General Care Discussion :: The Babies Need Some Help

[mybrosteve]

Hello everyone, youre all proobly aware of the 15 baby turtles i adopted from George a while back, i have been able to make them a very nice "pond" out of a kid's sandbox. They have rocks to climb out on and bask on and a heat lamp hanging above. The only thing i havent yet been able to get for them due to money being tight (poor college student) is a good UVB light. I have been trying to find one i could afford for them since i got them but i havent had any luck and now im starting to become concerned about them becase i know they need the UVB light for calcium intake and their shells seem to be getting softer and i think the lack of UVB might be the problem. Does anybody have a good size UVB lamp that they arent using and would be willing to donate or sell to me cheap for the baby turtles? I dont intend on having them for long because i want them all to be adopted so i could return the light once the majority of the turtles have been adopted. Any help anyone can give would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Pizza]

That's a very cute picture of a turtle, IMO, .

Anyways, I can't think of any real solutions to this, if it's warm where you live and you have free time, you can take them out into the backyard for a bit.

Unless you know people are going to adopt them *snaps fingers*, just like that, then you would probably need to keep the light longer, possibly months.
If you do have people lining up to adopt your hatchlings, you could buy a bulb, use it, and return it for a refund the last day before the refund time expires. Then buy a new one or whatever and repeat, but I don't recommend this, since many stores catch on and don't allow it, . Or you could smash the UVB bulb and send it back saying it was a defective product (I don't recommend it, but if you really need your money back, it's worth a shot ).

[Kallistos]

Muiriner is selling a reptisun 10.0 compact. I'm sure he'd drop the price for you, considering your situation. I have a 5.0 compact, although it's been used for a long time and I'm not sure how much UVB it's giving off still. I'd be willing to send it....

With that many turtles though it seems a MVB would be your best bet.

[grey goose]

What exactly is it that you need? A fixture AND a bulb? Just a bulb? I've got a brand spankin' new Repti-Sun compact bulb, still in the box, but it's a 10.0, so you'll have to mount it high up above the basking ramp, and if I rummage around in my basement I may find a clamp lamp that could be used with it.......

[Kallistos]

I assume that the bulb is what he's going for since they're quite expensive. Fixtures can be purchased for an extremely low price at hardware stores. So let's see, grey goose has a 10.0, muiriner has a 10.0, I have a 5.0....Now all you need is 3 light fixtures. I'm sure that others will be able to help out/donate.


Maybe you and george can work with Turtlehomes.org and cohrs.org so you guys can get some reimbursement/supplies, maybe even send some of the turtles to them.

[turtledudee]

dont have anything right now but if i do, ill tell you! it must be a hassle with all those babies!

[SpotsMama]

Mybrosteve, could you let us know if you also need a fixture or are you just looking for a bulb?

If you have a fixture, what type is it; ie, what sort of bulb would fit it?

If you don't have a fixture at this time, what type would work best with your setup - flourescent tube (what length), MVB, compact flourescent?

[pamelas]

Guys-- how much money are we talking about here? I offered to ship George turt food or send money, but he did not contact me. I'm still willing to support the "rescue" ..so how much? If I can't cover the whole thing I will at least contribute.

[trex1260]

Hi, I cant help you with a light, but I could adopt a couple of them from you if you wish. I am looking for a small pair of RES or similar to adopt.

[turtledudee]

Right now, you sould get a powder calcium and sprinlkle it on there greens, it should help temporarily.

[pamelas]

Did you solve the lighting problem?

[megcornell]

I have a 5.0 I could give. I can always pick up a clamp light to go with it at home depot or whatnot....

[mybrosteve]

Hi, I cant help you with a light, but I could adopt a couple of them from you if you wish. I am looking for a small pair of RES or similar to adopt.

Thank you all for your offers to help, i managed to get a cheap light at a local pet store on sale. Again, all these baby turtles are up for adoption, if you are interested, send me an email at mybrosteve@yahoo.com or pm me.

Thanks!

[SpotsMama]

mybrosteve, I just gave your email address to crazyturtle who's looking for a healthy one to adopt.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I just want to say that Siobhan is one of mybrosteve's baby RES's and is doing GREAT. I have had the baby for 2 full weeks now, it is eating like a PIG, and has caused lots of mayhem with the plants I put in the tank with him(completely shredded/ate the anacharis in the first week & nips away at the cuttle piece I put in there). He is growing like a weed, and when I measured him last night, he was 1 3/4 inches long (started off at a little under 1 1/2 long).

For those of you who want to adopt a healthy baby, I can tell you that these are great babies! I've had lots of fun with the one I've adopted!