Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work at a petstore and was talking to a customer who has a turtle, I was tyring to sell them a UV bulb and they insisted they didn't need it. They have had their turtle for 27 years with no UV bulb. I of course asked what kind of turtle and they told me a box turtle. When their kids where young they went outside one day and found a turtle and the family has kept it ever since. Just thought I would share since I had just posted the question about boxies in upstate NY.

This refers to the UVB, I know a couple that has had a eastern box turtle in northern ohio now for 13 years and never used any kind of light on it at all!!! do you believe that? i mean they have a warm house and all, but never a light. They do take it outside alot in the summer, and in the winter they put it in this back room that's not heated and it goes into hibernation, but not a full fledge cold hibernation, its crazy, the way they do things and they've had the turtle for ever!!! just thought i'd share

Andys Turts and Torts

RedoFootMan@yahoo.com

Yeah, my old horseback riding instructor had a red eared slider for 22 years and never had a UV light on it, or a water heater. Just had a shop lamp with a 100 watt bulb over it. She got the turtle for 50 cents when she was a kid. The turtle looked fine, had a hard shell. Then I have seen other turtle kept the same way only to have soft deformed shells and die an early death. She said she sometimes took it outside but not much. I think though her success with the res had to due with the diet, she fed it tons of greens and stuff she grew herself outdoors, along with bugs and earthworms. In the winter she fed/feeds it stuff she grows inside. Maybe because of a more varied diet than turtle sticks it was able to get enough from its diet. Who knows. The turtle also survived a 2 story drop when it was 5 years old.

I have kept a large number of reptiles (box turtles, semi-aquatic turtles, iguanas, collared lizards, bearded dragons, etc.) and have NEVER used a UVB bulb. I have been successful breeding and raising baby lizards without UVB bulbs. I've had individual box turtles for over 30 years.

I think that as long as the animals can get some direct sunlight by going outside a few times a year, they don't need a UVB bulb. The theory behind this is UVB (whether from a bulb of the sun) triggers the animal to convert inactive vitamin D to D3. Well once the conversion is triggered, why would the animal need additional UVB?

Tim

It's a catalyst. It provides energy to make the reaction possible. Each and every single reaction that creates D3 IN THIS MANNER requires UVB. When the UVB stops reaching the turtle, this reaction stops. It happens in humans too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D

Literally, if the sun shines on your skin while you are walking from your front door to your car, Vitamin D synthesis takes place. When the UV light stops hitting your skin, the reactions stop.

D3 can be derived from other sources, but there are several other known benefits of UV lighting. If it's so easy to provide, why not? That's my reasoning.

Also, adult turtles are much more forgiving than growing hatchlings. The problems with trying to raise hatchlings indoors without UV lighting are too numerous to mention. Can it be done?..sure. Should it be done?..no.

While working at a vet, and even just in herp circles I've heard some horrible stories of inadequate husbandry. Even reading older herp husbandry books make you cringe. One that comes to mind is something to the effect of, "...keep your NA Wood turtle in a small, shallow dish of water and give it little bits of whatever crosses your table." Hmmm, cheeseburgers, ice cream, pizza, potato chips...there are no limits.

It has only been a fairly recent development that people have begun breeding turtles in large numbers and raising hatchlings to adult. Many inadequate husbandry practices have been revealed due to this. I still think that, in general and out of all species considered, chelonians are the most difficult herps to keep happy and healthy. Raising hatchling box turtles in particular is very difficult, in my humble opinion. Are there stories of simplicity?...sure. However, we should strive to do the most and best, not the least.

It's all or nothing. If you're keeping a box turtle (or any pet), it is your job to provide EVERYTHING that they need! I know that you're not recommending withholding what they need, you're trying to determine if they actually need UVB/UVA. Well, they may not always need it to survive but I think it's clear that they need it for optimum health.

Good point. That is especially important for anyone just reading the above posts that might be getting into turtles and torts. They do benefit greatly from the UVA/B. They are much more active with it. It helps stimulate their immune systems as well as their mood. Mine are much more alert and content with the UVA/B bulb then when they did not have one.

Of course nothing bets the real sunlight, but that isn't always possible to keep them in the sunlight when they might need it.

Old husbandry book-- can be very bad. It is important to stay current with what we have learned about the proper care of these animals to keep them healthy and with us for a long time. Hopefully they will outlive us!

Tim, I can't get on your web site! Can you please e-mail me at my log on name at yahoo? Thanks, Blue