Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all.

I recently bought a

"Super UV Coil-Lamp"
which is made by ESU Reptile

The package says it has
UVB rays (290nm - 320nm)
and UVA rays (320nm - 400nm)

Is this an appropriate basking light for my baby painted turtle? I will need an additional heat lamp too right? Also, should I turn these lamps off at night?

Carrey

NT

Sorry. This forum doesn't get as much action as the RES one. If you don't get an answer I would post there and they can help. I think your light is great. Yes you should also get a heat light. And yes you should turn the lights (all of them) off at night. It should be about 12 hours on and 12 hours off. You can put the lights on a timer if you want and they will turn on and off on their own, or you could turn them on when you wake up and off when you go to bed.
Good luck with your turtle!

I have raised baby painteds and they are soooo cute!

I suggest that you buy the long tube UVB light for this turtle. It will really help with shell growth. Painteds don't need temperatures too warm (they are hardy beasts!), but you could put an undertank heater on your tank to warm the water.

The heat from the UVB lamp will be plenty for the overhead. You can purchase those sticky thermometers to monitor the heat in the water and above it near the basking area.

Make sure to provide a place to climb out and bask in the UVB bulb.

One last note: be careful of any fire hazards. Don't put the tank on fabric or have anything flammable near it.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

PHKiwi

I don't know about that style of lamp, nor about new claims from Vendors for "broad-spectrum" or "UVB" rays. Most are hype that delivery only heat, not broad-spectrum light.

(Only the sunshine provides full-spectrum light. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.)

My research last spring indicated that Mercury Vapor lamps are the best. They delivery both heat & UVB radiation for baskers like my Western Painted. The bulb should last about a year, and costs about $40.