Habitat - Indoor :: No UVB Light

[Sphirius]

Hi, I have some problem regarding lighting for my 2 RES.

I live in Singapore and I have visit a few of the pet shops and aquarium shopping for lighting for my RES but they don't sell any UVB light.
Most of them said that special reptile light are not for sale in Singapore. So I only have the normal aquarium light for them, it seems that they are doing fine with that.
I know that they need sunlight so if i bring them out in the morning to bask under the sun, how many hrs of sunlight do they need and how frequently?

[sonyj]

Welcome to the forum Sphirius... I am sorry that you are having a hard time finding a UVB bulb for your turtles. I researched an answer for your question regarding how long to take them out for sunlight. Here is what the main site, www.redearslider.com , says about it:

Sunlight
There is no substitute for direct, unfiltered sunlight. Taking your turtle to enjoy some sunlight on a warm, sunny day is highly favorable. With a few hours of sunlight a week, it may not be necessary to have a dedicated UVB light, although a UVA basking lamp is still required. Temporary outdoor enclosures and pools may make a better alternative than special lighting. Be advised of the hazards of keeping turtles outside unattended and make sure shade is available to avoid hyperthermia. Putting a tank in direct sunlight will also cause a fast and deadly spike in temperature as well as blockage of the intended UVB rays.

Remember that they also need a heat bulb to bask under in their tank even if you are going to take them outside for UVB rays. Basking under heat is needed to regulate their internal body temperature since they are cold-blooded and they need to be able to bask several times a day to completely dry their shell as to prevent shell rot and other shell diseases. Here's the link to the main site that talks about basking:

http://www.redearslider.com/index_light ... ing_1.html

Hope this helps. Let us know if we can help you anymore.

[marisa]

Singapore is near the equator, so the rays from the sun are great for meeting your turtle's UVB needs (very strong). If they can get direct sun (no barrier like glass, etc.) regularly for a few hours a day several times a week, they should be fine. I remember Singapore as being extremely hot, though. Don't put them out in a glass aquarium (will heat up too much). Make make sure they have adequate shade to get out of the heat.

[Sphirius]

Hi all, thanks for the replies. The information are very useful