General Care Discussion :: Gone for a week. Need help.

[Nosferatu Alucard]

I'll be gone for a week on vacation, and I need some help. I have someone coming in every other day to feed my turtles, see they're ok, temp, etc. My only problem is, I can't get them to come twice a day to take care of the lights and lamps. How should I keep the lights while I am gone? I have a crappy 15 wt fluorescent, and a 60 wt basking lamp. Should I keep both on, off, one on and one off? What? Should I have the person mess with them every other day they're here?

Thanks ahead of time.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Get timers for your lights. I use these: http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?action=prod&pid=203&did=5&cid=43&sid=114.

[SpotsMama]

You can get a $5 timer from Lowes. It works perfectly - turns the lights on in the morning and off in the evening.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Definitely go for a timer. I got one mostly because I keep odd hours and I wanted the lights to be on a regular schedule without me having to get up at 8 am, haha. So it's good for when you're not on vacation too!

[Nosferatu Alucard]

What do you guys recommend I do if I don't have the time to get timers? Considering I'm leaving in thirty minutes

[Starchick]

I'm guessing you've already left, but maybe the person who's coming every other day could grab some for you and you can reimburse them when you get home?

[Nosferatu Alucard]

I mean, I'll try, but if the timers are not an option, what's my best option?

[Nosferatu Alucard]

What's more important? The ability to sunbathe, or a regular sleeping pattern?

[SpotsMama]

You really shouldn't have to choose. If I were in your shoes and there was no way in the world I could get a timer, I'd probably ask the friend that is looking in on them to alternately leave the lights on and turn them off when he/she comes to visit.

[mikee]

Long gone.= If you have no choice and your friend can't work out the timer; I don't think that one day on and next off would hurt anything. The timer would be the best. I also use automatic fish feeders in a pinch. Good Luck !!