All Turtles Message Board

Snazzy · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:07 pm Post subject: Dimmer Switch

I had my basking light on a dimmer switch to keep the basking area temperture down but when i was cleaning i pluged the basking lamp in to the direct socket, (temperature over 86 degres) but before i did that when i had my dimmer switch hooked up my turtle rarely basked, but with no dimmer switch he jumped out of the water and was standing on a lil rock i put in there, my question is will he know when he is getting to hot and jump into the water or can he burned? and another question u know those water temperature gages that change cooler when the temp changes im wondering if these work out f water b/c thats how i have been testing the air and basking temps? Embarassed

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2.5" Eastern Painted Turtle

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

Seems that your turtle knows when its to hot for him. What type of light bulb do you have in there?Maybe you have the light a little tooooo close for him.

Snazzy · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject:

i have a zoo-med Daylight Blue Reptile Bulb 25watt and a zoo-med Repti Basking Spot Lamp 50 watt

but when i had the dimmer switch hooked up the light was putting less heat out
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2.5" Eastern Painted Turtle

James · Level 2 Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 85

He can get burned. Most spots have a correlation between distance from area nad the tempature. I would position it to where it was about 85 Degrees ( least thats the temp my turt likes) and leave it there.

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

You're turtle isn't likely to burn himself while basking. The whole purpose of basking is to regulate his body temperature. As long as he's healthy and able to, he'll jump back in the water.

Snazzy · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject:

thanks for the advice ^^ Very Happy

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2.5" Eastern Painted Turtle