General Care Discussion :: UVB lighting

[mini]

Not necessarily true. Especially if you are using a compact bulb. I haven't heard of anyone having problems with the straight bulbs, but I'm now convinced my compact bulb has caused problems with my guys.

Oh no. That's exactly what had happened to my Rockie as well. How long did you exposed your turtles everyday when yours are having eyes problem? i used to turn on 8 hrs a day for Rockie. 3 days later, his eyes were swollen and always hide himself from the light. now i'm trying to use the "problem" light for a short period of time everyday. I gradually increase 1 hr each day and see if my turtle can adapt to the new light.

[steve]

crock1120, I found no sarcasm in her reply... and if you're familiar with her other posts, you'll find out she's very helpful and friendly.

Anyway, you can always bump up the basking temps... my RES tend to like it warmer.

[steve]

mini, what kind of bulb are you using and when did you start using it?

[SpotsMama]

And crock1120, I sincerely apologize for firing back the way I did. Not helpful at all. I'll try to do better next time.

[crock1120]

Sorry if I took things the wrong way spotsmama... I just want my turts to be healthy. I don't want to be the reason for them getting sick. So, thanks for the help...

Anyways, what is the max temp. that the basking section should be? Also, could them not basking (atleast while im around) have anything to do with switching from a turtle log and a stack of rocks to a turtle dock? I've had the turtle dock in the tank for almost 2 weeks.

Thanks

[steve]

My temps can go into the high 90s, but lately I've been using a lower power lamp and they still enjoy it.

[crock1120]

What wattage does ur lamp give out?

[steve]

Currently its a 75 watt halogen flood. Previously I had a 100 watt ceramic heater (might have been higher).

[SpotsMama]

Crock, here' a discussion of basking temperature from the past:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... sweet+spot

There was another that I couldn't find where someone did a very methodical test, starting at a relatively low basking temperature and raising it a couple of degrees at a time. He/she found that there was an ideal temperature where his/her turtles preferred to bask. That seemed to be a very good approach though time consuming.

I think turtles have individual "sweet spots" where they find the temperature just perfect. Spot basked the most last summer under the Texas sun where the temperature frequently exceeds 100. I wouldn't try that inside, though. Maybe your turtles are finding the temperature too warm.

[crock1120]

Thanks, everyone... I have tried highg temps around 96 or so and now I will try to move the uva light higher away from the basking area to lower the temp. a little bit. I will post again if I have any problems.

Thanks again.

[g29w]

Before, I had a thermometer for the basking area my turtles would bask in what I found out later to be around ~100+ at the very center. They would bask quite a bit, but I guess not all day.

Recently, I tried lowering to ~85, but they didn't like it at all. So I'm going to try other temps hopefully for a happy medium.

[marisa]

UVB rays from the sun (much stronger than a conventional UVB light) are supposed to penetrate only a few inches of water, so I really don't think that your turtle will get anything meaningful from a 5 or 7% UVB light if he's in the water. It would be good to get as much of the basking area under the tube flourescent as possible. With a 5% to 7% Reptisun, you should have the light 6-8 inches from your basking turtle.

[SpotsMama]

Marisa, a question. Would you recommend the 6" to 8" distance for a Reptisun compact flourescent, or only for a tube flourescent? I was wondering your opinion after the earlier discussions regarding the compact flourescents.

[marisa]

I have one Reptisun 10.0 compact flourescent that I'm still using, and it's at the end of it's useable life (almost 7 months). It's 6 inches from the painteds that bask under it (because it's old).

I've never bought a 5% Reptisun compact flourescent but if I did, I would have it 6-8 inches away; for the 10.0, I'd have it 10 - 12 inches away since it would be new.

I remember reading some of the earlier discussions about the compact flourescents, and I've read of keepers having some questions about the bulbs on other sites. I've never had any of the problems mentioned with the 10.0 (I've used 5 of them and still keep one new one as an "emergency" bulb), though, so I don't see changing my opinion. But, like I think I've written before, the positioning, type of reflector used and the lighting used in conjunction with it are all important. I've seen it repeatedly suggested (not here) that the light used with it (for heat) be one that balances out the pinkish/bluish hues that the 10.0 produces, something that seems to always be left out of the discussion.

[SpotsMama]

Thanks.