Habitat - Indoor :: Can basking just be out of habit?

[VanishingReality]

Yesterday my turt's heat lamp burned out, and before we got it replaced we saw him frequently up there basking. Not just up there looking around either. He was in the superman pose often and also a bit of head in shell napping too.

He does have a set of regular light bulbs but they are on the other side of his tank. Plus it has been cooler then usual the last few days.

Also does this mean I can put any watt bulb in there? I don't remember what watt we got him before.

Ideas anyone? Or is my turt just plain crazy... well more crazy then we knew he was.

[untsmurf]

He's basking to try and dry off, probably trying to absorb the UVB bulbs. You can't put any wattage bulb up, try a 40-60 watt bulb and check your temps. Then you can adjust the bulb to get the temps you need. Why do you have house bulbs over the water? I would think that would cause more evaporation...

[VanishingReality]

I thought they only basked when it was warm. a few months ago he didn't bask until we got him a stronger bulb. Close to the same time every day he walks up there so I thought it was an internal clock thing or something.

They are not household bulbs, they are a reptile light hood. They have 10 watt fish lights in them, just to keep light on the other side of his tank. When we removed them he would sit there and splash at his clamp lamps and break the bulbs. Since those lights are back he has stopped and is overall pretty happy boy.

He had a flood reptile light and I can't remember how warm he liked it. I might just try a 40 watt household bulb and see how he takes to it. I just wasn't sure if I had to get the exact watt his old bulb was.

[untsmurf]

You don't need the exact wattage, just shoot for the same temp range. And the warmth of the basking area just entices them to bask. They need to bask to dry off and to absorb UVB.

[blulite]

i have a 100w infra red exo terra bulb for tumble but it never seems to be warm enough. he hardlys ever basks. i plan on buying a 250w poultry brooder to bring the temp up. i think the problem is his water is 79f and his basking spot is only 84f. i do need a new uvb though so maybe thats the problem

[untsmurf]

UVB doesn't add any heat. You shouldn't need something with that much wattage. Try using a regular house bulb. They give off tons of heat and are cheap. Plus, you need to make sure that your lamp is rated for a bulb with that wattage.

[blulite]

i know uvb doesnt add heat but it is needed for him to produce vit d. i think the reason it doesnt get hot enough is that his tank is placed between two doors. imagine this:

Door > Tank < Door
w w
a a
l l
l l
fireplace

so i think there is too much air flowing around the tank. i plan on eventually creatiing a kind of indoor habitat for him as an ATBA. kind of a vivarium on top of the tank which should keep the heat in.:)

[blulite]

ok so the room layout got screwed by the posting system but there should be a wall either side of the fire place lol.


by the way do you guys have Tesco in america