Turtles and UV light

[MyFishEatYourFish]

i've read a few conflicting sources on whether or not turtles need uv light. some say yes, some say no, some say fully aquatic no, but the ones that bask do. i'm particularly intersted in common snappers, red ears, and soft shells, because thats what i have. for the last few years they have had no uv in the winter but in the summer they go outside, per an old opinion but i recently got a second opinion. whats the deal
does anyone know for sure on the matter and not just have an opinion?

 

[SimonL]

Fully aquatic turtles, like Alligator Snappers, Mata Mata, etc don't, but basking species do. I find it's most important when the turtles are small and growing, while adult RES, softshells and snappers can be kept without it.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I look at it this way....the species that bask are exposed to UV rays in the wild so why deprive them of this in captivity? Of the 7 turtles I own, 3 live indoors all year long. They are classified as "non-basking" species but I still provide them UVB lighting if they choose to use it. And besides, the bulbs cost a few bucks more than standard light bulbs so it's no big deal for me.

 

[snakeguy101]

i have not used UV on my mata, snappers, or soft shells but all others I do give UV.

 

[turtlesrock]

ALL basking species need UV in order to shed and grow correctly. TRUST ME! but fully aquatic turtles don't NEED UV.. but it helps them out A LOT. TRUST me.. ive been raising turtles so long i cant remember when i started.. i think it was when i was 8?!?! any way, i know every possible thing about turtles and i say GIVE ALL YOUR TURTLES UV LIGHT (especcially basking kinds!!!!!!)

 

[EricIvins]

I've never used UV on any of the Turtles that have been kept inside..........Nor have the Tortoises, Chameleons, Iguanas, Monitors, Geckos, or other stuff I've kept either.........* shrug *

 

[BigJ]

What's the feeling on my Fly River Turtle?

 

[coura]

Actualy you can raise a perfecty healty turtle without any uv ligth on the base that it has a normal varied diet that includes foods, specialy good quality pelets with vit D3. However that doesant mean you should deprive them of the uv rays. I finded advantage in using them even on non basking spacies. Also there are some cir****ances in witch they are esencial, for example new born turts often inicialy refuse to eat pellets, and only eat things such as aquatic insect larvae wich are high in calcium but dont have any vit D3, so they cant absorve it and put it in their bonne stucture without uv ligth. If your turtles are adult, they receive normal sun ligth in the pond during the summer and you bring them inside for the winter, then you can safely skip uv ligth, anyways their metablolism would normaly decrease during hibernation so they would hardly miss anything.

 

[coura]

I've never used UV on any of the Turtles that have been kept inside..........Nor have the Tortoises, Chameleons, Iguanas, Monitors, Geckos, or other stuff I've kept either.........* shrug *

Iguanas and chameleons without uv ligth is really asking for trobble, tryed it myself and no good results...