General Care Discussion :: UVB Lighting Distance from Basking Spot

[narcolepticbeesh]

Hello all! Just have a quick question to ask regarding the UVB distance from the basking spot.

I've had a bad experience a few years ago where my Turtle got a swollen eye from having the UVB light too close to his basking spot. Since then I've just been giving him natural sunlight. Unfortunately the Turtle may need to get artificial UVB lighting now. I'm a bit hesitant this time around, it was a miserable time seeing Turtle with a swollen eye.

Would using a standard size light clamp (much like this one ) be a tolerable distance if used on this basking spot

I was using a Zoo Med ReptiSun Compact UVB 10.0 Lamp previously. This time I'm looking at the Exo Terra Repti-Glo 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Tropical Terrarium Lamp, 26-Watt.

Thank you very much!

[PridgNYC]

A Repti-Glo 5.0 will need to be within abut 6 unobstructed inches of the basking area. The 10 should be 12 or more inches away or have a screen in the way.

[apondfortimmy]

I have mine 12 inches away as per the instructions on the box, but this meant I had to mount it on top of something on top of the tank.
The next light I get I think I'll try for one that can be six inches away so I don't have to have the setup that I've thrown together.

... yours sounds pretty fancy.

[PridgNYC]

Not that fancy, I used the Zoo Med full size reptile light stand and the Zoo Med mini double dome fixture. You can find both combined for under $50. The double domes point straight down hanging from the stand and the stand is fully adjustable for height and extension. Very sturdy and unobtrusive. Although, I imagine it would be difficult to set up if your tank is already full since the base of the stand needs to slip under the edge/corner of the tank.

[VeipaCray]

Although, I imagine it would be difficult to set up if your tank is already full since the base of the stand needs to slip under the edge/corner of the tank.

@Pridg: That's weak. I expect so much more from you. C'mon...crain, hoist, prybar, magic furniture lifter thingy from infomercial, chisel a slot in the top of the stand, floor jack, and we haven't even begun talking about explosives.

[PridgNYC]

You left out shims, that's probably the way I would go if I hadn't set mine up before filling the tank. Those magic lifter things would be useless for a tank that is on a stand the same size as the tank dimensions. However, on a tabletop where you have some available tabletop for leverage, they may work. Explosives sound intriguing though, do go on...

[narcolepticbeesh]

Well, got the light and set it up already. I'll be keeping a close eye on Turtle to make sure if anything seems strange.

[CactusJohn5]

The 10.0 Uvb is designed for desert reptiles and that would be the BIG reason for the eye issues.

The 5.0 Uvb is recommended for turtles, 6-12 inches from the basking platform.

[MEandYouPhoto]

Honestly it could be done but with care. I did it myself. I purchased a lamp stand after I had filled my 55 gallon, My stand is wider than my tank so the wife and I worked together to slid an edge of it off just enough that I could get my fingers up under it to lift it just a hair to get the stand under the tank. it was heavy and it took two of us to do it but it got finished. Or you could just wait until you do a major water change and do it then.

[narcolepticbeesh]

So far i've had the light on for a few hours. When I first turned it on, Turtle seemed curious. He was floating towards the top of the water just staring at it. He seemed like he knew something new was in his home.

I went off to watch the 49er game (go 9ers!) and came back to check on him a few commercial breaks later, Turtle was basking and seemed happy. I got greedy and took a few photos but he got scared and went back into the water. He hasnt attempted to climb back up until a minute before the timer went off.

But so far so good

[narcolepticbeesh]

The 10.0 Uvb is designed for desert reptiles and that would be the BIG reason for the eye issues.

The 5.0 Uvb is recommended for turtles, 6-12 inches from the basking platform.

I sure hope that was the case. I've also read that it could have been a bad batch because there were numerous people around the same time with the same bulb who had turtles with swollen eye.