Anyone out there have any thoughts on whether to provide natural sunlight and/or UVB lights for their albino turtles? Off course there are the obvious benefits, but I have heard others say raising albinos under such lighting can cause blindness and sunburn. Any truth to this? I put my albinos under an Active UVB light for a few months and while they didn't go blind or burn, I do think it made their shells darker. I now have them under a regular heat lamp and the only vitamin D they get is from their diet. Anyone with experience with this? Thanks.
Doug
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Albinos and Sunlight
TurtleyEnuff
Aug 05, 2003 10:24 AM
Replies (5)
M n R-Reptile
Aug 07, 2003 07:03 AM
Hatchlings up to about 3 inches are susceptible to too much bright light. It is hard enough for them to see as young than as older animals and the sun probably influences that to a worse degree thus providing less eyesight when older.
As they get older their vision improves and so does their tolerance for light. All my adults are outdoors YEAR ROUND and up to 4" are raised indoors till they reach that size and a re put in outside ponds.
Hope this helps.
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"Quality isn't Quality without customer service so I guess I sell quality"
TurtleyEnuff
Aug 07, 2003 02:35 PM
Thanks, Mike! Great to hear specific guidelines...there's no substitute for experience. Any chance you will post pics of your hypo Map?
Doug
M n R-Reptile
Aug 08, 2003 06:17 PM
I still have not recieved them. Well see. I am getting some cool central and south american sliders on tuesday. Should be a good turtle week next week!~
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"Quality isn't Quality without customer service so I guess I sell quality"
bloomindaedalus
Aug 07, 2003 05:46 PM
so do you use UVB lights for the hatchlings or do you just watch the diet?
M n R-Reptile
Aug 08, 2003 06:20 PM
Yes I use a UVB light. I have found it not necesary though. The main part I found out was if you keep the water at 84F-85F the turtles grow at a tremendous rate BUT have perfect shells and grow properly due to the super increase in metabolism. I havent tried it on albinos but on yellow bellies and het albino red ears, i have gotten them from just born to 5.5" in 6 months with no negative effects, except alot more poop and feeding!
Mike
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"Quality isn't Quality without customer service so I guess I sell quality"
