General Care Discussion :: Natural Sunlight as opposed to Lamp.

[Pedromman]

Right now, I cannot get a Basking Lamp, But here in Guatemala the suns rays are very bright, and in a certain spot, on a certain rock, it gets about 90 Degrees.
Is this an okay Replacement?
Will it benefit the turtles with what they need?
There about a little bigger than a quarter right now.

[Tenodera]

What do you keep your turtles in and how big is it? This information is important since sunlight can heat up your water REALLY fast and your turtles could get boiled.

The sunlight you are talking about, is it from a window? Glass will filter necessary UVB rays for the turtle. If you cannot get a UVB lamp, I recommend buying online OR letting your turtles get some unfiltered sunshine.

[res08]

Sunlight is better and it's free. Just keep an eye on the temperature and make sure there is a shade available when he wants to cool off.

[steve]

How are you planning on using the sunlight? In most circumstances, direct sunlight into a tank is a big no...

[Pedromman]

Well, right now they are in a small hectogonal glass...thing.
The pet store and people here think hat turtles can live in anything, and that theycan eat anything and they will be fine.
There "tank" is 2 feet wide, 2.5 feet long, (This is at the corners) and 1 foot tall.
1/2 Water (Mostly just a cool down space I let them swim in a 50 gallon tub for 3 hours a day.) and half (not eatable sized) Gravel, with a wall and bridge seperaing them.
I can`t get a lamp because my dad is one of these people and believes it when the pet store person said that the turtles didn`t require a lamp.
That is what the 3 turtles live in now.
I know it`s no where near meeting the requirement, but it`s the best I can do for now.

[marisa]

If you can create a good enclosure for them outside during the day (escape proof, predator proof with some shade and large enough so that the water isn't subject to larger temperature swings), then the sunlight they'd be exposed to would be far better than any light. No glass enclosures, though---the glass magnifies the heat and will warm the water too much.

If you're talking about a tank that's inside, the glass will filter out the UVB rays and all they'll get is the warmth. You'll also probably have an algae issue.

Be careful with small hatchlings and heat in the summer. You could take them out for 30-60 min several times a week to meet their UVB needs, but supervise them.

[res08]

Can you open the windows and have unfiltered sunlight? That would be safer than leaving him outside in an open top enclosure. I am thinking about doing that for my hatchling.

[megcornell]

The light would still be filtered by the sides of the tank. PLus, tanks heat up VERY quickly in the sun, you'd likely boil your turtle.

[res08]

I wouldn't put the tank in front of a window. I'd simply take him out of the tank while he is basking and put him in a separate container.

[TheComputerGremlin]

You say that you can't have a lamp because your dad is listening to the pet store employee. Can you show him literature that says otherwise? Can you raise the money yourself and buy it yourself? As a responsible pet owner, you need to take responsibility (even if you are still a child) for the animals you've gotten and try to fix their setup.

[res08]

Show your dad this website translated from english to spanish through http://www.google.com/translate_t

[mikee]

Pedro-man -- Direct sun is OK but it can be tricky. The outside temp should be between 80 and 90 degrees and not in water. Water warmes up too quickly and the sun rays don't get through the water of tank glass. I put mine out but I sit there with them. You have to watch the temp and varmints. m.

[Pedromman]

You say that you can't have a lamp because your dad is listening to the pet store employee. Can you show him literature that says otherwise? Can you raise the money yourself and buy it yourself? As a responsible pet owner, you need to take responsibility (even if you are still a child) for the animals you've gotten and try to fix their setup.

Well my dad has the same ethics as the people here.
People here work for about 10 hours, for about 10 American dollars.
So that's not likely.
But I am on the virge of talking my mother into it. =D

I am thinking of making an outside enclosement of rocks and plastic walls, it would be escape proof, and have shade, and a water area. Free of glass.
I think this would be better than the glass encasement anyway,
Thanks everyone for everything =D