General Care Discussion :: basking and not

[2wicky]

I have to lil ones. One basks all the time while the other takes occasional swims and sits on the ramp of the dock with only his his out the water.. I'm afraid one isn't allowing his shell to dry and the other needs water...

I just recently got them and I'm working out building the tank env. So I still need bulbs and thermometers. Will a regular desk lamp suffice until I get the other bulbs? And what should I do about the basking?

[SpotsMama]

A desk lamp will probably suffice for a heat bulb. All you really need for heat is a regular household incandescent bulb that's positioned close enough that it warms the basking area to the right temperature, but far enough away that it doesn't overheat, the turtle can't touch it and get burned, and water won't spash on it (which could cause it to explode).

On the basking, what are the temperatures of the water and the basking area? Turtles bask to get warm, so the basking area needs to be at least 10 degrees warmer than the water, but they don't like it too hot.

[RunninWideOpen]

Once you get the bulbs and get the basking temperature up the other one will bask. The temp is what draws them up there. There are a few turts that like going up there even without the heat.....sounds like your other one is one of those.

[steve]

is the basking area large enough for both of them to get on?

www.redearslider.com/basking.html