Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got two red ears last week and was told they do not need uvb is that wrong....should i go buy a uvb bulb??? also what size tank should i use while they are little...thier hatchlings right now. and what is the perfect temp to keep their enclosure???

thanks i won't to do everything right for my two little babies!!!!

go get that uv bulb tonight!chop!chop!they also need a platform to get out of the water & bask under a heat source pronto!while you are out getting the uv bulb do your turts a favor & get a $8 TFH book on their care.

Yes, they need UVB. UVB is important for all pets, but most especially for reptiles. (most pets will show improved health if you use UVB. But reptiles will get dangerously ill if they don`t have enough exposure to UVB).
As for tank size... bigger is better. Get the biggest tank you can afford. Don`t worry about it being `too big.` Remember, in the wild they live in rivers and lakes. Make sure the water is at least twice as deep as the turtle is wide. This is so they don`t accidentally get trapped upside down and drown. "Minimum dimensions for tank are: width - 3 times the shell length and length - 6 times the shell length." They need room to swim and move. But don`t go by the minimum. Remember, they will be growing. Eventually they`ll be 10 inches long, and you`ll need a tank that`s at least 30 inches by 60 inches. Your turtles should be about 5 inches long when they`re 5 years old, so maybe plan with that in mind.
They need somewhere where they can climb completely out of the water and get dry. Keep a heating lamp above the basking spot to keep it nice and dry. "The water should be 70-75 F and can be maintained with a submersible aquarium heater. The basking area should be 84-88F during the daylight period." I`ve heard some say that you don`t need to heat the basking area in the night. You can use any cheap bulb to heat the basking area as long as the temps are right, and you use UVB to light the tank.

Other things to keep in mind: filters. Get the strongest filter you can afford. Turtles make a mess. Cage set up. Try to balance what`s easy to maintain, and what`s fun for your turtles. Also: don`t put anything in there small enough for them to swallow (unless it`s actually edible like non-poisonous plants or feeder fish). Small gravel is dangerous. Keep stones about the size of your turtle`s head or bigger.
Try to feed a varied diet of veggies, commercial foods, and live food. And make sure they eat enough calcium.
Good luck! Reptiles are challenging pets.

~Rachael

I know all about other reptiles, i have a few different types of lizards and i know they need uvb, but i also have all kinds of snakes and they dont need it. im new with turtles thanx for all your help...

Snakes don`t need UVB? I never knew that... I`ve only ever had turtles and lizards.

yea only turtles and lizards need uvb...

Nocturnal lizards don't require it for D3 production either. A good example is leopard geckos.
(UVB may benefit some types of snake psychologically, mostly arboreal ones).
-----
Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

I also wanted to add that the lighting during the day is
very important but don't forget another aspect of their health
and that is a photoperiod. I use a 12 hour on and 12 hour off.
They should have darkness at night so they can sleep. If you
worry about them getting too cold, you can use a red bulb.
This color does not seem to bother them.

Good luck! Turtles are wonderful! I have 5.

Linda