch at the roof section so when we get bad weather days she can still get her rays without going outside.

now heres my dilemma, the strip light will give off some heat but not alot so if i can keep her heater on therm set at 20 during the day it wont need to kick in if her light is on BUT <VBG> how long should i keep her light on if she isnt wandering about outside, i must add that her basking light is the megaray so she wont have a basking spot in the hutch just an ambient temp all round, should i just let her have the light for a few hours like your basking hours, im so confused im sure im messing her digestive system up with all my meddling lol

sharon xxxx

sorry i meant to tell you her light is an 18inch zoo med 5.0