Habitat - Indoor :: 2 lighting questions.

[joeybsmooth]

First is something like this Ok to use . For a UVB

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6549&cmpid=07csent&ref=3665&subref=AA&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=23-5887008-2

And is there any other way to have a UVA light with out those ugly gray light things, or at least have on with the ray of the lights are a softer color .[/url]

[SpotsMama]

Looks like a good bulb. It tells the amount of UVB (5%) and is from a good manufacturer. it's probably the same as this one only in a different package, and this is a good bulb:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=6548

On your second question regarding UVA - I assume you mean the heat or basking bulb? If you have a good UVB bulb like the one you asked about, then the second bulb doesn't need to be a UVA bulb since the UVB bulb also provides enough UVA. Instead, for the second bulb all you need is heat so a regular household incandescent bulb (like a 75 watt bulb) will work. As long as it provides enough heat to entice the turtle to get up and bask, a soft white bulb will be fine.

[joeybsmooth]

Even if that light is not right on top of the basking area it will still give them the rays that they need ?

[Daniel3507]

how far away would it be?

[joeybsmooth]

I will post a pic.



From this can you tell where the hood is , in relation to the basking area.

If I had the basking area under the hood how would I heat up the area ?

[robind]

As long as the temperature as the basking area is good, you're good. UVB can travel many parsecs.

[SpotsMama]

You've discovered the problem with tube fluorescent UVB bulbs. It's kind of akward sometimes to position both a heat bulb and a tube fluorescent properly.

However, if I understand your equipment correctly, it looks like you can do it. You need to have the UVB bulb so it shines down on the platform and isn't too far away from the turtle. A tube fluorescent can (and probably should) be closer to a turtle than a compact fluorescent - check the instructions on the box as to the correct distance from the turtle for the fluorescent. Be sure the bulb isn't too far away as UVB does dissipate rapicly with distance - just follow the instructions on the box.

For the heat bulb, it needs to be close enough to the basking platform to heat the area where the turtle is to around 90 degrees. Check the temp with a thermometer - don't guess. It mustn't be so close that the turtle could accidently touch it and be burned, or so close that cold water could splash on it while it's hot and cause it to explode.

Can you think of a way to position both bulbs - the tube fluorescent and the heat bulb - to fit these criteria?

[joeybsmooth]

I could move the basking spot to the back side and have the heat blub shin pass the glass , seeing as I am only using it for heat. And no its rays .