do we really need uv lamps

[Nitwit]

wow and I thought name calling and bickering was reserved for RFUK?

[EJ]

It's not... they don't allow it to get to this level... they just ban you.

Originally Posted by Nitwit

wow and I thought name calling and bickering was reserved for RFUK?

[EJ]

Then why didn't you say 'it's like educating a piece of meat'?

...but then... brain matter is considered meat.

Originally Posted by Neddy

lol Ed you numb nut, it's talking about the piece of meat not the animal itself. Or I would of said you can't educate a pig.

[Nitwit]

Originally Posted by Neddy

lol absolutely not Laura but Ed knows I love him really lol

ahhhhh well so long as their is some love in the forum thats a okay
dont mind me just missed my meds tonight

[EJ]

Yup... that's the excuse I use... works... most of the time.

Originally Posted by Nitwit

ahhhhh well so long as their is some love in the forum thats a okay
dont mind me just missed my meds tonight

[Alan1]

Some MV bulbs are made in Canada by Westron, these are sold under the brand names T-Rex Active UV Heat Flood and Komodo UV-Sun. Mega-rays ere also made there but I remember reading they changed to Germany and also changed the name I think. Arcadia aren't made in Canada though

[ibizathetort]

I always thought Arcadia was British?

[Ozric Jonathan]

I think Ed has made a rod for his own back on this one because he says he is going to provide uvb lighting when he gets round to it or has spare money or whatever. Why would he do that if it's not needed?

My personal opinion is that it's not difficult to provide uvb lighting. The uv lights provide other light which the tortoises need as well and some of them are also good for giving off heat. Med tortoises are used to bright conditions. There are some good uv products on the market and they light up the enclosure and provide uva and uvb which the tortoise can see. To me it's all part of making a good enough environment for them.

With careful dosing of supplements I believe it is possible to meet the minimal requirements of tortoises. But they need heat anyway and light as well. Lots of light. Why not use products desigend for the job?

[EJ]

As long as you say you believe uv lighting is essential... that's your opinion.

It is a fact that uv lighting is not essential... that is not my opinion... it is a known fact.

Originally Posted by Neddy

I would just like to clear something up, I am saying that if a tortoise is in 24/7 and NEVER goes out UV should be on the essential list.

The safest way to provide that is via the lighting, hence me saying it is essential.

New owners guessing how much supplement to give is well unnecessary. I feel this is sound advice

[egyptiandan64]

Have to agree with Ed on this one. I've probably even gone one step further in that I did use Vita-lights early on (who knows how much UV it actually put out, though even if it did it wasn't much UVB I'm sure) but have never used another UV tube or MVB after Vita-lights quit being made in the late 80's early 90's.
I do get most of the tortoises out in the summer time, but not all of them. I supplement the ones that stay inside and the ones that go outside when they are inside over the winter.
Unlike Ed I have seen 1 case of vitamin D overdose in 35 years of keeping tortoises. Happened to someone on the forum last year. The tortoise whether inside or outside hid from the light/sun constantly and didn't eat. The tortoise didn't die and is fine today. It was kept inside and UV/supplements weren't given for a period of time.
Whether D3 is made or ingested it is used exactly the same by the body. The body makes no distinction in how it gets the D3.
So UV lamps are beneficial but not a necessity.

Danny