General Care Discussion :: These lights are sufficient?

[nT)Gauss]

I have the lightbulb which is the third on the list posted. Is this a sufficient bulb for their basking needs? Since I've come to these forums I have been reading on UVA/UVB, so I am wondering if that is both. I've had them using it for a while now, my first turtle 9 months so far.

http://www.petmountain.com/shop/standard/1/501527/1.jpg
http://www.livefoods.co.uk/images/sunglo_tight_spot.jpg
http://www.pecheur.com/images/articles/293/z29301.jpg

Also do older turtles bask less and less?

THanks

[Arisu]

those bulbs don't provide enough UVB (if any) but the one you are currently using can be used as a UVA provider.

the only bulbs that include both UVB/A are called "mercury vapor bulbs". they're usually about $40-50 bucks but a lot of turtle owners find them reliable.

I use something like this to provide my turts UVB:
http://www.valuepetsupplies.com/Shop/Co ... rid/126301

[Daniel3507]

those bulbs really only provide heat. you will need a UVB bulb in addition to one of those. UVB bulbs will say on the box UVB 5.0. if it does not say on the box that it has UVB than it does not provide it. also, UVB bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months even if it still produces light.

the MVB Arisu was talking about are great. i use a one and love it. you can only use one thoug if you have a 50 gallon tank or larger because they are so strong

[SpotsMama]

Two types of bulbs provide UVB. The type that can't provide UVB is an incandescent bulb. Incandescents can be used for heat. Most people use a plain vanilla incandescent household light bulb for heat for their turtles and avoid the expense of a heat bulb from the pet store.

The first type of UVB bulb is a fluorescent. Fluorescents come in tubes and compacts. Only specialized fluorescents from the pet store will provide UVB. If the packaging doesn't say UVB and specifically what percentage it provides, then it isn't a UVB bulb. Fluorescents do not provide heat so must be used in conjunction with a heat bulb. A good UVB bulb is the Exo Terra Repti Glo 26 watt 5.0 compact fluorescent. Beware of "basking bulbs" or "full spectrum" bulbs. These provide UVA but NO UVB.

The second type that provides UVB is a mercury vapor bulb (MVB). Again, only special MVB bulbs for basking reptiles will provide UVB. These bulbs provide both heat and UVB so only the one bulb is required for the turtle tank. The type to get for a turtle tank is a 100 watt flood light. An MVB must be used with a ceramic fixture rated for the wattage. Only use an MVB with a 50 gallon or larger tank. A good bulb is a T Rex Active Heat 100 watt flood light.

By the way, any bulb that provides UVB will also provide UVA as UVA lies on the spectrum between UVB and visible light. However, the converse is not true (not all UVA bulbs provide UVB).