Habitat - Indoor :: UVB distance

[Tdgosu]

Hello everyone, I am a fairly new turtle owner and was wondering what the optimal distance for a uvb lamp is?

I have the Exo Terra aka Repti-glo 10.0 UVB 13w compact bulb. I'll be clamping it to the side of the tank, so I'll probably have about 6in of distance if I do it straight above, or I can have it shine at an angle from further away. Is it a problem if it's at an angle?

Also, if it is necessary to have it straight above at a further distance, does anyone have any suggestions on an easy way to set it up without clamping on the tank?

[cameron740]

first, if you dont want to clamp it...get some chiken wire that wil hold it bcuz reptile screen tops filter out some uvb...second look on the box where it has words on the back it should say how efective it is and say like 10" or sumthing like that....and can you post a pic of your tank so we can see the basking spot

[Tdgosu]

first, if you dont want to clamp it...get some chiken wire that wil hold it bcuz reptile screen tops filter out some uvb...second look on the box where it has words on the back it should say how efective it is and say like 10" or sumthing like that....and can you post a pic of your tank so we can see the basking spot

The box says it's effective up to 20cm, but there is also a chart that shows how much uvb it produces at different distances so I wanted to know how much mw/cm2 turtles need. Also, if clamping is not an option, then using a screen definitely isn't as it would be even closer than the clamp distance

Maybe I can get a cheap little lamp stand I can clamp it onto.





I don't have the uvb set up in the picture. I had it clamped onto the side at about 6in, but their eyes seemed to be a bit irritated (rubbing, winking, flinching) so I've taken it off for now.

[cameron740]

i would move the basking spot towards the middle more the you can have the light on the end of tank and not to far and not to close

[Tdgosu]

i would move the basking spot towards the middle more the you can have the light on the end of tank and not to far and not to close

Well I've read through a couple more pages of searches on this site and saw that someone had no problems with the 5% uvb @ 6in, so I went and got it exchanged.
Hopefully this will solve the problem as I'd like to keep the basking spot in the corner as I have plans to buy some sort of centerpiece that has a branch that leads up to the surface of the water for the turtles to rest on.

Thanks for your suggestions cameron, I'll keep you posted

[cameron740]

ok sounds good and no problem...what one did you get bcuz i have the 10.0 compact strip uvb light and those are the best bcuz there not too bright i have that for my 3 babies and i have to 10.0 campact coil for my big turt and its very bright but it doesnt hurt him so you made good choice to switch it out...but when your doo to replace them i would deffinelty recomend buying the strip on

[Kansasslider]

Do you have a heat lamp also? I use a 5.0 coil about 10" from basking area.

[Tdgosu]

Do you have a heat lamp also? I use a 5.0 coil about 10" from basking area.

Yes I do.
I am using a 5.0 coil as well and have put together a temporary set up for now. The light is at about 11in, maybe lower it to 10in, will have to see how they react over the next day or two. The basking area temp is at about 92-93F, waters at 79F.

Strangely they haven't been in the basking area as much as they used to, but it may be because I put some minnows and ghost shrimp in there and theyve been chasing them around for the majority of the day.





Ive made sure that it has no way of falling over, so no need to worry

[cameron740]

goood job...watch out with that paper ive done that any my house was beeping and mom wasnt too happy

[Kansasslider]

Yea I agree get rid of the paper. this is how i have set up.

[Kansasslider]

Yea I agree get rid of the paper. This is how i have it set up.

[Kansasslider]

Just an afterthought why do you have rocks in your basking spot you could make it smooth for them?

[cameron740]

how do you get your babies to use the atba kanssaslider mine hate as you already know thats why im not using it

[Kansasslider]

It just took some time for them to get used to it. Food helps a bit but mostly just time! Keep at it they will go up there in time.

[cameron740]

yeah i figure...i gotta modifie it anyways