Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering, for all of you experienced with RES, if you knew a few things:

1) Do RES "miss" each other? I know this is a sort of open-ended question, but I'm more wondering if the loss of a friend might adversely affect the health of another turtle because of psychological problems, etc... such as refusing to eat.

2) I read that a sick turtle should have the basking light kept on at all times to make sure it returns to health. Can you keep the basking light on 24/7 even if your turtles aren't sick? Is there any reason to turn it off (again, health related)

To answer your first question: IMO, I don't think turtle do a lot of reading and higher math, so it doesn't matter.

The second question: Yes, you can have a basking light for it at night, but make sure that you use the night bulbs so it does not interfere with their sleep cycle. And the night temp. you be around 70-75 degree with the basking spot at about 80 degree. Night needs to be cooler because animals need to cool off, too, just like people.

It is essential for their health that they sleep in darkness.
Do not leave a bright light on all the time. Did your other
turtle die of an illness? If so it is very possible that
the this one is also sick.

You need to look over your entire habitat and make sure that
all of their needs are met. If you must have a heat source
at night use a ceramic heater so no light is given off.

If your turtle is showing signs of illness you need to
take it to a vet.

Linda

Total darkness is not essential to a turtles well being. I've raised turtles from hatchlings to adulthood with the basking light on full time without any ill effects. As long as there are temperature gradients within the enclosure that the turtle can use to cool down all will be fine.

Can they live with bright lights on 24/7...yeah, maybe
but in all of the research I have done they recommend
having darkness to sleep in.

If you think about it. How would you like to placed in
total bright light for say 2 weeks. I bet at the end of
that time you would pray for darkness to get a normal nights
rest. Reptiles should for their health be on a day/night
cycle just like us. No where in their would is it daytime
24/7.

I do respect the fact that you have opinions but I am
sorry that I don't agree with you.

Linda

I believe the question was whether or not the basking light can be left on all the time and whether or not TOTAL darkness was required to keep a turtle healthy and happy. The answer to the first is yes even if it is a bright light and to the second, no total darkness is not necessary. I have always used normal light bulbs or flood lights depending upon the wattage required for the setup. I have had no problems with this setup in the 20 plus years I’ve been keeping turtles. As we speak I am incubating the eggs my female White Lipped Mud turtle has laid in such a setup. My Redfoot and Yellowfoot Tortoises have produced healthy offspring in such setups, as has my Spotted Turtles.

As long as the cages are large enough to allow the animals choices as to how much warmth they wish to use are available everything should be OK.

my point is that all living creatures need to have a cycle.
Is it always sunny where the your Redfoot would normally
live? I don't mean to be stubborn but tell me where you read
that this doesn't matter.

Why would even consider keeping them in constant bright
light? I guess this confuses me. I don't claim to be
an expert here but I have read everything I can get my
hands on and NOWHERE does it state that this is not important.

I have had my turtles for many years. I also do reptile
education and help out with reptile rescue when necessary.

I would guess that most people on this forum would agree
with me on this issue but once again you are entitled to
your opinion. Enclosed is a picture of my redfoot "Peabody"

Linda

You should reread what I've written. The intial question was can the basking light be kept on 24/7. The answer to that was yes as turtles don't need TOTAL darkness. If your tank is small enough that your basking light is a glaring sun over the entire width and breadth of the tank, then your tank is obviously too small. I'd say the ability to thermoregulate is much more important for reptiles than a perfectly dark cage at night, especially when ill. I'm not advocating bathing the entire enclosure or tank in a neon glare, but a standard basking light can be left on 24/7 with no ill effects. My turtles and tortoises have no problem with this in any way, shape or form.

As for anything you read on the net, most web pages are set up by people with a minimum of knowledge who either parrot books or information on other web sights.

P.S.
you might try adjusting your Redfoots diet in the future to try and minimize the pyramidal growth it is experiencing and changing your substrate might help as well.

My redfoot is just fine....Yes, he has some pyramiding as I
said I don't pretend to be an expert but I have a lot of common
sense which apparently some people don't have. I am happy to say
that my redfoot gets a good nights sleep though. I bet that
is more important than a little pyramiding!

This forum is a place to come and learn from others. It is
too bad when those who claim to be an expert do not value other
opinions.

PS: don't bother responding I won't waste my time!

I don't claim to be an expert. I do have some experience and I try to share that. You claim that a heat light left on overnight is detrimental because a turtle needs total darkness to sleep. I say I've been doing it for years with no ill effects. Take what you will from that but it works for me and others.

Alright, thanks for everyone's help... and as for the somewhat snide first remark to my question regarding turtles "missing" each other, it was a purely health related question (which still hasn't been answered). Some animals will starve themselves over the loss of a friend, and I wanted to make sure I knew if I should expect a decline in health so I could prepare for it.

I think you misinterpretted the remark. This person was just answering your question and making a little a joke. To answer it straight forward. No turtles do not die of loneliness. They are perfectly content to go on living after a tank mate has perished.
If they do stop eating afterward it is more likely (as Linda mentioned) that whatever illness got to the first turtle has now affected the second.

Sorry, I guess I missed the reinterpretation of "it doesn't matter" into "no." Thanks for the straightforwardness, though, and I'm not worried... Kundalini (the turtle in question) is eating fine and basking and swimming as usual.

I haven't had my turtles for too long but with any pet, I think it's common sense to want to mimic their natural environment as much as possible, meaning day AND night lighting and temperatures. Unless they're sick, of course.

I dont know about turtles missing their tank mates, but It could be true. As long as your turtle is not ill, perhaps you can get him a paymate?

I agree the last post as well. The mimiking of their natural habitats is very important and we offer our turtles a day and night cycle. My turtles seems very happy with that.
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Tammy, Doug, Skylar, Andrew, Aaron, Lessley
1 cat (azul)
2 parakeets
1 beta (my kitchen buddy)
1 hampster (oreo)
3 RES (Big mama, Quazimoto, no name)