UV is a MUST for raising a healthy sulcata tortoise. UV helps prevent metabolic bone disease and absorb calcium. The best source of UV is natural sunlight.
If the weather is nice, put your tortoise outside. Even if it’s cloudy, if the temperature is right, your tortoise can still benefit from time outside. UV rays will penetrate the clouds, and your sulcata will reap the benefits.
If you have a baby or young sulcata tortoises, put it outside in a predator-proof enclosure every day. Baby sulcatas can go outside for at least an hour per inch of shell length. Make sure to provide shade and a water dish. Even one hour a day outside will eliminate the need for a UV source inside. (That doesn’t mean you can’t have a good source of UV. It just means you don’t necessarily need it.)
But, if you can’t get your tortoise outside due to weather, you’ll need a UV source for an indoor sulcata enclosure.
When shopping for a UV bulb, 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. Don’t be glamoured by the cheap prices.
Cheap, knock-off UV bulbs can be dangerous for your pet sulcata. Bulbs by the unknown brands can cause too high UV rays, the wrong wave length or the wrong type of UV. UVA and UVB is a must for a healthy sulcata, whereas UVC is harmful.
Types of UV Bulbs
Mercury Vapor Bulbs
Mercury Vapor Bulbs are the best UV bulbs for tortoises, but they come with their share of concerns. Some claim they have a short wavelength and can cause eye problems, like photokerato-conjunctivitis.
There are benefits to this type of UV bulb. The product light and heat, eliminating the need for a heat bulb and a UV bulb. But, you want to stick with well-known brands, like ZooMed and Arcadia.
Compact UV Bulbs
Compact UVB bulb screws into a socket like a light bulb. They are either straight or coiled.
This type of UV bulb is NOT recommended for several reasons.
- There are reports of eye damage, even blindness, due to the intense UV emission at a close distance.
- Compact UV bulbs often have UV spikes, especially when installing a new bulb.
- Compact UV bulbs do not provide a large enough UVB zone at sufficient intensity. In order to achieve the right intensity, you have to place the bulb closer to the tortoise, which can create too strong and possibly harmful UVB gradients.
Use a good solar meter to determine when to replace the UV bulb. Generally, UV bulbs should be replaced every six months to ensure optimal UV output. But, with a solar meter, you can test the output. You may find that after six months, the UV bulb is still producing adequate UV. Replace the bulb when the output falls below 2.9%
