Habitat - Indoor :: Newb lighting questions

[chrisinva]

I know RES need 12 hours with the Heat basking light on per day... When during then day shouldI turn it off?? Do they need dark to sleep??

Is sunlight through a window during the day enough in an enclosed Sunroom or do I need a Uva Uvb light also?? Thanks

[Raphulk]

keeping your turtle tank near a window with sunshine is not the best way to provide heat nor UVB. That can acttually cause algae to bloom.

youre better off having both a heat lamp and a UVB lamp.

the lights should be on when the actual light outside is out, remember, the key to keeping turtles is to try and create a close to wildlife habitat (with cleaner water and other things)

[Daniel3507]

all UVB gets blacked through glass and it wont keep the basking dock warm enough so thats out of the question. gabe is right about having a heat and UVB lamp. they are both important. the best way to turn the lights on and off is to use a timer. that way they always go on and off at the same time.

[chrisinva]

keeping your turtle tank near a window with sunshine is not the best way to provide heat nor UVB. That can acttually cause algae to bloom.

youre better off having both a heat lamp and a UVB lamp.

the lights should be on when the actual light outside is out, remember, the key to keeping turtles is to try and create a close to wildlife habitat (with cleaner water and other things)

So...when the sun goes down.....turn both lights on?? And when it comes up....turn them off??? Did I read that correctly? So they will never be in a completly dark tank??

[TheRaz08]

You wanna keep the light like its natural. When the sun is out, the lights are on, when its dark and time to sleep, turn the lights out so they can sleep.

[Chrisbarnett]

I would get a light timer and just set it to come on for 12 hours then go off.

I bought a digital timer a while back, and it has been so worth it.

[Daniel3507]

im with chris. the digital timers are well worth the cost.

[chrisinva]

My turtles (Cuff and Link) Thank you all for advice in this my rookie turtle time...

[untsmurf]

I have a timer, and just to clear it up the lights should be ON during the day and OFF at night. Mine come on around 10 am and go off around 1030pm. I set my light to go off later at night because I'm a night person and that's when I'm up most. So that way, the turtle isn't trying to sleep when I'm up watching tv, surfing the internet, and walking around all over everything.

So if you're a morning person set them up to come on when you get up, but if you're a night person set them to go off when you go to bed.

[chrisinva]

Are the screw in UVA UVB bulbs ok?? The kind I mean are similar to a regular house bulb...I have been given some very varied and poor information from pet stores in my area including the one who sold me myl ittle guys...I was told I needed the longer tube type bulb and fixture...I am going to be getting a larger 40 gallon tank soon but I want them to have their UVA UVB rays now...So I guess my question is will this screw in type bulb be ok untill I get my bigger tank in a few weeks?

[Daniel3507]

do you mean a compact flourecent UVB? if so than you can use that. alot of people do. you also need a seperate heat bulb too though

[Chrisbarnett]

I have a timer, and just to clear it up the lights should be ON during the day and OFF at night. Mine come on around 10 am and go off around 1030pm. I set my light to go off later at night because I'm a night person and that's when I'm up most. So that way, the turtle isn't trying to sleep when I'm up watching tv, surfing the internet, and walking around all over everything.

So if you're a morning person set them up to come on when you get up, but if you're a night person set them to go off when you go to bed.

Almost the same schedule as my lights! haha Mine come on at 10:15AM and go off and 10:30PM.

[JimmyJam]

Are the screw in UVA UVB bulbs ok?? The kind I mean are similar to a regular house bulb...I have been given some very varied and poor information from pet stores in my area including the one who sold me myl ittle guys...I was told I needed the longer tube type bulb and fixture...I am going to be getting a larger 40 gallon tank soon but I want them to have their UVA UVB rays now...So I guess my question is will this screw in type bulb be ok untill I get my bigger tank in a few weeks?

From what I hear those bulbs are the same as the flourecent tubes, but personally I don't trust those compacts I'd go flourecent.

[Chrisbarnett]

they're both flourescent bulbs, one is just a compact flourescent, the other a tube.

I have a tube UVB right now, but my compact flourescent UVB just came in today, so I'll be switching them tomorrow.

[chrisinva]

Another newb question or 2....

I am unable to get my UVA UVB light today...I ordered one but it will take a few days...I am going to take them outside for some unglass restricted sun...I will be using a plastic tote...It is pretty large and will provide a lot of sun exposure...The questions I have are...Is it okto let themout in a dry container without any water?? And secondly...Will they get sun exposure even when it's cloudy???