General Care Discussion :: Basking question

[Bobbysmom]

How long each day does a RES usually bask?

[SpotsMama]

It varies all over the map. I've seen Spot bask for 10 hours a day. Sometimes he basks for a couple of hours. Sometimes he'll bask 30 minutes, then go swim, then bask, swim etc. all day long. I try to keep an eye on it and make sure he's getting three or four hours per day average, which I think he does.

[Bobbysmom]

Thanks

[Rubicon]

^ I was just wondering this. Both of mine basking for at least 5 hours a day if not longer. It almost seems like they are always basking when I com down. My basking temp is around 89*.

[mikee]

Turtles bask according to their needs. They are temp driven also. If the water temp is too low, they will bask longer. If for some reason they are in the water longer than normal they will bask to get dried off and get their metobolism going. You will need at least 90 degrees with uvb rays and they will bask as long as it takes to get that accomplished. When I dry dock mine they will dry off good in the heat and then get under a towel to get where they are comfortable. m.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

It depends on the turtle.One of my turtle is a baskaholic!And the other one only backs for like an hour!With your lamp,you need to turn it on and off how it would be in the wild.Like I'd say turn it on at 7:00 a.m. and turn off at 7:00 p.m.

[mikee]

TL -- You are correct about the hours a day, however I enjoy mine in the evenings and cut on the light for a extra couple of hours. Some do bask longer than others. It is temp driven and metebolic needs. m.

[CaptainFiggi]

well. turts are supposed to have at least 12 hours of darkness. so 7 to 7 is good. or u could do 8 to 8... and so on.

[Caphits]

Wouldnt it be best if they had kinda real time. Like not a 12 hour on off cycle, but like a 9 on 13 off? The sun is not super bright here for 12 hours, even during the longest days of the year.

[untsmurf]

You can have it like that. There are some people that adjust their light schedule according to the seasons. They make their 'days' longer in the summer and shorter in the winter. I don't know what the minimum time the light should be on, but 9 hours sounds sufficient.

[Rosepruner]

Is 8 hours enough? I have a timed light that is right next to Sams aquarium that only goes off for 8 hours, and that's when I turn his light off. I can extend the amount of time it's off, but that means doing so manually.

[SpotsMama]

If he's basking pretty well during the 8 hour span, then it's fine.

[marisa]

I actually do try to shorten the on-off cycle according to the seasons (lightening is slowly being lengthened as the days grow longer). It really does vary with respect to how long they bask, though. I find that mine tend to bask more or less in relation to the weather.

[jozzep]

My RES love to swim a lot!
They don't really bask for a long period of time.....make sure your water temp is between 75-80 degrees and basking area should be atleast 10 more than the water.