Habitat - Indoor :: Suggestions on Lighting--I'm so confused

[RonnWilliams]

Hello!

I am a 1st time "parent" of a baby Red Eared Slider turtle. I currently have a Zoo Med Repti-Basking Spot Lamp. It does NOT emit UVB, only heat and UVA. I realize the turtle also needs UVB rays. He's in a 10 gal tank and I will be expanding in the future when he grows. What's the best lighting source for an indoor tank? Should I have two lamps--UVA with heat and a separate UVB lamp--or is there ONE particular lamp that would work well for the enclosure?

What UVB lamp should I choose. I read about photo-kerato-conjunctivitis.

I'll post pix of his set up.

Thank you so much!!!

[Chrisbarnett]

Yes you should have two lamps.

As for the UVB bulb, a good one is a Exo Terra Reptiglo 5.0% 26 watt.

[SpotsMama]

Here's a write-up on a good two bulb setup for a smaller (under 55 gallon) tank. Sometimes too much info is just confusing, so if this doesn't help, please ask again:

"Both bulbs should be positioned over the basking platform. Here's a description of the two bulbs:

1. Heat bulb. The purpose of this bulb is to provide the heat over the basking area that will motivate your turtle to get up there and bask. It also aids in digestion. A regular household incandescent bulb is fine as long as it heats the basking platform to around 88 to 90 degrees. I think people often use a 75 watt bulb for this purpose.

2. UVB bulb. A turtle needs to be exposed to UVB light so his body can absorb the calcium he eats. Otherwise the calcium goes to waste. He has to have good amounts of calcium of course for his shell and bones. The UVB bulb will be a specialized fluorescent bulb that you get at a pet store or on-line pet supply place. Most people use compact fluorescents although if you have a fixture for it a tube fluorescent is also a good choice. Whatever bulb you get must say on the packaging that it provides at least 5% (or 5.0) UVB. The bulbs that say "full spectrum" or "basking bulb" are not the right type. Any bulb that provides UVB also provides UVA, so you'll have both covered. A good bulb is the Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 26 watt compact fluorescent."

For tanks larger than 50 gallons, a good option is a T Rex 100 watt Active Heat Mercury Vapor Bulb (flood light, not spot light). This is an all-in-one bulb so you only need the one bulb, which is nice, but it's too strong for a smaller tank.

One more comment - the UVB bulb will provide UVA as well as UVB, so you don't really need a separate bulb for UVA. Your second bulb is necessary for heat only, which is why a regular household incandescent light bulb will do.

[mikee]

Ron.W-- Spots Ma is spot on! You will need a 5% or 5.0 will do just fine. Don't get any larger as it may damage the eyes. In this case more is not better. Good Luck!

[RonnWilliams]

Thanks that's very helpful. I'll check out that Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 lamp. Can a turtle have too much UVA? If I go with this Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 lamp, should I discontinue using the Repti Basking Spot lamp?

[imderanged]

No, don't stop using the basking light. The Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 lamp won't throw enough heat for basking. When the time comes to replace the basking lamp though, you could probaby get away with a house bulb just as long as it warms up the basking area enough.

[RonnWilliams]

I checked out Exo Terra's Web site and the Repti Glo lamps are "suited" for their special "canopy tops" with their speical tanks. Would a regular dome work? If so, which kind (aluminum or painted white inside) and how for from the basking spot? I didn't see any instructions for the lamp, just the canopy top.

THANKS A MILLION!

[SpotsMama]

Those bulbs aren't limited to use in an Exo Terra canopy top. People use them in all manner of dome fixtures.

Be sure and get the 26 watt 5.0 version. The 13 watt bulb is too weak.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I have the Exo Terra canopy top for my UVB bulb. They make them in a number of sizes, for one to four bulbs I believe. I have two bulbs in mine, one is a good UVB bulb (under 6-8 months old), the other is a UVB bulb that has expired (for added light and recycling of the old bulb). I like it because it provides additional light on my tank. The canopy's are very nice, btw. I have it positioned over my tank, though it technically doesn't fit my tank.

But SpotsMama is right, as long as the fixture is rated for the bulb, any fixture will work. When in doubt, as an electrician to make sure the fixture and bulb work together, you don't want a fire!