Habitat - Indoor :: question about UVB

[francinemarie]

is it really necessary to have a UVB? i know it's needed to metabolize calcium, i never knew a UVB was needed 'til i read it in this forum (& i joined this forum about a month ago). i've had my turtle for almost more than 4 years now & she grew & still is growing very well without one.

i don't earn money fast & barely have enough to spend on personal expenses. which is why i never bought 1 for her. i just used my saved money to make an ATBA for her & just started saving for a good filter.

my tank is about 10 feet away from a window & she has a good amount of exposure to the sunrays. the sun isn't beating down on the cage nor is it too far away from it.

[Chrisbarnett]

UVB doesnt pass through glass, so your turtle hasn't been getting anything. not good.

Yes a UVB is needed.

You can get the Exo Terra Reptiglo 5.0% 26watt for only like 11 bucks, its cheap.

[mzkitty23]

yep, u need a bulb and like chris said, it cannot penetrate glass or even screen well. it's super cheap and well worth it. it's not really about growth, but about shell health which is important to their well-being overall. the only way around it is to let them out for natural sun often which of course you can't do all year around in most states.

[francinemarie]

UVB doesnt pass through glass, so your turtle hasn't been getting anything. not good.

Yes a UVB is needed.

You can get the Exo Terra Reptiglo 5.0% 26watt for only like 11 bucks, its cheap.

i have an ATBA, so the sun rays aren't passing through glass whenever she's basking.

how often does the bulb need to be changed?

[francinemarie]

yep, u need a bulb and like chris said, it cannot penetrate glass or even screen well. it's super cheap and well worth it. it's not really about growth, but about shell health which is important to their well-being overall. the only way around it is to let them out for natural sun often which of course you can't do all year around in most states.

mmk, thank you

[francinemarie]

yep, u need a bulb and like chris said, it cannot penetrate glass or even screen well. it's super cheap and well worth it. it's not really about growth, but about shell health which is important to their well-being overall. the only way around it is to let them out for natural sun often which of course you can't do all year around in most states.

mmk, thank you

[Chrisbarnett]

like every 6-8 months. I replaced my last one at 6 1/2 months to be sure he wasn't going with a depleting UVB.

[francinemarie]

like every 6-8 months. I replaced my last one at 6 1/2 months to be sure he wasn't going with a depleting UVB.

oh ok. do you mind showing me a picture of the UVB that you recommend, please?

[Chrisbarnett]

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752555

[francinemarie]

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752555

where do you screw this bulb into, do you have to buy that separately?

[Chrisbarnett]

a clamp lamp.

I use these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2753959

[francinemarie]

a clamp lamp.

I use these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2753959

oh haha, that's what i have for my UVA. are there any UVB that aren't dome shaped? i think my UVA is 5.5". i have a 20 long, so i don't want two domed UVA & UVB's over the basking area. it makes the habitat look cluttered.