anyone who knows what kind of light it needs please help
I have had him for abought a year and I normally let it stay outside in a BIG container with water in it and he was fine but now I need a light for it because the water is getting cold and I don't want him to hibernate please help!! (: )
Answers:
Turtles depend on full-spectrum lighting, which is an artificial illumination that will sustain their day/night cycle and help them to process the nutrients of the food you provide. A group of vitamines (specially D3) are absorved into the turtle's body through direct exposure to this special light. This absorption encourages proper bone formation and shell health.
Full-spectrum lights
Your local pet shop should have a variety of full-spectrum lights specially designed for reptiles. Most turtle keepers recommend Reptisun 5.0 or Vitalights. Remember to add a basking area to your aquarium so that the turtle can get out of the water and benefit better from your light.
Black lights
These lights emit a very dark purple beam and you have probably seen them being used in plants. Nevertheless, these lights are NOT Recommended for turtles since tests show that turtles benefit less from these types of lights and it will dammage the turtle's vision due to the high intensity of the beam. There have been cases reported of turtles that have been totally blinded by these lights in a short period of time.
Photoperiod
This is simply the duration of the period in which the light stays on and off. If you wish to hibertate your turtles you will want to mimic the natural seasons. Example: provide more light in the summer since this is the season in which the sun lights for longer hours.
The pet stores have a Bio-Light that you could use. They also carry a Heated Stone for reptiles. I've used both, with success.
Hope this helps.
Smartycat
I'm not sure where to begin.
- Where are you? What is your winter like? Will a bulb by itself be enough to keep the turtle healthy over winter?
- Keeping it outside in a 'big container'? How big, what kind? (Pond, plastic tub?)
We combat the urge for hibernation by boosting temps to a summery 80-85, and providing a summery daylight cycle of about 1/2 day and 1/2 night, rather than the shortening days we are getting.
It is tough to combat hibernation in an outdoor pen. You may want to rethink you idea.
Other than that, I just don't know enough about your situation to offer better advice but I can suggest a couple good websites:
