Urgent Care :: Pluto's shell

[HamzahJameel]

Thank you so much! Unfortunately, we do not have Hikari, Mazuri, and Omega One. Maybe, we have Reptomin and ZooMed. I tried talking to the Big Guys of Dubai, the Sheiks who import that stuff. They said that they don't have any interest in reptiles. If you check the site, the cat and dog selections are really a lot! Anyways, what can I do? I do live in a sunny area, Dubai. So, what you mean is taking them out every once in a while and get them basking fifteen minutes, right? Is the basking light really that important, or can I simply use any household light? And, when I get them out, should I keep them where there is direct sunlight on them, or anywhere? Thank you so much!

[steve]

Yes, basking is important for terrapins. It's how they regulate body temperature. Taking them outside is usually good, but your turtle should still have a basking area/lamp in an indoor setup. They should still have some shade outdoors if it's too hot. What are the temperatures over there?

[HamzahJameel]

Right now, Dubai is around 35. In summer it may go all the way up to 49.

[Jeremiah]

35 is pretty warm. You will definitely need shade and water access, if you want to bring them outside. The last I heard, UV bulbs usually give as much UV as they would naturally get in the shade. As far as taking them outside goes, I would make sure to keep them in an area where they can get some direct sunlight as well as shade (for instance, near a large tree).

After reading through my previous comment, I realize that I may have unintentionally made it sound like outdoor time erases the need for all of your turtle's lights. I apologize for that error, it was careless on my part. Natural sunlight may decrease the need for UV bulbs (which you should always have in case of a cold day or other situation, like if you left town). However, your turtle is ectothermic and therefore [i]always[i] needs a heat bulb in the tank (those don't produce UV, they just provide warmth).

[HamzahJameel]

Thanks, but, you know what, I'll get both bulbs. That is probably better. Thanks so much for the food info, UV info, etc.

[HamzahJameel]

Jeremiah.... I was suspecting internal injuries in a baby Red eared slider, when I hardly pressed on him... It's been a month (haven't checked vet) but nothing happened. He swims, eats, etc. Should I still suspect internal injuries?

[Jeremiah]

Hi, sorry for not noticing your post earlier. It's been over a month since that happened, so if your turtle is still acting normally then I think you don't have to worry too much. Just keep an eye on its behavior, like you've been doing.