Habitat - Indoor :: UVB lighting question.

[buffyfan9005]

I'm looking into buying this UVB bulb:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441777918&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030051&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1135710563254

However I'm a bit confused about the UVB lighting. Is that just the bulb and I'll need to buy an actual light fixture for it to be screwed into? Also does it go inside the tank under the water or above it?

If anyone could take pictures of their own or explain to me how this part of a turtle set-up works that'd be great.

[steve]

This is a tube shaped bulb, you'll need a special light fixture to use it with. It might fit into a standard aquarium hood.

The type that many of us use are a compact fluorescent that can fit into a standard household light fixture, like this:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/pro ... ry_id=4091

It should be placed between 6-12 inches above the basking area.

[buffyfan9005]

Above my RES's basking area is this type of light fixture:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780325&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030051&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1135719691110

Is it possible that she's already set up with the proper basking light? I probably need to check and see what kind of bulb it's using.

[steve]

That clamp lamp uses a standard household light fixture, and can hold the UVB light in my post above. Keep in mind you need 2 of these - one for UVB light and one for UVA. The UVA light can be a normal light bulb, it is needed to produce the heat that will give your turtle an incentive to bask.

UVB bulbs like the one in my post need to be replaced about every 6 months. UVB lights produce very little heat and will not be enough to get your turtle to bask.

[marisa]

The tube Reptisun 5.0 in the first link is a reputable bulb, if you want to use a tube flourescent. I've read a lot of positive things from them from users. I've been using the 10.0 compact flourescents and have found them not to be that long lived. In testing their "burn" rate (how fast the UVB output is lost) has also been found to be faster than many other bulbs (this was not an issue with the 5.0 tubes).

I've recently acquired an aquarium light fixture and have purchased a Reptisun 10.0 UVB tube to use in it, but part of me wishes I had gotten the 5.0. I'm planning to have the 10.0 a bit further away--more like 10-12 inches (the compact flourescent you're considering is supposed to give off acceptable UVB rays up to 20 inches). If you do go with a tube UVB flourescent, position as much of it as you can over the basking area.

All UVB bulbs also give off some UVA rays. The heat is a somewhat separate issue, but using a regular lightbulb to produce heat, rather than a more costly basking bulb, is fine.