What are the lighting requirements for two box turtles?

Question

I currently have one regular bulb in a lamp close to the floor for heat and need one light that emmulates sunshine so I don't have to take them outside. I know natural is best but I don't want to be switching up the temps all the time on them and I'd like them to be inside with me. Wich bulb, how much is the cost, can it be purchased locally or from a speacilty store? Any information you have is very helpful.

Answer 1

You can pick them up in most pet stores

Lighting: A full spectrum light source, which provides UVB is necessary for good health. The best source is natural sunlight but a special fluorescent or mercury vapor bulb can be purchased from a pet store. The fluorescent bulb should be no more than 12” from the basking site and should be place on a timer to provide 12 hour light and dark cycles. The fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced yearly. The mercury vapor bulbs are good for 3 years. There also should not be any plastic or glass between the bulb and the animal. A screen top is acceptable.

Answer 2

A good place to find out what your turtle needs is www.anapsid.org. It offers complete care. I also really like the forums at www.reptilerooms.com--they have a lot of expert keepers there as well. You do not need special spot lights or expensive basking bulbs--they're a waste of money. I just use regular household lightbulbs--you can use a 75 or 100 watt bulb in a reflector. The distance from the basking spot will determine temperature. You can plug it into a simple dimmer switch to adjust the temp up or down--this is what I do. Use a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe to accurately measure temps--stick on and dial thermometers are notoriously inaccurate up to 20 degrees! UVB bulbs should be Reptiglo 8.0 or Reptisun 10.0. They must be changed every 6 months, as they will continue to produce light but not UVB. Mercury vapors are more expensive, but they last up to a year. Put both the basking and UVB bulbs at the same end over the basking site, as this is where the turtle will spend most of its' time. The other end of the enclosure should be cooler.

Answer 3

You need to research where the turtles came from, like the state, then duplicate the temp there. I have 3 bearded dragons with a heat lamp on a timer. You could go to your local hardware store and buy a 65 watt heat lamp. Maybe 5 bucks. You will need to put a thermometer to determine the heat in the cage. You might have to do a little experiment with the bulbs to see how hot it gets in the cage. I would say a safe temp would be 85 degrees. Put the lights on a timer to simulate natural setting to the outside.

Answer 4

You need two bulbs, preferably placed in clamp lamps which are cheaper if purchased at the hardware store.

You need a heat bulb, which can be any household bulb-it doesn't have to be an expensive UVA heat reptile bulb.

However, you will need a UVB bulb-the Repti glo 5.0 compact is the cheapest and very reliable. Stick both in a 75 watt clamp lamp pointing over the same area. Remember, screens will filter out UVB and need holes of 1/2 inches for the bulb to be effective. Glass will filter out the UVB completely.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Usually turtles won't eat for their first few days in a new home, and as most pet box turtles are wildcaught, they usually take even longer. Box turtles can go for long periods without food (but that doesn't mean they should). You may want to try earthworms, mealworms, or waxworms to get them eating--I've not once seen a turtle pass up a big juicy nightcrawler! Be careful with what you let your turtles eat; box turtles are notoriously picky eaters, so you should try to feed them several different thing at once (make a "turtle salad" of different fruits, veggies, and protiens). A 30 gallon tank CANNOT house 2 box turtles for their entire life! For one turtle you need at least a fifty gallon tank--for two, you have virtually no choice but to build an outdoor enclosure (you're lucky to live in Florida!). You can keep them inside while they're small, but be sure you use a UVB bulb and give them a calcium supplement once or twice a week. If you do build an outdoor enclosure, it should be about 8'x8' to give your pets room to roam, and make a screen/grate cover that'll let sunlight in and keep predators out. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Alright, well i would suggest going to your local pet store and purchasing a 75 watt spot lamp and place it at one part of the tank so that one side provides heat at the other place like a tupperwear container with water so they have soak and cool off it there!