I agree with many of the other members. You need a heat lamp and bulb for their basking area (I recommend the Zoo Med Basking Lamps which focus the light into a narrower beam in order to provide a more efficient and useful basking spot) and also a UV light fixture. These UV lights can be bought through many herpetological catalogues or at local pet stores; the fluorescent bulb fixtures need to be bought seperately to be installed in the UV light fixture. I recommend the ReptiSun 5.0 fluorescent lamp. These lamps are costly but are extremely necessary for production of vitamin D3 in order for proper absorption of calcium. If this is not provided for the turtles they will not be healthy, happy or stress-free and will develop metabolic bone disease and their shells will not grow properly resulting in deformities. This is a little known but imperatively important aspect to caring for any kind of herp - get them a UV light!

As for this red heat basking lamp, it may not be necessary unless you don't have a submersible water heater to keep the tank at a stable and comfortable temperature for the turtles. You can continue to use it, but as far as I know, it is not necessary, but the UV fluorescent lamp is a must and absolutely essential to the general well-being of the turtles. Hope this helps. Good luck.

_Dennis

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