Equipment Review and Discussion :: Question about Repti Glo's

[christianmg]

hey, i currently use a repti glo 8.0 desert one because thats all they had in the shop! Should I change it then or is it ok for them?? Its about 5-6 inches from the basking area?

[SpotsMama]

Is it a tube fluorescent or compact? How are your turtles' eyes doing? Do they like to bask under the bulb?

[christianmg]

Its a fluorescent tube. I had to buy a Arcadia Fluorescent Lighting Controller with it.
Ive just uploaded a picture of Shakes eye (Shake & Bake) at
www.jamjardesign.co.uk/christianm/turtle/

the last one - the others are in relation to a post ive done for Urgent Care - one is quite sick!

do they look very swolen to you?

also is an ordinary desk lamp ok for basking area? what wattage should I be using??

[marisa]

I just got reading some info on another site, and someone who's quite knowledgable about UVB thought the 8.0's were fine.

[christianmg]

thanks, im a real novice at these guys and the fact that one is now appears sick im trying my best to find out as much as I can, theres very little info available in this part of the world on these guys

[SpotsMama]

In that last picture on your post, the turtle's eyes may be somewhat swollen. Is that the sick one? It does look like they like to bask under the bulb though. The tube flourescents haven't caused trouble like some of the compacts. You're fine as you are. And an ordinary desk lamp is fine for heat.

Your setup is very attractive and colorful. I like those mad yellow fish! Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. It looks like you have two tanks. It looks like there is small gravel in the bottom of one. Did you know gravel is very very dangerous for turtles? They eat it and it gets stuck in their stomachs and intestines and usually kills them. Sometimes, if the gravel has sharp edges, it cuts them inside and they bleed. Bad news! We always recommend that the gravel come out ASAP. EDIT: I JUST READ IN YOUR OTHER POST THAT YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN OUT THE GRAVEL. THAT'S GOOD. SORRY I DIDN'T READ THAT ONE FIRST.

2. Are the heaters the submersible type? They look like they are. Can you go ahead and put them all the way under? I'm afraid your turtles will get burned with them out of the water like they are, and they will have a harder time regulating the temperature if they aren't submerged.

3. Your turtles might like it better if you'd take some of the decorations out of the tank. It would give them more room to swim around. They like some stuff in there to play with and hide in but they really like having the space. It's easier to clean too with less stuff.

[christianmg]

thanks for the feedback SpotsMama!
I just have one tank, It used to be filled with gravel, but I read about a month ago on here, what you said about the gravel so I got rid of it all and set it up like it is now.
Its just the one tank, two pics of it )

I will take out some of the stones as soon as I post this, but im saving for a bigger tank too. The big one does love to swim.
Yea shakes the sick one and hes got the swollen eyes, but I dont know what the condition is and thats why I havent seperated them yet, hes been kinda a bit ill since I got him in Nov, while the other has been healthy as a horse, and he hasnt been effected yet and they like eachothers company!

This shows how little my knowlegege is with turtles ... can I submirge the heater completly?? There is electrics on it? ... *thinks about the filer - theres electrics on that too duuh!* ... sorry im a REAL novice! So its ok just to sink that to the bottom then?

[SpotsMama]

On the heater, usually they have a mark on them that says "water line" or some such. Do you see anything like that? On my filter, where it says 'water line", that means it's the water should come AT LEAST up to the line. It also can go all the way under.

What brand is your heater? It looks like a good one. Hopefully it's some common brand and we can just confirm that it's ok to put it all the way under.

[christianmg]

it appears to be an elite ipx7, and when I was looking for the name of it, there was the min line staring right at me! Thanks for the help!
while I have you did you get a chance to see the other post?? do you know what could be wrong with him??

[SpotsMama]

Good news on the heater!

I put a long reply on your other post. Hope it helps.

[adam85491]

I use the reptio glo 5.0 tropical. It is a perfect amount of UVB in my opinion, is cheap, and hasn't caused any problems for my turtles.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Adam which one do you use? The 26 watt or the 13 watt one? Does anyone know if there is any difference between the two - I ordered the 26 watt.

[adam85491]

I have the 26 watt. I don't know if there is a difference, because it is like that with the ESU 3% bulbs. I didn't know there was a 13 watt kind with the repti glo, however. I can't think of a difference since we are not really talking about heat.

I asked on the Exo Terra site, it said to expect an answer within the next three business days.

[marisa]

The different wattage would affect the brightness of the bulb. In the case of UVB lights, if the same brand comes in two different wattages, the high wattage will also give off more UVB.

[adam85491]

From an Exo-Terra C.S......

"Dear Adam M.,

We thank you for taking the time to contact us.

The difference would be the wattage. 26 watt being a stronger heat. It would depend on the heat that your reptile would need.

Thank you,
Customer Service"