General Care Discussion

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:43 pm **Heat Lamp - 12 hours?**

Hi people! Good news! Brixie is finally basking! She is rather shy and will only do it when nobody is near. It was really cute, I saw that she was basking and took a picture from far away. I tried to get closer, and the closer I got, she started flinching to get off. It was really cute. Anyways, off topic! Is it necessary to leave the basking lamp on for only 12 hours? I wake up at about five AM every day

and since the heat lamp provides such ample light, I just turn it on instead of the normal light now. Then I leave for school and get home around three, but turning the heat lamp off at five pm just seems kinda early...is it ok if I leave it on till eight or nine? That seems better to me. I also don't really see that much harm in doing so either...

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:30 am **Re: Heat Lamp - 12 hours?**

The light is simulating daylight; so you want to mimic their natural environment as much as possible. I personally have mine on for just over 12 hrs, as I can maintain it.

However, realize that if you are in the room with your turtle, and have a light, or a tv or other source of light on - your keeping your turtle up (unless you have black out curtains around the tank). What is key is a regular schedule that you can keep, that isn't to far out of what your turtle would experience had it hatched in the wild.

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:24 am **Re: Heat Lamp - 12 hours?**

Last night I turned out the lights and went to bed, and in half an hour I took a flash picture and saw she was still swimming around even in the darkness...

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:26 am **Re: Heat Lamp - 12 hours?**

The turtles dont know the seasons inside so it doesnt really matter the amount you have it on, but 12 hours is the minum amount you should have it on because turtles come out of hibernation in the spring in which there is about 12hours of day light. Slowly each day the amount of daylight increases to 14 and half hours of light which is the first day of summer. Then its slowly decreases again after that day. Then the turtles go back into hibernation after the amount of daylight seen starts going below 12hours.

So really is you keep you heat lamp on for a little over 14hours your turtles are experiencing the first days of summmer every day

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:49 pm **Re: Heat Lamp - 12 hours?**

Ah, so it's just a MINIMUM of 12 hours. Thanks DB

General Care Discussion :: Heat Lamp - 12 hours?

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