General Care Discussion :: Question about Lighting

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Mister B, dont always trust the people working at pet stores, just because they work there doesnt mean that they know how to properly take care of an animal (like a RES). Pet store employees have a bad reputation with giving out bad advice and burning a hole in your wallet. But dont get me wrong, there are SOME, as in very..very few pet store employees that are knowledgeable about the proper care of animals like turtles. But alot of people on this board (including me) were misled by pet store employees.

Just to be safe, go out, or even better order online http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... uvb100lamp what you see here, is a UVB bulb..UVB is very important for a turtle, without one your turtle can develop a large numder of shell problems, leaving you with a pricey vet bill.

You can use a normal household light bulb for UVA (aka heat), aim both the UVA and UVB lamps toward the basking area.

[marisa]

Mister B, does the bluish light look like a flourescent coil, or is it shaped like 3 longish flourescent U's attached to a base? If it's the latter, it's a Reptisun (how much did you pay for it at the petstore?). Flourescent UVB lights also give off UVA rays, but they don't give off enough heat, so you need an additional bulb for that---it can be a regular light bulb. You turtle needs both bulbs over the basking area.

Your turtle will be much more likely to bask with the basking area warmer, 88-90F. Add a heat light and check the temp with a thermometer to make sure it's ok.

[Mister B]

Okay so I can use a household bulb as UVA light? For the last few days I put on a UVA light along with UVB light. My turtle will bask maybe once and won't refuse to get on his dock when my hand goes in to feed him. But I don't know where to put the lamp. If I put the lamp directly on top of the screen the basking temperature goes way over the water temperature. If I put the lamp diagonally clamped away from the basking area I don't see that the basking area gets warm enough.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Yes you can use any normal household bulb for UVA. For starters take out the screen (it blocks UVB rays). Clamp the lamp on the side of the tank, aim it at the basking area. If its too warm or too cold, experiment with it..move it closer, farther away etc.

A good basking temp is 88-90 degrees, dont rely on your hand for checking the temp. Use a thermometer.

[SpotsMama]

The flourescent UVB bulb is also providing UVA. That's always the case with bulbs that provide UVB and light because UVA is on the spectrum between UVB and visible light.

The household bulb will provide the heat.

Like xsavingsaturdayx said, aim both lights towards the basking spot. Getting just the right distance for both lights so that the turtle gets enough but not too much heat and UV is sometimes challenging. I don't know what to tell you but to keep experimenting until you get the right combination. Other people go through what you're going through and sometimes they wind up setting the fixture(s) on the screen, or attaching them with clamps, or fastening them to the wall beside the tank, or getting a lamp stand.

If you're stumped try looking through the photos in the photograph section or at the examples in the link below to get ideas.

http://www.redearslider.com/habitat_gallery.html

Be sure and check the temperatures on the basking area with a thermometer. It's too hard to tell just by feel what they are. Leave the thermometer up there long enough to get a good read then take it away so the turtle won't get it!