General Care Discussion :: Have not used UVB lighting for two years?(too late?)

[oobie58]

My good friend just posted some pictures of his turtles on facebook and the turtles looked healthy but I only saw one light for the tank. So I asked him if he had a UVB or a MVB bulb in the tank and he had no idea what I was talking about. I am guessing he was using some regular home light-bulbs just for heat on the dock. I told him he needed to go to a pet store and get a UVB bulb really soon or the turtles could face many problems with metabolism and shell growth. My question is, will the turtles be alright if he were to get the bulb soon? And did I tell him the right things? I told him about this forum encase he had questions. I remember I didn't have a UVB bulb for my turtles for almost two weeks and they were fine but he has had his turtles for almost two years and I'm afraid something is going to happen to them. Just wanna make sure they'll be alright.

Thanks!

[rsour24]

there is probably shell damage unless he regularly took his turtle outside in the sun. the only thing you can do now is prevent further damage done to the turtles. i cant say anything about the turtle without seeing it but if there is damage it is more than likely permanent. with a UVB or MVB it will just get worse

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Yeah tell him to get a UVB/MVB bulb quick.
If they don't have soft shell or any kind of bone disease they should be fine but they might of got some shell damage if he never took them out into the sun once in a while.

[oobie58]

I'm gonna see if he can send me some close up shell pictures, thanks for the replies hopefully they will be alright in the end.

[oobie58]

Well since I live close enough, I went ahead over there to say hi and to check on them, he doesn't seem too worried :\. I think he's the type that could care less I just hope he takes my advice on the whole situation. I did look at them but couldn't get any pictures. The shells looked perfect from what I saw, I picked one up, it is a dark green and I did not see any damage but I did see a little pyramiding on the shell so I am guessing he have been overfeeding them, maybe I can see if he has any pictures on facebook I can put on here.

rsour24- I don't understand how giving them the UVB light would worsen the situation, could you elaborate a bit on that.

Ranger The Red Ear Slider- Yeah, I'm going to keep bothering him till he does get one, and both shells look fine as I said above.

[Marcus.85]

Actually a turtle may not need a UVB bulb if its diet contains enough calcium and D3 vitamin, but absence of an UVB source leads to health issues more often than not.

rsour24: why would it get worse? in fact if the turtle is only 2 years old it can make up for possible growth issues in the future..

[oobie58]

Ooh I did not know that about food having D3, and if he doesn't go through with the light I guess I'll give him one, I should have a spare somewhere in my house.

Thanks for all the support everyone

[Marcus.85]

Ooh I did not know that about food having D3, and if he doesn't go through with the light I guess I'll give him one, I should have a spare somewhere in my house.

Thanks for all the support everyone

Well, some species of turtles (mainly carnivore ones) do not bask or they do very little basking.
For instance snappers, alligator snappers, musk, mud, stinkpot etc. etc. and they get their calcium and d3 almost exclusively from food.

[oobie58]

Awh that makes a lot of sense now! The lake I have has a HUGE snapper in there and I have caught him basking probably eight times in the 15 years I've lived here lol. I guest he get's the D3 from all the snakes he eats and those little hatchings but I guess that's just the circle of life

Thanks for that info

[sull324]

His turtle are fine if they show no issues.

I believe an balanced diet is more important then an UVB light,since quality pellets contain vitamin D3 i see no danger for the turtle.
I see owner that have there turtles for 20 years in there basement without an UVB light and so far i saw no real evidence of the use of it for sliders.

An controlled diet and a clean and comfortable habitat is all an slider need.

[oobie58]

That is great! I will call him tomorrow and let him know. Thank you so much for all of the info guys, it's good to know these things.

[Marcus.85]

sull324: that's partially true but RES are very little carnivorous when adult, so they're more vulnerable to MBD and other deficiencies. A UV source is almost mandatory in the long run.

[tidaboy9]

sull324: that's partially true but RES are very little carnivorous when adult, so they're more vulnerable to MBD and other deficiencies. A UV source is almost mandatory in the long run.

I agree with you!!

[marisa]

"A controlled diet and clean and comfortable habitat is all a slider needs."---I couldn't disagree more.

They don't call RES baskers for nothing. And they bask if for the UVB rays, which are converted to Vit D3. Some Vit D3 may be gotten from the diet, but the most natural and efficient way for them to get the vitamin is from UVB rays, be they from the sun or a UVB light.

[sull324]

I dont disagree about the fact they need the sun to bask,i just dont think artificial UVB light does the job good enough to actually make an difference if not hazardous for the slider on the long run. Most people dont have an UV meter around,they install it and think it will do the job for 6 month.They dont know if its too strong,too weak or even working.

Personally il rather put my turtle outside once or twice during the week then put some fakochimicmercural lamp above there head all day long.