General Care Discussion :: Is turning the light off right?

[sezzyb2k7]

I have had my turtle Joey for 3 weeks now and have been turning the lamp off at 10pm every night and then on at 5.30am every morning. I was just wondering if i am allowing Joey enough light ?
thanks

[Sgt. Pepper]

I think that might be too much light. From what I've read they should have about 12 hours of light, and you're giving him 17 hours. My turtle's lamps turn on at 8 am and off at 8 pm every day and that gives her plenty of time to bask.

[sezzyb2k7]

oh okay. Thts gr8 thank you thts jst the tyms we go 2 bed and get up see so we put the light on and off then but i can make ajustsments 2 tht if needed. do u reccomend i change this

[hdaisog]

I have mine set on a timer. It works great and I don't have to worry about adjusting their "schedule" when I have to leave really early or end up coming home later than usual.

[marisa]

An average of 12 hours on and 12 hours off. My turtles get more light in the summer when the days are longer and less in the winter when they're shorter.

[LOBO]

i have a timer on my power strip but i use a heat/uvb combo lamp (which works fairly well) but i cant use the timer because it would turn off heat and light not just light. so i just do it by hand. i try and keep it around 12 hours but today it ended up being 10

[industrial_girl_2000]

About 12 hours on, 12 hours off is about right. I do notice that my Sheba tends to be up early in the morning (with me, when I get up I turn the light on at 5:30am) and by the time I get home at night, she is pretty much done basking & already sitting in the water quietly around 6:30pm.

Even if I don't turn the light off at 6:30, she tends to get a "2nd wind" around 7pm & loudly thrashes & wants out of the tank or begs to be fed. She is so WILLFUL!!!!!!

[sezzyb2k7]

Sounds just like joey.

Hes wild throughout the day and seems to be settled into his routine of timings.

Hes always scrurrying up the glass at about 5 oclok in the evening