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Tortoise Heating? Reflector lamp?
Right, so I have found a tortoise table on ebay,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3FT-JUVENILE-TORTOISE-TABLE-HOME-WITH-LAMP-STARTER-KIT_W0QQitemZ370219703915QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects?hash=item5632d05e6b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1686|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
It comes with a "reflector lamp".
What is this? Is it a Heat Lamp? Or is it a UV light thingy?
Or is it both?
Can someone give me a website where I can buy a 2 in 1 heat and UV
lamp thing?
What temperature does my tortoise have to be in when it hibernates?
Any other information on Russian tortoises would be much appreciated.
If possible do send me links to pictures so i can see what I need.
Thank you very much. 
Hi Flower,
Do you already have your Russian tortoise? If not, please may I send you details of reputable private breeders, rather than you buying from one of the many dodgy importers that are selling them online in the UK at the moment?
Regarding the tortoise table you linked to... It looks like a good, solid construction/design, but do you realise quite how tiny it is?! It really is only suitable for hatchlings at only 3'x1.5' floor area. In my opinion you would be much better off starting out with something that will last, instead of having to replace that in a couple of years (and that's assuming you get a hatchling and not a wc juvenile - in which case it would be too small from day one!) I would recommend more in the region of 3' x 5' for a single Russian tortoise.
If you do buy from that eBay seller, please DO NOT use their recommended substrate - it is totally inappropriate. A 50/50 mix of sterilised topsoil (about 4 quid a bag from B&Q) and play-sand is ideal.
A "reflector lamp" in this context would usually just mean an incandescent spotlight for heat. Looking at the pic on eBay, I'd say that's what they're showing. You would be right to think that you'd also need a good UVB source. To get the 2 in 1 lamp you're looking for, contact Darren at http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk/ He sells the best MVBs (mercury vapour bulbs) on the market (Megaray) and he is very helpful and really knows his stuff.
Regarding hibernation - have a read of: http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/safer.html It will tell you all you need to know.
Basically you HAVE to maintain temps between 0 and 10C as any lower results in freezing tissue damage and higher than 10C and the tortoise will definitely wake and use up valuable fat reserves. When they wake prematurely they can also urinate and then will dehydrate and die if not fully woken and allowed to drink ASAP. The extremes of this quoted range are far from ideal, though. Keeping the hibernating Russian tortoise between 3C and 6C would be a better target range, as they can become active at lower temps than many other hibernating species.
Hope this helps?
AlexD
