Habitat - Indoor :: Halogen Lamp

[TheOneCalledRed]

I have recently purchased a 50 watt, Repti Halogen Bulb for my RES. My two turtles have started to bask more than usual compared to when I had an ordinary heat lamp before. I'm guessing they are enjoying it, but I do have concerns on whether it is too much for them. The lamp is tilted sideways on the shorter side of a rectangular tank, I'm figuring out a way to mount the lamp upside so the heat will concentrate on their basking spot from above and possibly benefit more from that position. Anyway, whenever they are on the spot for rather too long, they tend to sleep and scratch their heads or hide their heads completely as if annoyed by the light. If they were done basking or became annoyed by it for some reason, they would retreat into the water right? Do they have a limit to be in the light until it becomes too much and overwhelms them?

[mkoby]

Do you have a thermometer? The basking temp should be approx. 10 degrees higher than the water temp. Usually btx 88 - 90. A degree or 2 difference is ok. You really need to monitor the temp. Too hot and you could overheat your turts.

[cam722]

If the temperatures are too high and you have very small/young turtles it can very easily overwhelm them to the point they could die from the excessive heat, so you really need to monitor the temps of their basking area as well as that of their water.

[TheOneCalledRed]

I don't have a thermometer or a water heater for that matter, I know they could use one but the water isn't always warm outside either, just my opinion. Yes, I do have two young turtles but one is big enough not to be a concern with however the other one is a little more than a newborn hatchling. He especially basks almost the entire day and keeps his eyes closed so it looks like he's dead, I feel the urge to put him back in the water when I think he's had enough, is that the right way to go about it?

[marisa]

You really should check the temp of the basking area (get a thermometer)--the little one could be dehydrated.

[Muirner]

Your asking for problems for real, sorry to say it. I'm going to be very upfront.

When i go to work on my car in my garage the first thing i do, is fire up two hallogen lights. Not that i always need that much light, but they will warm my garage up. My entire two car garage. This happens in about an hour or so. Now imagine putting that over a tank of stagnent water for about 10-12hrs a day (to simulate day light). Now the water never has a chance to mix with different water but once a week, and it dosent move to much, so my guess is, you have hot spots in your tank, and very hot at that.

Turtles are cold blooded, so by getting that area extra extra hot, you have a good shot of them going into shock and burning up essencially. You need to back that light off and get a thermomiter and then start to "tune" the position of the light so your dock is the proper temp. Be VARY careful

[TheOneCalledRed]

Man, you like scared the crap outta me there. Are you saying the halogen lamp is just too much for them? Just so you know its a fifty watt and it was recommended I put that light in. Okay I'm just really confused now.

[pumpkinsherbet]

you have to monitor the heat that the bulb emits. if it's too hot it will create an overheated area and hot spots in the water. it needs to be focused on one area and the temp needs to be regulated with regular monitoring.

turtles, being cold blooded, are unable to regulate their temperature when it fluctuates or lingers at extremes. so things like excess heat and excess cold hurts them much more than a warm-blooded animal, which can regulate temperature.

[Muirner]

Man, you like scared the crap outta me there. Are you saying the halogen lamp is just too much for them? Just so you know its a fifty watt and it was recommended I put that light in. Okay I'm just really confused now.

Sorry man, i didnt mean to scare you that much. My advice would be to start with the light far away and work your way twards the basking area over time very slowly, this will allow you to monitor temps very closly. I just dont want anything bad to happen

[marisa]

You can buy halogen lights in pet stores, and they do give off more heat than regular incandescents. Just get a thermometer, put it where your turtle would bask (putting it on an object the height of your turtle would make be more accurate), leave it there for 20-30 min., and check the temp. Adjust the light as necessary so that the basking area temp is 88-90F.

[TheOneCalledRed]

Alright thank you all.