Habitat - Indoor :: Basking temps.

[emma]

I put my thermometer thing on my basking area right under the heat bulb. The temp right now says 109 degrees! The bulb is over a metal top like thing. The heat bulb is about 4-5 inches from the dock and is a 60 watt bulb. Should i get a bulb that is less powerful?

[N4784N R4613]

That is a hot!! I know I would try and lower the temp., but if he is basking, and it doesn't seem to irritant him, then I guest it is ok?

[thegrandpoohbah]

Can you move the bulb further away?

[octpusgirl8]

4-5 inches seems awfully close to me.

[SpotsMama]

4-5 inches is too close. One thing that can happen is that your turtle could touch it accidently and be burned. Another is that he/she could splash cool water on it and cause it to explode. I'm very surprised the turtle will bask at temps that are 109 degrees. it isn't good for them, though. For one thing it will cause excessive skin shedding.

You should move that heat bulb back to 10" or 12". Try to get the temp on the basking platform to the lower 90 degrees. If you get the bulb further away and then it's too cool, you can increase the bulb strength to 75 watts and see if that works. You'll have to experiment some to get it just right.

[Cim*Forever]

My light is one of those lights that concentrates in one area (theres a fancy word for it but I can't remember it), it was sold to me because it was supposed to heat the water at the same time as the pet store clerk said I didn't need to worry about a water heater

Anyways, my temperature (right under the direct light) is also around 110. But what I do, is I shine it in the utmost corner, so then the largest area on the dock is the perfect temperature and my turtle can choose where he basks. He seems fine with it.

Maybe you can try it that way?

[SpotsMama]

That might work except that the bulb really needs to be further away than 4-5 inches.

[Vtolds]

Mine is maybe 15 inches away and that gets me about 90. You really still need a water heater because you cant keep the light on 24 hours a day to heat the water..

[emma]

I will end up making the bulb higher up when I get the bigger tank. Right now I just want them to have as much swimming room as possible. The basking temp seems to be staying at 105 degrees right now and my turtles are still basking. I will try to get a bulb that had less watts. Maybe 40...

[SpotsMama]

Sounds like a plan. Just be sure there is no possible way your turtles can't touch the bulb by - for instance - standing on top of each other.

[FLhaven4strays]

Wow - that's hot for a 60w. That's what I use and have problems getting the temp up to near 90. I have it pretty low because my fixture is only rated for 60w.

[marisa]

Your light is 60 watts, 4-5 inches away from your turtles, and the temp is 105F as measured by a thermometer? Is it possible that the reading is inaccurate? I wonder if a turtle would really bask at that temp for any length of time...

[Bumby's Mom]

I honestly think the thermometer is wrong. When I only use a 60 watt my basking area stays maybe 82 degrees and it is pretty dang close to the dock. Try another thermometer and see what the reading is.

[emma]

Yep thats what the thermometer thing says...the bulb also says 120 volts.. i will get a link up for the thermometer soon