Habitat - Indoor :: UVP lamps and basking lamp

[butterfly_kisses91886]

Since UVB lamps are around 45 dollars, will it hurt to hold off on it for a while? Also, how long are basking lamps supposed to stay on ?? I've had mine on for almost a full day now.

[Daniel3507]

what UVB is 45 dollars? they are usually about 15 bucks i think

[butterfly_kisses91886]

there are $45 uvb bulbs at both pet stores I went to. its retarded. what watt do they have to be ? Also, i need to know how long a basking lamp needs to be on for? I just turned it off for the first time in nearly 24 hrs. They are in a dim lighted room til we get back from dinner. They have a heater so im thinking they should be fine.

[Kemul]

If you can bask your turtle under the sun for about five hours a week, you don't
need UVB. Proper environment during that sun light basking is needed, of course.

I have my basking light on for 14 hours a day. It's on a timer. I think it's better
to turn off all lights during night time for the turtle to get optimal resting time.

[Daniel3507]

12 on and 12 off for the lights. you will have to have a UVB above the basking area along with a heat source. the 26 watt UVB is only about 15 bucks.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752555

[butterfly_kisses91886]

ok so they need a UVB lamp on at all times but leave the basking lamp on for only half a day ?

[zoologist]

No. leave the UVB lamp and the Heat lamp on for 12 hours. turn them BOTH off for 12.

Turtles need UVB every day, not just 5 hours a week.

[thegrandpoohbah]

As stated, have both lamps on for 12 hours a day. The basking lamp provides heat which draws the turtle out of the water to bask. While it's out basking the UVB lamp provides UVB that the turtle needs in order to synthesize vitamin D3 which it needs in order to metabolize calcium.

Do yourself a favour and get a lamp timer from the hardware store, one that has a 3 prong grounded outlet. Plug a small power bar into the timer so you can use the one timer to control both lamps. It will be so much easier than turning them on and off manually.

[butterfly_kisses91886]

Ok, so I need to put the UVB light over the basking area right by the basking lamp ? Will a screen affect the UVB rays from getting onto into the aquarium?

[Chrisbarnett]

Yes, right over the basking area. And yes screen will affect the amount of UVB rays getting to the turtles. Any screen with holes less than 1/4" will reduce the amount of UVB.

[lady_tortuga]

I keep my basking light on from 7:00 am till 11:00 pm. it's on timer. I find that if I turn it off earlier my turtles start talking crap behind my back lol. They LOVE to bask, they stand on top of each other on their 2 legs, to get closer to the lamp! One of these days they're gonna get burned and learn their lesson...Anyways, all I can say is, it's very important to have the basking light on all day, and turn everything off for the night, like Kemul said. And you're right the prices are REDICULOUS! Pet stores have gone completely NASTY with their stupid prices! I turned to Ebay and found a tonn of great lights for like 5-10 bucks, brand new. Try that!

[Kemul]

@zoologist

I read somewhere that if a turtle can be basked under direct sunlight, that
turtle needs about 5 hours of that kind of basking a week. If a turtle only gets UVB from UVB light, then do the 12-hour on and 12-hour off every day.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[zoologist]

Kemul,

I've never heard of that. Do you know where you read it? You can't believe everything that you read but i maybe wrong because i am not an expert, lol.
does anyone else have an opinion?

[Kemul]

@zoologist

But you're THE zoologist, you're one of the experts!

Anyway, I searched some posts and I go by TheComputerGremlin's suggestions:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... 750#201750

The suggestion is 30 minutes of direct sunlight every day, that means a total of 3.5
hours of direct sunlight every week.

Well, the important thing is being able to let the turtle bask when the turtle wants to.
We can't have clear sky every day. I'm leaning towards basking under the sun
because it's free, I have that almost every day, and I don't have a UVB bulb yet.
I hope I can get that bulb soon...

[speedynlucky]

don't fool with compacts
http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100 ... b-lamp.php