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I was wondering if using a incandescent light (i.e. 40 or 60 watts) is sufficient to provide heat and light for the turtle to bask?

Yes, try to utilize the search feature or keep your questions in your original topic. Not trying to be rude, but it helps keep the board easier to navigate.

Check the temperature at the basking site with a thermometer to be sure it's not to hot or too cool.

You know that in addition to your incandescent light, you'll also need a flourescent light (a special light that you get at a pet store) to provide UVB and UVA, right?

Most keepers use a 60w bulb in a standard clamp lamp. (Check the Photos section for more ideas). But if you have to position the lamp too close to the basking area to keep it at 88-90F, go with a 75w, and adjust it till you get the temps right......

cloudy wrote:I was wondering if using a incandescent light (i.e. 40 or 60 watts) is sufficient to provide heat and light for the turtle to bask?

I am new at this and still learning, so turt pro's feel free to chime in.

Here is what I found,
I used a raytec infared temp gun to check surface temps on the docking station.

I first tried a 75 watt bulb at about 8" away, to hot (140 degrees F).
Then tried a 60 watt at the same distance, kinda hot but he basked alot (120 degrees F)
The other day, I put in a 40 watt at the same distance, Now the surface temp is about 100 degrees F and I havent seen him bask yet. I'll keep the same 40 watt in and keep an eye on the basking pattern.

The wattage you use will depend on the distance. If yours is 8" to 14" away, try the 60 watt and see how your turt likes it. If he only spends a minute or two basking then heads for the water, he may be trying to cool off because of to much heat from the bulb. Put a thermometer on the platform and monitor the temp. see what ya get.

From what I had read here, the temp shoud be around 90 degrees F.
Now is that surface temp., or ambient basking temp?
The reason I ask, if a person wants a true "Ambient Temp", the temp must be taken in the shade. If we are looking for surface temp, then mine likes 110-120 I may be going back to the 60 watt sooner then later in my clamp on light.

Geno

Great post, Pokey/Geno!

industrial_girl_2000 wrote:Great post, Pokey/Geno!

Thanks industrial. I'm not looking to Hijack here, but to learn.

cloudy wrote:I was wondering if using a incandescent light (i.e. 40 or 60 watts) is sufficient to provide heat and light for the turtle to bask?

Like I said, I'm a noobie so I hope others put in their .02.
My lill 1.5" turt seems to like the 60 watt in the "clamp on light with silver shield" @ about 8"-10" away, and since I changed to a 40 watt I havent seen him bask yet.

Pokey wrote:
From what I had read here, the temp shoud be around 90 degrees F.
Now is that surface temp., or ambient basking temp?
The reason I ask, if a person wants a true "Ambient Temp", the temp must be taken in the shade. If we are looking for surface temp, then mine likes 110-120 I may be going back to the 60 watt sooner then later in my clamp on light.

Geno

Still not sure about this one because ambient temp should taken out of direct light and I havent seen any posts on which one it shoud be, surface or air temp. I just assumed its surface.

SORRY, sometimes I over anylize stuff.....

Geno

Question: Wouldn't it be ideal to have a smaller lamp light than the basking spot, then you can have a range of temperatures for the turtle to choose from?

For example, directly underneath the lamp may be near 100, but on the edges of the basking spot it's near 90. That way the turtles can pick a spot to bask at depending on his/her preference.

If you have a giant lamp, there is no way to vary the warmth as easily. Of course the UV lamp needs to cover the entire basking area.

Well 100 degrees F may sound insignificant, but turtles (and humans as well), are pretty sensitive to the temperature, and even just few more degrees could start to burn them up. Even us humans, start to get the freezing sensation when your body temperature has dropped only 1-3 degrees so the recommended temperature is best.

But you do raise a good point, if you keep the center around 90-93, and the edges below that, it may benefit your turtle, just keep in mind that the recommended temperature setting is often what the turtles enjoy the most, so having above-average temperatures in the center/main basking area would limit where your turtles could bask, space-wise if they don't like it.

One more thing I thought I'd add to your research Pokey, that the room temperature also pays a role in the heat reaching the basking area for your turtle. On average, where I live, the climate is fairly cold and snowy, so as a result, the average temperature around the house is 55-64 degrees F during the winter (I tend to cut back on heater usage to save $$, dress warmly, ), so even a 60w incandescent bulb at 6 inches away from my basking area has no effect at all, I need to use a stronger wattage bulb for sure.

Thanks for chiming in Pizza & g29w, very valid points and us noobie's learn as we go.
As far as room temp., you are 100% correct and I would like to add that I run around 71-75 F.. I assumed every-one had a laboratory setting that maintained 73.5 +/- 1.5 F. lol, j/k.

I did run the Raytec infrared temp gun across my platform and the surface temp. did change drastically, The temps I posted were MAX temp for my conditions.

Hmm, now the gears are turning. hehe
Next test for me is to put the 60 watt bulb in and watch for the location he likes to bask. I will then check the temp in that location and make sure its not to hot. I would hate for my lill bud to get a burn....

Shauna says that I'm obsessed!
I would have to agree..........lol

Geno