Sun, Supplements or Both?

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Horiyoshi III

Jack Dempsey
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Sep 29, 2006
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I feed my painted turtled food with D3 and calcium in it.They also are in heated water. I can even dust their food if necessary with rept vitamins.
As they are kept indoors I was wondering if they still needed the sun, for they get their D3 and heat from food and a heater.Or will they encounter problems even though they get what they need.
Thanks.
 
i would give them exposure to natural sunlight or a UV light at least once or twice a week for 15 mins. even though you are supplementing with D3, they could still use some sunlight.
 
You do have a Basking area correct?

The question you are asking is very debatable.. Some believe the proper temps with supplements will keep them 100% as healthy as with UV.
 
IMO you need either natural sunlight or a UVB basking light, particularly for baby turtles. Reptiles need UVB to process D3 so giving it without UV defeats the purpose. Try to get them outside in natural unfiltered sunlight as much as you can, or if that isn't possible then add one of the reptile strip fluorescents like the iguana lights or whatever.

Once they reach adulthood and their bones and shells are fully developed then it's a question whether they need it. It can't hurt, I'd say it's optional but if they're breeding and producing eggs they probably require it.
 
RES are HUGE baskers and they spend most of thier time simply doing that. In my opinion I would just get a UVB bulb or atleast take them out in the sun a few times a week so they can get som UVB.
 
Ophiuchus;1939991; said:
I know plenty of people who raise turtles without UV and have great success. However, they do still provide a basking lamp.
Click to expand...

A lot of that has to do with the species. There are a few species out there that don't do well with a lack of UV or natural sunlight.
 
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