Basking lamp for tortoises: wattage, height and safety
A basking lamp for a tortoise must create a hot spot of 32-35 °C under the bulb, essential in a terrarium or indoor pen for digestion and immunity. A 50 to 100 W halogen spot costs 8 to 20 €; a combined heat + UVB bulb, 40 to 70 €.
What wattage should you choose?
It all depends on distance and room temperature: in practice, 50 W is often enough at 20-25 cm height in a 20 °C room, while 75 to 100 W suits a large indoor pen or a cool room. The only reliable method: measure with a probe thermometer placed on the ground under the spot, then adjust height or wattage. A dimming thermostat and a timer (10 to 12 hours of daytime heat) keep everything safe.
Plain spot or combined UVB bulb?
- Halogen or incandescent spot: heat and light, but no UVB — pair it with a tube, see our guide to UVB lamps;
- Mercury vapour bulb: heat + UVB in one bulb, but not thermostat-compatible and with a minimum distance to respect;
- Ceramic heater: lightless nighttime heat if the room drops below 15 °C;
- Ceramic socket and reflector are mandatory — a plastic socket melts;
- Protective cage if the tortoise can get close to the bulb.
At what height should the lamp be mounted?
Respect the manufacturer's minimum distance (often 25-30 cm for combined bulbs) and check that the shell surface never exceeds 38-40 °C. Place the spot at one end of the habitat to preserve a 20-24 °C cool zone: the tortoise must be able to choose its temperature, just as in an outdoor enclosure where the sun does that job naturally.
Is the lamp useful all year round?
Indoors, yes, outside the hibernation period. A tortoise kept outdoors does without it in the warm season; the lamp becomes useful again in spring and autumn, in a greenhouse or shelter, to compensate for cool days. Detailed comparisons in the accessories category of Planète Pets.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ordinary desk bulb do the job?
A standard LED bulb emits almost no heat: you need a dedicated halogen or incandescent spot, aimed at a precise basking area.
Should the lamp be switched off at night?
Yes: the nighttime temperature drop is natural and necessary. Only heat at night (with ceramic) if the room stays below 15 °C for extended periods with an active animal.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Reptiles universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.