General Care Discussion :: UVB light. How long should it stay on?

[Billy Black]

I have my turtle's tank in my room, and I'm a bit worried about having the UVB light on when I'm in the room with him. For now, I leave it on when I go to class, which is Mon-Thur, noon to 5pm. Is this enough? Is it ok that he doesn't get the UVB light as much during the weekends?

Mind you, I still leave his basking light on. I'm just not sure how much UVB he's supposed to be getting.

Also, I just found out recently that it's a boy! I kinda figured, since his nails were getting longer, but, well, I found out for sure the other day. Freaked me out at first, but luckily I had already read about that, and I knew what it was. I guess now that I know the sex, I can't put off giving him a name.

[powerofvoodoo]

I leave my UVA and UVB light on for the same amount of time - 12 hours a day. I don't know what the minimum for the UVB light would be though.

[untsmurf]

Buy a timer and put him on a 12 hr light cycle. You can get one at target for three dollars. His UVA/UVB lights should be on for 12 hours and off for 12. Five isn't bad, but the more the better. The goal is to simulate a natural light cycle.

[Billy Black]

His heat lamp is on a timer, but I really don't want the UVB light to be on while I'm in the room. People wear UVB blocking sunglasses for a reason.

[Safdar]

Aslong as the uvb bulb isnt facing you
or its light is comming in contact with you, then its fine

Remember UVB rays from a bulb do not travel that far thats why we put it close to the basking spot so it can reach the turtle

Hook the UVB bulb to the timer also

[SpotsMama]

UVB output from a light bulb dissipates rapidly with distance. Beyond a couple of feet from the surface of the bulb it's negligible. You don't need to worry about it harming you if you're in the room with it. Here's a little info on the pattern of UVB output from some typical bulbs:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/compactlamps.htm#spreadcharts

If you're interested, why don't you look around at the info on this site. It will tell you about everything there is to know about UVB light.

[Tattoo]

Is a Zoo Med PowerSun UV Flood Lamp good? It has UVA/UVB and heat. Will this work for all in one lighting? http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

[SpotsMama]

It is a good bulb. It's a mercury vapor bulb. With turtle tanks you'd want the 100 watt version. They are very powerful though and are only suitable for tanks 55 gallons and up. If you're in the size bracket they are a good deal.

Another excellent bulb is the t rex 100 watt UVB flood. It's also a mercury vapor bulb. I had better success with it than the powersun - Spot basked better and it was hotter so I could position it further from the basking platform and the turtle, which I liked because these bulbs (like incandescent bulbs) will shatter if cool water splashes on them,.

[Tattoo]

I have a 40 gallon tank and I can't find a good uva/uvb flood. Since my tank isn't a 55 gallon what would you recomend? I am looking for an all in one bulb.

[N4784N R4613]

I think you will be fine with a 100 watt MVB on a 40 gallon set-up. Just make sure you monitor the temp when you first get it, to see if it is over-heating the tank.

P.S. Very little, to no heat would transfer to the water if you had an above tank basking area.

[Billy Black]

Aslong as the uvb bulb isnt facing you
or its light is comming in contact with you, then its fine

Remember UVB rays from a bulb do not travel that far thats why we put it close to the basking spot so it can reach the turtle

Hook the UVB bulb to the timer also

I have a very small room, so my turtle sits on top of my dresser, which is about three feet from my bed. I can't really avoid coming into close contact with the bulb, which is why I tend to keep it off.

I'll try to position it so that it faces away from me, but I'm not sure exactly how I'll do that.

So, nobody knows how much time they need with the UVB bulb every day?

[powerofvoodoo]

Buy a timer and put him on a 12 hr light cycle. You can get one at target for three dollars. His UVA/UVB lights should be on for 12 hours and off for 12. Five isn't bad, but the more the better. The goal is to simulate a natural light cycle.

Untsmurf answered your question pretty well. =)

[Safdar]

Dont worry about the UVB comming in contact with you trust me

Check out the link Spotsmama gave

If it touches you here and their once in a while everyday its fine
As long as it isnt on you all day when ur home.

Do what untsmurf said and you will be fine.

[SpotsMama]

Everytime you go outside in the sunshine you're getting UVB. At midday, the UVB from natural sunlight is stronger than almost any of the bulbs you can buy. I wouldn't sit and stare at a UVB bulb but it's ok to be in the room with one.

After all, turtles bask under UVB bulbs all day long and it doesn't hurt them!

[Billy Black]

After all, turtles bask under UVB bulbs all day long and it doesn't hurt them!

They're reptiles, it's a little different. They can't even get a sunburn like we can.

So I've got someone saying that it should be on 12 hours a day, but I thought that was mostly to mimic daylight hours. He definitely has a light on for 12 hours every day. It's just the UVB that I'm talking about. I mean, I know they can survive for a while without it, so obviously it's not mandatory every single day. I was just wondering how much of the UVB they need in order to do whatever it is that UVB does for them.

The reason why I was concerned about the light to begin with is because it was giving me really bad headaches, and they seem to have completely stopped now. It's obviously affecting me, but I'll see what I can do.