Russian tortoises will do best if kept outdoors in temperatures that do not fall below 40°F in winter. I prefer the T-Rex UVHeat. When looking for UVB bulbs, try to get a tube version and not a coil version. UVB light is especially essential to a tortoise in captivity. But beware, the Horsfield is an accomplished digger, so ensure your garden is tortoise proof or you make a tortoise proof enclosure. I was first introduce to them by Tae on the Russian Tortoise Ya Hoo group. If being kept indoors an adult Russian tortoise will need at least a 30 gallon terrarium. Zoo Med’s Tortoise House™ is an ideal enclosure to house this small species. • UVB light allows the synthesis of vitamin D3, which helps to absorb calcium. Both are needed, UVA is natural light and nothing more, if yiou have good room lighting then you already have proper UVA. in inches, is 12inches to low.....16 to high? My boyfriend has 2 2year old horsefield tortoises. So we bought a uvb bulb that we saw on the tortoise shop website which is where he got them from. It enables them to process calcium for a good hearty protective shell. The other end of the enclosure should ALWAYS provide a shaded, no UVB, area for the tortoise to retreat to as needed. They love warm, dry environment as it matches the wild Russian tortoise habitat. The humidity of the tank should be about 60%. All three of these types of light are found in natural sunlight. Without UVB lighting they can develop serious health issues like an abnormal shell, growth problems, and in some cases deformities. Pictures can be seen at Tae's setup click here You can also get a plastic liner that allows you to use a variety of substrates. Reptisum 5.0 fluorescent tubes can give tortoises the UVA and UVB light that they need. Both are needed, UVA is natural light and nothing more, if yiou have good room lighting then you already have proper UVA. These tortoises can suffer from most common reptile health problems, but parasites and respiratory infections are probably the most common. Maybe I could build up the sultrate....please advise. The whole body of the tortoise should be warmed and under the UVB light, not just a small spot on the top. How high, far away from the Tortoise should the UVA/UVB lamp be? Do not keep your tortoise in a tub, tank or vivarium, it must be kept on a tortoise table during the colder months, but is far better off out in the garden in natural sunlight, weather permitting. A UVA/UVB lamp should be placed to keep the shell healthy. Incandescent lamps can supply the rest of a tortoise’s lighting needs. The UV spectrum is broken up into three parts: UVA, UVB and UVC. Housing - Outdoors The Russian tortoise can be kept outdoors for all its life. It has good output for at least a year. UVB is the actual light wave that the sun puts out and is needed by all lifeforms to properly utilize calcuim and other minerals, without it, any animal will get sick, reptiles are especially susceptible UVB rays vital to vitamin D3 levels do not pass through glass, so you'll need to provide a UV bulb when keeping your tortoise indoors. DADYPET Tortoise Heat Lamp, Heat Spotlight For Aquarium Reptile, Basking Spot With Holder UVA UVB With 360 ° Rotating Clip & Power Supply For Reptiles, Lizards, Turtle Snakes Aquarium 25W Tube versions are overall better for your Russian tortoise as they cover more area of the enclosure, last longer, and are better for the eyes of your Russian tortoise. The normal output is 150-200 microwatts/cm2. They have great ventilation. Recently he took them to the vet and the vet said they are fine, but they need a uv bulb as they only have a heat one. • UVA light helps regulate behaviors such as feeding, diurnal movement, mating and similar activities. Russian Tortoise Health. When it comes to lighting a tortoise’s pen, it isn’t true that any lighting equipment will do: UVB and UVA light is necessary for tortoises. UVB should be at the max under, or right next to, the basking bulb and then taper of to nothing over a large area. Reptariums: The 100 gallon and larger reptariums make great pens. Position the UV bulb at one end of your sulcata tortoise's environment about 12 to 18 inches from the top of his shell when he is resting in the basking area. Its a stable bulb with peak UVB at 290-300 nm.