All Turtles Message Board

cutie202005 · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:15 am Post subject: UVB light bulb

hello everyone,
I am a happy res turtle owner his name is squirt he is 7/8 months old and he is very healthy and happy and i jsut love him so much

Anyway i need to comfirm this, i need to get a UVB light but i dont want the huge florecent long tube lights, can you get the UVB light is a regular light bulb that you screw in?? and if so can you get it in canada cause i really need to get one for my little man....thanks
jenn
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*CUTIE*

trtlduv · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject:

The UVb bulb that fits a regular light socket is coiled and I believe is sold for reptiles. I'm not sure where you can get it in Canada, but I know they sell them at Petco here. Wink

Hope that helps!
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shade & sweetwater!

cutie202005 · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject:

ya i phoned my local pet store and she does have them, gonna get one tomorrow for the little dude...
Does this bulb roduce heat or no?? and how much of UVB light do they need a day??
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*CUTIE*

trtlduv · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject:

No, it doesn't produce heat. You'll have to have a separate bulb for that. You can use a regular light bulb, it should produce enough heat for your turt, just make sure you monitor the temps. Concentrate the heat bulb over the basking spot and use the UVb bulb to cover as much of the surface area of the tank as possible. Make sure you don't have any screens or anything in the way of the rays. Laughing

I have both my lights on a timer 12 hours on and 12 hours off... works great for me if I wake up late, or don't get home till late. Wink

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shade & sweetwater!

cutie202005 · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:36 pm Post subject:

ok cool thanks, i will get that done:)
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*CUTIE*

turtles1 · Level 3 Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 196

for my 3 tyrtles i have a Uvb with Uva in it ya know and i dont use any other light but the water is between 77 and 80 degrees and y cant a screen be below the light? (i leave my screen open) but j/w and they do fine no sickness and they bask and have their legs out and everything. but my bedrooms warm too. so do i really need another heat light for them?

fishandcandy · Level 3 Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 200 Location: Indio, CA

Screens and water both filter UVB rays. For the max benefit, put your UVB light over the basking area with nothing blocking it.

Turtles need a basking area that is 10 or so degrees warmer than their water. Because they are "cold blooded" they need this heat to regulate their body temperature.

cutie202005 · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

yes, his basking area is warm, i feel it with my hand, i lay it on his dock and it gets really warm but not to warm to hurt him.
And i dont use a normal light bulb for his basking light i use a sunglow i think its what it is called, they are way warmer then a normal light bulb.

Theres nothing in the way of the light my tank doesn't have a lid on it, i know he tried to escape but he doesn't succeed cause i moved his dock...hehehehehe
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*CUTIE*

cutie202005 · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject:

yes i use those turtle things thats in the shape of a turtle, i put it in his tank once a month, usually when i change his tank, 3 weeks to a month...
he eats at that to....he's so funny,
and now he has his calcium block so he should be happy:)
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*CUTIE*