General Care Discussion :: Lighting/heat?

[fishcube]

So, what is the best set-up for UVB/UVA etc? I need something that I can sit on a desk/platform (tank is on a desk). I don't want it too big. Right now I have a desk lamp positioned over a basking area, and my new baby turtle is using it, but doesn't stay out too long. I do have a heater in the water and it keeps the water at 78degrees.

I'd rather use just one light/heat source, but don't want something too huge. Right now I have an open top 20L and would like to keep it that way at least until he gets bigger.

Pics of everyone's light/heat lamps etc?

[DavidY]

You have a very cute turtle!

The only kind of bulb that is truly an "all-in-one" is the mercury vapor bulb. These range in price from $40 to $70 depending on where you buy it from. They generate a lot of heat and should be placed more than 12" away from the turtle on the basking rock. You have to have a lamp with a ceramic base to handle the heat from the bulb.

That said, for a baby turtle in a 20gal tank, I think the MVB bulb would be overkill. You could get two clamp lamps and use one for a household light bulb for light and heat, and use the other lamp for a compact flourescent UVB bulb like a Reptisun 5.0. Stay away from the "Desert" bulbs though.

[SpotsMama]

Here's some general info on lighting:

http://www.redearslider.com/index_lighting_basking.html

Here's some photos of nice setups of various sizes and types:

http://www.redearslider.com/habitat_gallery.html

Like DavidY said, your only real option is to go with a two bulb setup - a flourscent UVB bulb (must get this at a pet store on on-line from pet supply place) plus a heat bulb (regular household bulb will do.)

When you get your UVB bulb, be sure it says explicitely on the package that it provides UVB. The ones that say "full spectrum" or similar language don't work for a turtle.

In addition to a compact flourescent UVB bulb, another option for a 20L tank is a tube flourescent. again, you can only get the bulb at a pet store or pet supply place.

[marisa]

20L as in 20 gallon long? For the one I'm using now (on a desk), to hold the heat lamp (which is an incandescent bulb) I have it in a floor lamp with a long adjustable neck so it can easily be adjusted. The UVB bulb, which is a Reptisun 10.0 compact flourescent, is in a fixture that lies on a rack over the basking area next to the heat light.

An MVB would be too strong for a 20L.

[BullDog]

I agree, the only way to do it (at least with a smaller tank) is with 2 separate lights. A lot of people use clamp lights to secure the lights to the side of the tank.
I was a little bit more creative... Here's my basking setup:

I've got a compact uvb bulb that goes in the silver thing, and I use an old reading lamp which sits on the ground (which no one was using anyway) to provide heat. The great thing about the reading lamp is that it's easy to adjust to the right height and there is a high and low setting (I've only used it on the low setting).

You'll also notice Ralph, who whenever I'm in the room he figures I ought to feed him. Also note the floating plastic plant, which Ralph has figured out how much fun it is to un-stick the suction cup from the bottom every time I re-fasten it >_<

[DavidY]

Very nice setup, Bulldog! I like your above tank basking area too. Ain't eggcrate wonderful?

[BullDog]

Thanks! Yup, gotta love eggcrate!

[BullDog]

I forgot to mention: The silver thing that has the uvb light in it, currently has just a single socket. I was considering on putting a double socket in it and doing a uvb/incandesant bulb in the same unit. I can't find a picture of what I mean, but it's like two of these back to back:


You could also find one that's a bit longer, and put two singles in it. That way, it's like a two-in-one unit...

[SpotsMama]

That sounds neat. I used to have a small fixture like that with two sockets that came with a small previous tank of mine. It worked well.

It will, of course, need to be a fixture that you can mount somehow. The one I had came in a long, covered fixture that looked from the outside like it would hold one of the tube fluorescent bulbs but inside it had two incandescent type sockets.

[megcornell]

I use two clamp on light fixtures on the edge of my tank that has the basking perch- one for the UVA and one for the UVB. With a 20L, as others have said, two bulbs is the only way to go without frying your turtle. Also, I noticed you don't have a lot of water in your tank, I'd worry about the temp fluctuating a lot in that amount of water- if you bought a floating dock and filled the tank up more you wouldn't have to worry about overheating the water as much, more water takes longer to heat up...

[fishcube]

I'm not worried about overheating, as the heater keeps it at a particular temp and is only made for smaller tanks. I will slowly be adding more and more water, till its about half full But, I've read that its not good to have too deep for baby turtles. Since they can drown.

[octpusgirl8]

Baby turtles can't drown and i'm sure your little guy would appreciate having more swimming space to develop his/her muscles.

[SpotsMama]

Your little turtle won't drown as long as he has something he can hang on to to rest from time to time. They actually love to swim and dive. Adding more and more water a little at a time is a good plan, but you don't have to go too slowly

[marisa]

Hatchlings have been known to drown if the water is deep, they tire of swimming and have nothing to rest on, so if you make the water deeper, put some plastic plants in for him to rest on/hide in.

Bulldog, the fixture I'm using for one UVB light looks quite similar to yours. I have it laying on a small rack.

[fishcube]

Thanks. I ended up moving water up to half of the tanks volume. Just under the filter.

I added a turtle dock that he learned to use last night. I added a ExoTerra Porcelain clamp lamp with a ExoTerra Repti Glo 5.0watt UVB bulb.

It's about 10-12" from the turtle dock. See pics below...

I don't seem to like seeing the bulb in the small clamp lamp. I may get a larger one. I have a silver clamp lamp (normal kind you buy in hardware dept etc) and wondering if I can use this clamp lamp with the UVB bulb?

Now on the back of box of bulb, it says this "stimulates appetite, activity and reproductive behavior through UVA radiation" Does this mean it provides UVA also?










Sharon