All Turtles Message Board

odelajara · Level 1 Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Delaware

Hi, I'm a new turtle owner and I have a ton of questions... can someone with knowledge please help? How long does the basking light stay on for and how long does the UVB light stay on for? Are they supposed to stay on together or can they be switched midday - twelve hours for basking and twelve hours for UVB, but then if thats the case, won't that mess with their day and night?

turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

I have mine ( both) 12 on 12 off at the same time. This way my babies have a choice of which light they feel like basking under.

dixieee · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:26 am Post subject:

welcome to the board Smile

i agree, 12 on-12 off at the same time. if u have any other questions just ask cz we're here to help Smile

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

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

Both lights should be on at the same time, pointed at the same place. The turtle can't feel UVB, all he knows is that he likes to bask in the sun.

trtlduv · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the board!! Yep, I agree too! I keep my lights on a 12/12 schedule! Good luck! Laughing

_________________
shade & sweetwater!

odelajara · Level 1 Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Delaware

Thanks! You guys are helpful.
Is the ZooMed PowerSun UV 100w lamp a good choice when it comes to delivering proper amounts of light, UVA, UVB and heat all in one?

Also, can an infrared heat lamp be used to keep the land area warm during sleep... I guess around 90 at night and during the day? I keep the water around 80; I'm wondering if these are good numbers.

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

The land area doesn't really need to be kept warm at night. Just like in nature, it should be warmed by the sun during the day. At night the turtle will rest/sleep.
78 is a good water temp for babies, 72-75 for turts over a year old.

dixieee · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

are they still basking? cz if they're not they might be finding it too hot
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

odelajara · Level 1 Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Delaware

So, 78 is a good water temp for babies. What about the basking/land area? I have central air w/ the a/c set to 72 (sometimes 70 around those 90+ hot days). I don't keep the lid for the tank on since I use clamp-lamps, so the upper half is fully exposed. Without means of heat at night, the land area reaches around 70 and dry (or pretty much what my house is set to). Is this good or should it be warmer? And do I need to measure the humidity as well?

dixieee · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:40 am Post subject:

water temp is ok. basking area temps should be slightly higher than water. something like high 80's to low 90's

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

You should be okay at night, but make sure the tank isn't under any drafts.
I can't believe how cold you keep your house! Mine's about 74 most of the time and it's been about 105-110 outside this week.

odelajara · Level 1 Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Delaware

My tank is now setup with a powersun UV lamp during the day and a ceramic heat lamp at night to help keep the outside air at 84 (anything above water temp). He gets his daily dose of UVB, UVA, light and heat during the day with a comfortable drop in temp at night. Which is nice because, my turt likes to sleep in the shallow end of the beach I made with just its shell and head outside the water. Before, when the water was warmer than the air, he would completely submerse himself at night, sticking only its head out every now and then for a gasp of air. I didn't like that too much considering the article I read on "shellrot".

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

in my tank i just have 1 of those coil uva uvb lights that not really all that warm and i have that on all the time but when my died i had a uva light on him for like week and they were out on the dock alot. so should i have the dock warmer than the water and what will happen if i dont have it heated warmer than the water?