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I dont have a UVB light so is it alright for my turtles to bask on my study lamp? They seem to love it.. but their shells are kind of a dull green.. not very bright and one of my RES is shedding/molting like crazy.. is that the result of the wrong light?

Im so lost

RES always need access to UVB exposure, 1-2 weeks without UVB is fine, but afterwards, you really need UVB on your turtles for them to remain healthy, or else things such as shell rot and other disorders and/or deformities can (and probably will, given time) occur.

Even though it seems that your RES may seem to be able to live without UVB, there are things that we cannot see, and they may be growing a problem within them, nutrient-wise. Best not to risk it.

All hatchlings or young young RES generally exhibit green shells, either bright light green, or darker green. As they age and mature, the shells get duller until they are just a brown colour when a RES reaches adulthood. Generally turtle shells start to dull when your RES grows 3 inches up and onwards.

Only if your RES is still relatively young and small and should its shell be abnormally dull/brown (such as spots or blotches), would it not be normal. If that is the case, I'd advise a close eye on your RES, it may possibly have a sickness going on and should be consulted by a vet.

BEST WAY TO KNOW: Take a clear picture of your RES' shell when dry and post it here, many people will be able to tell you whether it is normal or abnormal.

wow.. thanks pizza

I'll try to post a pic when I can.. but as far as I can tell, one of my RES shell is dull green but lighter than my other RES who is just dull green throughout.. dont know if that makes any sense but i'll try to post a pic..

btw, sorry if this is a noob question but are UVB light's the same as basking spot lamps?

Agent Zero wrote:wow.. thanks pizza

I'll try to post a pic when I can.. but as far as I can tell, one of my RES shell is dull green but lighter than my other RES who is just dull green throughout.. dont know if that makes any sense but i'll try to post a pic..

btw, sorry if this is a noob question but are UVB light's the same as basking spot lamps?

Nope,basking spot lamps are just a heat source(UVA) that you can use in combination with a UVB bulb.

UVB bulbs are quite expensive but depending on which one you get,some can last up to a year.

UVB bulbs can be very expensive (I paid 44 for mine at petco) but the best price i've seen is online at reptiledirect.com for the Reptisun 5.0, for 20 dollars. Unfortunately, it's a necessary expense. Unless you have a gigantic tank (50 gallons or larger, then you could use a mercury vapor bulb for all the kinds of light your turts need, any smaller and I'm told it'll heat your tank too much) you're going to need two bulbs, one for heat and one for UVB.

Heres a picture.. is his shell healthy or not?

What size are your turtles? From that picture, I would give a rough estimate of 3-5 inches, and from the looks of it, that turtle's shell is in good shape, though it does not mean not having a UVB is fine.

It would be best to take a completely dry picture of your turtle's shell, I can't tell if the carapace is rigid and bumpy (it looks slightly), though it may just be the effect of water in between the scutes.

Pretty turtle!

Is this the one that is "shedding/molting like crazy"?

Is the water on the shell coming from in between/under the scutes? If you press on them, does more water seep out? If so, he needs to shed.

Other than that, he looks healthy. Nice face.

No, this is the one that never sheds..

My younger turtle (which I recently found out has an ear abscess on both sides of her head) is the one that sheds like crazy, in fact.. I think he/she just finished shedding the main part of her shell (the inside) although the outer portions of the shell have still yet to fall off..

Also guys, Im kind of scared about this ear abscess business.. I dont think I can find a herp vet around my city.. and seeing my turtle with a hole in his head will make me nauseuos.. I know its necessary but Im just real grossed about this ordeal..

By hole in the head, do you mean where abcesses were lanced? You won't see "holes" (so no need to feel sick). A slit will be made and the material (looks a little like cottage cheese) will be taken out. The line that's left from where the cut was made should heal fairly quickly. Your turtle may also be given antibiotics to help kill any infection.

But do find a vet---an abcess puts pressure on surrounding tissues as it grows and becomes increasingly painful. Look at the post near the top of the Urgent Care Forum for links to locating a herp vet.