Other Turtle Discussion :: Need help for the lights!

[AirFarceLive]

I have a question...
Could I use a 13 watt flourescent light for my tank and to make up for that in the warm summer days to put my turtle outside under my supervision.
Would work out well?

[rsour24]

your turtle needs two lights, a basking light, which can be a simply 65-100watt household bulb, or a real basking bulb. your turtle also needs a UVB bulb over the basking platform. a flourescent light will not provide your turtle with the UVB it requires. taking your turtle outside in the sun is a good idea

[AirFarceLive]

Awsome news for me! I got a 100 watt light, but the UVB light would be a problem because I only have about 11$ left from my 200$ which I used for the equipment and tank and these 11$ are for the turtle, so could I just make it up by leaving my turtle on the balcony under my supervision every summer day, and by feeding it pellets at some point to make up for the protine? (My balcony is really sunny for about 4 hours a day)

[steve]

You have to be extremely careful when letting a turtle have access to a balcony. Falls are an obvious problem (happens more than you think) and predatory birds. Can you borrow some money for the UVB? They compact flourescent versions are reasonably priced. How big is your tank?

*edit: You have a six gallon tank? You can use something less than a 100 Watt bulb.

[AirFarceLive]

Well, I agree with you about the hazards of balconies but for my turtle it will be safe because I'll be with it just to make sure!
I am mainly afraid of predatory birds because there is a forest that has "Protected eagle species" 10Meters away from my balcony!
About the lights, you know my tank dimensions are tiny, do you think the turtle would survive over the summer getting it's UVB light from the sun?
(and sure I'll try a 69 watt bulb light for a heat lamp)

[steve]

You could use a 100W or smaller, but you need to carefully check the temperatures and make sure it's a safe distance away.

They are very good at climbing and digging, and move faster than you think. You'll need to set up barriers and/or fencing as well.

[AirFarceLive]

well, I set up the light at the right distance to give 30ºc to the basking area but when I put on the plastic see through pannel the heat wont reach the basking area would it?
Also my balcony pretty wierd, by wierd I mean it's practicaly a garden that has citrus trees, shrubs, and flowers due to my imagination and my mothers money haha, there is no way the turtle to get of it only three holes wide only 1cm for the water to drain out after raining. So it's really nice and friendly place for any turtle.

[AirFarceLive]

My mom made me build 3 wooden rafts for the plants to put the pots there. Gee... the way that I doesn't allow anything to hide... like a baby turtle, so it is practicaly imposible to lose the turtle.

[steve]

What's "plastic see through"? Can you post a link or picture?

[AirFarceLive]

well because I am using my psp I can show the pic of it tommorow morning

[AirFarceLive]

I practicaly meant a plastic lid which you can see through like how you can see through glass.

[steve]

If it's over the top, then it will block most of the heat.

[AirFarceLive]

Oh sh*t! gotta put the log deeper down and lower the water level!
‹(O___O)›