Setting up UVB tube for turtle...?

Question

How many inches or cm must I put my UVB away from my red-ear turtle?

Answer 1

The question is worded wrong. You should ask "how far away is too far away to place a fluorescent piece of junk light?" Depends on the output of the light in microwatts cm/2. The closer the better with fluorescent lights though. General rule for a fluorescent tube, it should be no farther than 12 inches, but if you can put it right on top of the turtle it would be better, but still not good enough. The best fluorescent I've even seen ratings on was measured at 13 microwatts ( when new ). You should have two at a minimum in order to have a hope of doing any good to your turtle. But for that money you could buy a mercury vapor.

Also, industry and herpetological standard recommendations are to replace these lights after 6 MONTHS, not 1 year. Just because it's still making light does not mean it is transmitting ANY UVB.

I recommend a mercury vapor spot/flood ( Mega-Ray or T-Rex Active UV Heat ). UVB output is much closer to levels your herp would get in the sun ( average 150-250 microwatts cm/2 @ 1 ft. depending on brand ).

Answer 2

there is mercury vapor bulbs which will grant both, they're in spite of the undeniable fact that about $40 - $60 in line with bulb and fragile. in spite of the undeniable fact so that you may not use one for the little "lack of life bath" the puppy save gave you with the turtle. As there is not any room in those to absolutely get itself out of water so it may dry itself and also you'll finally end up giving your turtle some thing such as a warmth stroke. do not use the bulb until eventually your tank is a minimum of 55 - seventy 5 gallons, i have self assurance the first issue you want is a higher tank or a minimum of a storage bath. Any field the position you may set up a dry basking spot and the turtle can carry out a touch swimming. i'd recommend going with 2 separate lamps - a UVB tube like ReptiSun 5.0 and a ordinary 60w. relatives bulb. As Dave sure, it might want to be more cost-efficient to change a relatives bulb particularly than MVB in case your turtle replaced into able to splash water exceedingly a procedures upwards and brought concerning the bulb to blow up. in case you pick to apply a MVB when you're starting to be a a lot necessary higher tank be careful on the position you position the bulb because one sturdy splash and strengthen. you'll even ought to position the bulb more beneficial faraway from the basking dock than you may do with a relatives bulb, the clamp lamp received't have that attain until eventually you connected the lamp to some thing except the tank. As for my journey with mvb and aquatic turtles, i have had so a procedures 3 burn outs no explosions that were because of splashing water as my dock is placed on accurate of the tank, and after I do use a mvb that hangs over a foot above the dock.

Answer 3

Ideally, it should be about 10-12 inches above him to be effective with no glass or plastic between it and your turtle. Remember, these also become less effective over time and should be replaced at least yearly.

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

Answer 4

no further than 30cm height from basking area with no obstructions like glass lids and remember to change tube every 12 months