General Care Discussion :: Update on Shmeegs; also question re: halogen lighting?

[kikicool]

Hello, all! I've posted numerous times about my little guy, Shmeegal and his problems. Since then:

1. I've had him dewormed. Since his deworming, he is more active, but seems to have less of an apetite. It's been about a week since the deworming. Is this normal?

2. He still doesn't bask. I was told that, when he felt better, he would start basking. I think he's just very, very, shy. I've had him for... about three months now? And he still hisses if I try to touch him. In fact, he bit me the other day Luckily, he's too small to break skin but yeeeouch! I don't know which hurt worse, the bite, or my heart. Patience, patience, I know.... he'll come 'round. *sigh*

Anyhoo, I've been "manually basking" him. This was recommended by the vet, as he has a VERY MILD case of shell rot on his....carapace (the bottom?) I place him in another dry enclosure with a heat lamp on. Then I leave the room and close the door for a few hours. I also place a little tunnel in there--he can hide under it in shade if hot, or bask on top of it. Well, the other day, I realized the heat lamp wasn't really warming the bask temp enough in the dry enclosure. So I used my desk lamp, which has a longer neck and is more bendable. It's halogen--but Shmeegal seems to love this! He basked as soon as I put it on!

Question: is there any proof that halogen is bad for turts? Is it okay to use this lamp? thoughts? Thanks!!

[grey goose]

I've used halogen lamps sucessfully for years. I use a 40 watt bulb in a wall sconce type fixture w/dimmer mounted a full 11" above the basking area. It's compleatly out of the way, solidly mounted on a 3"x35" peice of pine that is bolted to the edge of the stand. It makes no contact with the tank at all. I'm going to incorporate this into the new tank design I'm currently working on. Going to post pics when finished.....
Halogen is a much more intense light, and gives off alot more heat per watt. I would only use them with a dimmer so you could control the output, and make sure it is solidly mounted for safety....

[steve]

Halogen lamps are powerful, and some can give off a lot of UV rays. Since people don't want these their lights to emit UV, there is usually a UV filter and an additive mixed with the glass bulb. Provided the UV filter is in place and is a good distance away, it should be fine. Just a note, it should not be used as a UVB source and I'm unaware of the UVA output.

[kikicool]

Wow, Grey Goose that sounds cool. I'd love to see pix of your new tank when you're done!

Glad to hear it's okay to use. Whoo hoo! I wouldn't use it for UVB, just for heat. Thanks guys!

[grey goose]

You're right steve, an unfiltered halogen bulb, such as is used in theactrical and TV studio lighting can actually give you sunburn! But the regular commercial/home bulbs all have diffusers.

[Andrew7769]

if he likes it so much try giving him the lamp for his regular tank and maybe he will bask regular

[kikicool]

Great idea, Andrew. This is actually a little desk lamp, so I'd need to get something a little sturdier.