Does a red eared slider[turtle] really need a uv light?

Question

i have a baby red eared slider and im really not sure if i really need a uv light and is 68 degrees good enough for a turtle?

Answer 1

Water temps for Red-ears is usually given as 75-80F, especially for young turtles.

There is a little debate over the need for UVB lighting, but most keepers strongly feel it is very helpful.

On the 'no UVB' side, many breeders and zoos don't bother with it and it seems to work OK for them.

So far as anyone knows, there are no controlled studies that prove anything either way.

You can learn more at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 2

yes and no.

They need UV to digest food and make use of calcium. Without UV, the turtle will suffer a VERY long, dragged out death.

The temperature should be at LEAST in the 70* range, as they will not be able to digest food under 75*. Warm the water with a cheap fish heater, if you cant afford anything else. Place a normal desk lamp over the basking area if you cant afford a real basking light.

Point of the answer: GET A UV LIGHT OR LET YOUR TURTLE DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!

You wouldn't want to watch him slowly die, would you?

Answer 3

Start with at least a 30-50 gallon. Proper water filtering systems are necessary to keep the water fairly fresh between your weekly changes. Make sure he has a place to get out of the water. The water temperature must be maintained between 75-86 degrees F. Basking temperature of reach 85-90 F. They must have a UVB light. Here is a good website.

http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Answer 4

Diet
Red eared sliders are omnivores, meaning they eat a mixture of animal and plant material. Younger turtles are more carnivorous (eat more animal protein) than adults, though. Juveniles should be fed daily, but adults can be fed every 2-3 days.

Turtles can be fed a mixture of prepared commercial food and fresh food. Special food formulated for turtles can be used, but this should only make up about 25% of the total diet. The proportions of fresh supplements will depend on the age of the turtle, but can include live feeder fish, earthworms, crickets, waxworms, bloodworms, aquatic snails, fresh greens (collard, mustard and dandelion greens, and dark leafy lettuces but never head lettuce), aquatic plants, and shredded vegetables

A good quality complete reptile vitamin and mineral supplement should be added to the food once or twice a week. In addition, extra calcium can be provided by giving turtles a cuttlebone (break into pieces and float in the water) or calcium block to nibble on.

Red eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic and spend a significant amount of time basking, so need a tank that provides both water for swimming and an area where they can get out of the water for basking. A 20 gallon tank is considered a minimum, though larger turtles will need a larger tank to provide ample swimming room (see below) so even if you have a smaller turtle you might want to invest in a larger tank to allow room to grow. You do not need to use an aquarium though - large plastic containers or storage tubs are fine as long as you don't mind not being able to view the turtles from the side. As long as the tank is tall enough and the basking area is positioned so that the turtles can't climb out you won't need a lid.

The basking area can be provided by stacking smooth rocks, sloping smooth large gravel to one side to make a land area, or using wood (fixed or floating).

However you design the tank though, keep in mind that turtles are messy and you will need to clean the tank frequently. No gravel is required in the tank but if you choose to use it make sure it is large enough that it won't be accidentally eaten.
{b]Water and Filters{/b}
Red eared sliders need an adequate amount of water to move about and swim a bit. You can judge if there is enough water by looking at the length of your turtle. The water should be at least 1.5 to 2 times as deep as your turtle is long (so a 4 inch turtle should have a minimum depth of 6 inches). The length of the water area should be 4-5 times the length of the turtle, and the width should be at least 2-3 times the length of the turtle.

Between feeding and defecating, turtles are pretty messy creatures. A turtle tank should include a good filtration system such as a power filter or canister filter, or an undergravel filter system. Filtration will reduce the frequency of water changes, but your turtles will still require 25% water changes weekly and a thorough cleaning once a month or more. It is best to feed your turtle in a separate container to minimize the mess in the tank and reduce the load on the filtration system.

Heat
A submersible heater should be used to keep the water at 75-86 degrees F. Get a good aquarium thermometer and monitor the water temperature. Turtles will want to investigate the heater so turtle proof it by placing it behind something so the turtles can't bump or move it (a broken heater is a potentially lethal situation). For turtles determined to play with or bump the heater, a reader submitted a great suggestion: place the heater inside a section of PVC pipe. Choose a piece with a diameter wider than the heater and a bit longer than the heater, and drill many holes in the sides of the pipe to allow water circulation past the heater.

A heated basking spot should also be provided in the area provided for the turtle to get out of the water. An incandescent bulb or spotlight can serve this purpose, but make sure there is no way the turtle can touch the light or that the light can fall into the water. The temperature at the basking spot should be 85-88 F. Watch the water temperature when the basking light is on as it may heat the water.

The ambient air temperature around the tank should ideally be about 75 F. If the turtle's room is cooler than this you should provide extra heat in the tank area. A ceramic heat element used near the tank works well for this purpose since it can be left on day and night.

Light
In addition to the basking light, a full spectrum reptile UVA/UVB light should be provided. Exposure to UVA/UVB is necessary for proper calcium metabolism, and also appears to have other benefits to overall health such as improving appetite. It is also nice to take your turtle out into natural sunlight in warmer weather.

Answer 5

The purpose of the UVB isn't to produce light or heat, but a specific wavelength of ultraviolet radiation that allows them to produce vitamin D3. This vitamin is what they need to use the calcium in their diets. Without it, the shell won't harden and the calcium from their bones will decrease as it is used for other body functions. At best, the calcium loss from the bones will soften them, leading to deformed limbs and a condition similar to osteoporosis in humans. At worst, your turtle won't be around very long.

And 68o is not good for a turtle. His water should be in the high 70s and he needs a basking spot out of the water that's around 90o.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

ADDITION: UVB isn't necessary IF the turtle gets natural sunlight (and not through glass or plastic) on a regular basis (that is, if it's kept outdoors in a pond).

Answer 6

Yes..they do. Without it, it will die eventually. Look up a care sheet online.

Answer 7

The uv light is used to kill harmful bacteria. And 68 is warm enough.