No one said they were different.. but I am pretty sure.. like 99.9% they use more electric. I know that's why I chose not to use them to begin with.
Does turrtle really need heat lamp?
- Thread starter vlcek81
- Start date
for the most part:
Any soft shelled turtle (florida, spiny, fly river, etc...) do not need a lamp but sometimes still bask.
Alligator snapping turtles and mata mata turtles do not need a basking area.
Mud and musk turtles need a smaller basking area with no UV light.
Of course there are a few more and there are exceptions. I would recommend you find the turtle you want to keep and do your research from there.
dont spend your money on those incandescent red heat bulbs. Just put in a regular 60 watt incandescent light bulb. much cheaper and virtually same amount of heat as all incandescents emit most of their energy as heat. That being said I DO NOT have a heat lamp because I use two of the repti-glo UVB bulbs that you have mentioned directed onto the basking platform. That combined with a closed environment generates enough heat for the turtles. this way I get twice the UV output and enough heat. plus the Reptiglo bulb is only 26 watts each.
To be 100% safe and sure check the temperature of your water AND the temperature of the surface of your basking platform. a good setup for a painted turtle is water at around 80 degrees and basking area at around 95 degrees. Remember that dark colored shells will warm up faster and hotter than light colored shells and same goes for the color of the basking platform.
To be 100% safe and sure check the temperature of your water AND the temperature of the surface of your basking platform. a good setup for a painted turtle is water at around 80 degrees and basking area at around 95 degrees. Remember that dark colored shells will warm up faster and hotter than light colored shells and same goes for the color of the basking platform.
I am going to disagree with Snakeguy on the Softshells, all of mine Bask daily under their MVB and when it went out did not do so till it was replaced, indicating to me at least that they prefer a heat source over their basking area. All the ones I see in the Wild also seem to bask much the same as any other Turtle. As far as Muds and Musks go, my Common Musk bask at night but the Striped Mud prefers a light and heat Source.
Haven't read this whole thread but suffice it to say that turtles in the aquarium are typically hard to keep. Many species depend on the sun for crucial vitamins. A combo of a reptile bulb with water supplements(yes that means you will get increased algae) and a good diet will help. Also make sure the tank is large enough to allow the turtle to grow without stunting, stunting in turtles is even worse than fish and can cause a painful death for the animal. Also turtles in the aquarium tend to run/swim into the glass, driving their heads up and cutting their neck on there shell over time, you can file the shell down but that looks kinda bad(not sure of other health implications). I've given up keeping turtles inside in an aquarium because it is just to much trouble. The only turtles I have luck with indoors was musk turtles, and snappers. All other turtles are dramatically better served by being kept outside in a pond or something and hibernating in winter(assuming that it is in the nature of the animal).
i did research and a frt is for me but to expensiveout of the listed which can i keep with fish that are 6 inches currently , i was thinking a soft shell or musk
The only time a turtle (from my experience) runs into the glass, hurts itself, or cuts its self if from being in an over crowded tank.
If you keep up with your turtles like you do your fish, they will be fine.
Just make sure that they have everything they need, just as you would do for a fish, or a child.
