I purchased them from a reputable guy from Kingsnake. They were hatchlings, and I did lose both of them. Like I said, I have had excellent success with turtles except for these guys. They ate right away, but they only lasted 2 weeks. I fed them brine and turtle sticks. The plant bulb does have uv, and my other guys I brought up the same way. I a have a few that are I would say 5 months old now, that I got as hatchlings. I wish I knew what the answer was. I am heartbroken over this.