For aquatic turtles,
most experts recommend using a 2.5 percent, 3 percent, or 5 percent UVB lamp
. These lamps are often called “Tropical UVB” lamps or “Swamp UVB” lamps, and are the type you should use for aquatic turtles.
Can I use a regular light bulb for my turtle?
Yes, all types of light bulbs emit heat, but
your turtle will bask best under an incandescent bulb
. They work better for heating purposes than for providing UVB light. Place one at least 12 inches above a large flat rock for your turtle to laze upon while he's enjoying the heat.
What kind of lights do turtles need?
Turtles need
UVA and UVB light
to stay healthy. There are mixed views on the importance of UVA light. Some people believe it's not as important as UVB light, but it's known to help with breeding and activity levels. Alongside this, turtles living in the wild would be exposed to UVA rays every day.
What color light is best for turtles?
— Research shows that turtles see
white light
best; they are most attracted to the blue and green colors of the spectrum. Turtles are least attracted to yellow.
Do I leave my turtle light on all night?
Many turtle owners wonder if they need to keep the light on in their turtle's tank at night. Luckily, the answer to that is no.
Your turtle will be just fine if the light is turned off during night time hours
. It is actually recommended that they are exposed to a natural amount of light and darkness each day.
Do turtles need a night light?
No, turtles do not require lights at night
. Most turtles aren't nocturnal, so they are active during the day and sleep at night. And keeping the lights on at night will definitely disturb your turtle's sleep cycle. And when you disturb the internal clock, your turtle will be stressed and will lose its appetite.
Can I use a desk lamp for my turtle?
Regular, incandescent light-bulbs from your desk stand lamp can work just fine as a source for heat
. In fact, many pet turtle owners use them just for that purpose. However, they don't produce the UV-B your turtle needs to stay healthy.
What fish can I put with my turtle?
There are three kinds of fish that will fit in the fish tank together with the most common pet turtle. They are
tetra fish, zebrafish, yellow cichlids
. For those who have never put a fish in a turtle tank, it's recommended that you start with a small amount of tetra or zebrafish. Both species are cheap.
How long should you leave a light on for a turtle?
Too little UV exposure results in metabolic bone disease, stunted shell growth and premature death. Your turtle will get adequate UV light if you leave the light on
10 to 12 hours per day
.
How do you keep a turtle warm without a heat lamp?
If you don't have a heat lamp, there are various other options you can use, such as
direct sunlight, incandescent light bulbs, or water heaters
. You can even pour warm water into your tank to help maintain the overall temperature of your turtle's environment.
Why is my turtle not basking?
The main reason a turlte isn't basking is because of
a new environment, specific preferences, wrong temperature, and physical barriers
. Additionally, your turtle might actually be basking when you aren't looking at the tank.
Do aquatic turtles need a heat lamp?
Yes, turtles need a heat lamp
, which in fact, are crucial to their wellbeing. Turtle are cold-blooded animals—their body temperature changes with change in environment.
Do turtles need light 24 hours a day?
Yellow-bellied slider turtles spend a good deal of time in basking spots, which for captives must stay at the correct temperature through lighting.
Your turtle does require a heater on, 24 hours a day
, to keep his water at the right temperature.
Do red lights bother turtles?
3. KEEP IT LONG –
Sea turtles are less disturbed by the long wavelengths of light (570 nanometers or longer), such as lights that are yellow, amber, or red in color
. It is estimated that one third of all lighting in the U.S. is wasted in the form of light trespass and sky glow.
How cold is too cold for turtles?
At body temperatures of about
40 to 50°F
, most reptiles become sluggish, stop eating, and seek hiding places to get safely through the winter.
Do turtles feel cold?
Turtles are cold-blooded animals
and thus rely on external heat to warm up their bodies.
Can a turtle see in the dark?
While
turtles can see in the dark just like humans can
, they don't have excellent night vision. Just like humans, during the day, the iris narrows and the pupil constricts. What is this? This allows less light in and ensures that our eyes aren't overwhelmed by the amount of light they receive.
Do turtles bask at night?
Off at night because like us he needs a good sleep too
. As long as he swims around eats well and is active do not worry. In time as he adjust will show you his habit's more. Older turtles sometimes goes for days without basking a lot.
Can I use normal light for tortoise?
If you live in a really hot area, you might be able to replace the heating bulb with a normal one
. Since all light bulbs emit some heat, they will still be able to heat your turtle, even if not as much. But if your turtle didn't need that much extra heat from the start, then a normal light bulb could be fine.
How do you warm up a turtle?
Do turtles need companions?
They do not get lonely and
do not need a friend
. They are not cuddly and are happier if left alone much of the time. You can always put more than one turtle in the same tank, though some species tend to be more aggressive and some may fight, so this is best handled on a case by case basis.
Can turtles live in a tank full of water?
Aquatic turtles can live in a tank or pond, in groups, and with larger fish
(they'll eat small fish). These guys are strong swimmers and need an aquarium that's at least 55 gallons in volume.
Can turtles live in a fish tank with fish?
Fish and turtles can live in the same tank together
, provided several of the following factors are on point. Your aquarium tank is large enough to accommodate both turtles and fish. Your filter is strong enough to accommodate the extra load that fish will put on your water quality.
