Lighting Guide For Turtle Keepers Infographic

ByMuntaseer Rahman

Lighting Guide For Turtle Keepers: Infographic

Lighting Guide For Turtles Infographic

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The infographic provides a detailed guide on the importance of lighting for turtle keepers, explaining why lighting is crucial for turtles, what types of lighting they need, and how to properly use lighting in their habitat. Here are the main points covered:

  1. Importance of Lighting: Lighting is a fundamental aspect of a turtle tank, essential for feeding and basking, and contributes to a healthy turtle by providing essential UVB rays necessary for producing vitamin D3, which promotes shell and bone growth in turtles. UVB also influences turtle activity, feeding, mood, as well as breeding.
  2. Types of Lights Needed: Turtles require UVA/UVB light and heat lamps. UVA/UVB light is important for their physiological well-being, while heat lamps are necessary as turtles are cold-blooded and need external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.
  3. Why Turtles Need UVB: UVB helps in the synthesis of vitamin D3, which is crucial for calcium metabolism. Lack of UVB can lead to metabolic bone disease among other health issues.
  4. Why Turtles Need Heat: Proper heating ensures that turtles can maintain a consistent body temperature. Without it, their vital functions might not operate optimally as they are cold-blooded.
  5. Getting a UVB Light: It suggests doing research before getting a UVB light to ensure proper UVB levels are maintained, replacing the bulb every six months, and avoiding glass or plastic as they can filter out UVB rays. LED and fluorescent lights are recommended for their durability.
  6. UVB Light Placement: The guide advises on placing the UVB light at the correct distance from the turtle, with different distances recommended based on the UVB percentage.
  7. Types of UVB Lights: It distinguishes between two types of UVB lights – linear tube lights and compact UVB bulbs, with a preference often given to compact bulbs.
  8. Heat Lamps: Heat lamps are also essential, and the guide suggests using an incandescent lamp as a popular choice. The heat lamp should be directed to the basking area and set to ensure the temperature is suitable for the turtle.
  9. Viewing Lights: The infographic mentions that viewing lights are not recommended unless the habitat is very big. White lights like UVB, heat, and daylight lamps are useful for viewing purposes.
  10. Circadian Rhythm: It emphasizes maintaining a day-night cycle in turtle care, which is vital for their health as their biochemistry and behaviors change throughout the day.
  11. Frequently Asked Questions: It provides a Q&A section about bulb power, distance from the turtle, the preferred wattage for UVB bulbs and heat lamps, whether turtles need a heat lamp all the time, and safety concerns regarding leaving the heat lamp on.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.