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Hi all.

What type of lighting and lighbulb should I use for my turtle's basking area?

It seems the current UVB light I have is too strong.. because he rarely basks.. often hides under the dock because the light covers the whole aquarium... Can you reply with the brand, type, strengh, and type of support used for the lighting on your own turtle? And also does the turtle size or age have anything to do with the strengh needed?

Another thing.. I have a thermometer under water, but do I need one for out of water temp? for the basking area?

Also do I need somekind of heater outside the water?

Keep me posted.. soon to have the perfect setup for my turtle! I just fear his current condition, I want to improve it ASAP.. ordering parts and items by express.. eager to get his new home 100% setup!

Check out the following...it helped me recently when I upgraded my turtle's lighting situation:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7187

UVB lights often do not provide heat...depends on the type that you purchase. Mercury Vapor Bulbs (MVB) provide heat and are only suitable for tanks larger than 50 gallons. There are florescent bulbs and compact florescent bulbs available too. The compact version goes in a regular lightbulb socket. Neither provide heat and must be supplemented with a regular lightbulb for heat. The wattage will depend on the distance from the basking area. The UVB should be at least 5% UVB.

A thermometer would be great for your basking area, because it is important that the temp be about 10 degrees warmer than your water temp. Temps too high or too low can cause problems.

Brand is up to you...reptisun is a popular brand.

What strength is the uvb and how close is it?
How long have you had him? If you just got him, he may not be used to the dock yet, or he could be basking when you're not around.
What's the water temp? If it's too high, he won't feel the need to bask. 76-78F is good for hatchlings
I use the zoomed reptisun 5.0 compact uvb. It's about 8 inches from his basking dock. The only thing that strength has to do with is distance from dock. Recently though, from the experience of other users, it may also have to do with the fixture you're using (if you have a very reflective/shiney fixture, you might want a lower strength)

If you have a digital thermometer, you can put it on the dock at turtle height for ~20 mins to measure the basking temp. You'll want it about 10 degrees F higher than water temp. You shouldn't need a heater for the air as long as you have a heat source (aka a regular light bulb) for warmth.

What UVB light are you using now? How is it positioned over the basking area--distance from it, is it more horizontal or vertical, is it in a reflector dome?

What's the temp of the basking area and what's the temp of the water? If the basking area is too warm, chances are he won't bask. If the water is too warm in relation to the basking are, he's not likely to bask either (no reason to). A basking area in the range of 88-90F is good. A water temp of about 78F for a hatchling and low to mid 70's for a healthy older turtle is good.

You can check the basking area temp with a regular thermometer. Put it where your turtle would normally bask (on an object the height of your turtle would make it more accurate) and leave it under the light for about 20 - 30 minutes, then check the temp. Adjust the light if the temp is out of the range suggested previously.