Where can I find UVB lighting for RES hatchlings?
Lozenges asked:
I’ve recently bought two baby RES turtles, but I’m very inexperienced with raising reptiles. I’m a bit confused about lighting and lamps for turtles…Is a heat lamp and UVB lighting the same thing? Do I need two separate lamps for the turtles? For UVB, where can I find decent lamps? I heard that infrared lamps did not work well, and also that incandescent lamps work fine (which I defintely know doesn’t work now). Can someone recommend some brands for good lights? Thanks!
I’ve recently bought two baby RES turtles, but I’m very inexperienced with raising reptiles. I’m a bit confused about lighting and lamps for turtles…Is a heat lamp and UVB lighting the same thing? Do I need two separate lamps for the turtles? For UVB, where can I find decent lamps? I heard that infrared lamps did not work well, and also that incandescent lamps work fine (which I defintely know doesn’t work now). Can someone recommend some brands for good lights? Thanks!
UVB lights usually emit no heat. Mercury vapor uvb lights are heat emiters also. I’d say get two bulbs, one a ceramic heater, the other a high UVB emitting bulb. [who] Aaron
I like active UV heat (Mercury vapor.) They are a primo basking light.
They throw UVB, heat, and natural basking light. This bulb is the only bulb you will need, trust me on this.
You’ll also need some way of adjusting the height to keep the basking spot around 88-90F. You can’t use a dimmer on mercury vapor bulbs.
Also, I highly recommend a ‘clamp lamp’ with a ceramic base, not a cheap plastic one, as it will fail, start smoking when you’re not there, or worst case-start a fire.
I tried powersun bulbs, but mine failed after 2 months, tried it again, same thing.
The active UV heat bulbs kept on truckin’ for years. Way worth the extra 10 bucks.
Some pet stores will want to sell you what they have- a regular basking light, and a UVB lamp that requires a fluorescent fixture.
This will cost you a lot more in the long run, as those bulbs are expensive, and they are only good for 6 months. The fixtures aren’t cheap, either.
Your turtles will love their active UV heat bulb, and will spend more time basking, and their colors will get brighter from all the UVB.
The active UV heat bulb puts out 10 times more UVB than most of the fluorescent bulbs do, and will be much better, as the turtles have no reason to bask where the fluorescent light is, as it’s not warm there. [who] caz223