Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've recently moved into a giant new apartment, but unfortunately the landlord controls the heat (radiator), and he turns it off at night and during working hours. It gets pretty chilly during the wee hours, and I'm concerned about my young RES (and EPT) catching cold. I've never had to use an underwater heater before, since I've always been able to keep the room temp at 75, but if I use one now will it be sufficient to keep them warm? I don't want to waste electricity on a space heater (and it's a large room), but I don't want them to get a cold (as my EPT inevitably did whenever there was a drafty window in my old, heated apartment). Suggestions?

If you get the right size heater for your tank there will be no problem. You also should have a basking lamp too. Between the two it should be fine.

Regarding turning off the the heat. Not sure where you live but I would question the legality of that. (unless of course the apartment does not get below a temperature that is deemed uncomfortable or unhealthy for Human habitation. I would check that out quite frankly and see if the landlord is within his/her right to shut off the heat completely.

Thanks for the concern, but the heat isn't turned off completely - just down very low when "nobody" is home. If I happen to wake up in the middle of the night it's pretty cold (it's a large, high-ceiling, wood-floor apt in Boston)- I just put on another comforter, but I was concerned about the nighttime when my turtles won't have their basking light on either. So, you think they'll just duck into the water to warm up when they're feeling cold? I'm just concerned about when they surface and the air is chilly (my EPT always got resp infections if the room wasn't snug and warm)... do RES hibernate or anything? Are they OK with an air temp of 60 at night?

If your water is heated in the mid 70's at night they will be just fine. Sliders can hibernate and survive long cold winters. They normally sleep in the water anyway so at night they will stay in the warm water. My sliders are out in my pond and will spend the whole Winter there (and my EPT's as well which are native to our area) (Long Island). Unless your water was at a constant cold temperature I am really perplexed as to why a cold hardy specie like a painted turtle would get a respiratory infection. (I am not doubting that he did I am just wondering all the factors involved for him to keep getting them). If your water never warmed up out of the sixties and he did not have a warm basking spot it is quite possible (that would lower his resistance).

Anyhow -- back to slider -- if your tank water is heated there is nothing to worry about for the nights and as long as you have a basking light for the daytime again he should be fine.

If you want the air temperature to remain more constant overnight, put a cover on the tank. I have a canopy hood that keeps the air temps pretty constant, and quite humid.

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Thanks for all the advice - I'll try it with just the underwater heater for now and see how it goes. He seems like a pretty hardy guy (even eats in a seperate tub, unlike my finicky EPT!), so it should be good (I'll keep the hood idea in reserve).
BTW, was the a pic of your turtle tank? I couldn't see any basking areas, so I was curious...

the basking area is under the incandescent light on the left. If you follow the piece of drift wood up, thats where it is.
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