Turtle is a cold-blooded animal (ectothermic). All processes in her body are completely dependent on changes in ambient temperature. Everyone knows that in nature she likes to bask in the sun. In a terrarium, its energy is replaced by an ultraviolet lamp. For a turtle it is very important, just the right light source is vital. But how among the abundance of light bulbs to choose the option that does not harm your reptile? And in general, is it possible to create it with your own hands?
Lighting
In the terrarium, there must be a small islet of land on which it will bask and relax. Above it and it is desirable to install an incandescent lamp. The distance from it to land should be such that it heats the air to a norm of 28-30 ° C.
Lighting of the terrarium or aquarium is required. For active life, turtles need a daylight duration of about 8-12 hours. Its duration depends on the time of year. For lighting,
fluorescent lamps are used
, the power of which is 15-40 watts. It is necessary to foresee the length of the lighting device in advance. At the same time, the dimensions of its ceiling should correspond to the length of the wall of the aquaterrarium.
Quality of light
The main characteristics of the lamp are its intensity and light quality. The latter is determined by the color temperature, measured in degrees on the Kelvin scale and determining the color of visible light. Also important are such concepts as “cold” and “warm” light. Quality determines the color rendering index and the distribution of wave intensity.
Since light is vital for terrarium animals, attention should be paid to its quantitative characteristics. Its high intensity is important so that the length of daylight corresponds to the photoperiod of the animal in its natural habitat. The light from the lamp should simulate a new circadian period (cyclical fluctuations in the intensity of biological processes) of the turtle, changing throughout the year.
Three aspects of radiation are important for keeping reptiles:
- ultraviolet;
- visible light (radiation in the visible part of the spectrum);
- infrared (thermal).
All the described ratios of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of light should be taken into account when choosing an ultraviolet lamp for a turtle. With her own hands, she is created by a considerable number of lovers of exotic animals. This is not difficult if we correctly understand the role of ultraviolet radiation, its sources in the life of reptiles, and also take into account all the necessary parameters.
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet is a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is distinguished by a large energy power. Mostly, only visible light has usually.
According to the wavelength, the ultraviolet spectrum is divided into three groups:
- UVA is the longest wave A with a range of 320-400 nm. Its significance for reptiles is significant.
- UVB - medium wave In the range of 290-320 nm. It is she who is vital for reptiles.
- UVC - short wave With a range of 180-290 nm. These are dangerous rays for all living organisms.
What is ultraviolet light for?
An ultraviolet lamp for a turtle is one of the main sources of a healthy and fulfilling life. You can’t do without it. In the natural environment, these animals receive ultraviolet in sufficient quantities. Getting into atypical conditions, in captivity, turtles lack sunlight and often get sick. Pregnant females and young animals suffer especially severely from UV deficiency. Adults without access to ultraviolet radiation also suffer from osteopenia and have clear signs of vitamin D deficiency.
The UV lamp for turtles perfectly imitates the sun's rays and promotes the absorption of calcium, which reptiles receive with food. Lack of ultraviolet and calcium provokes many diseases that often end in death.
Lamp hours, location
Additional UV radiation helps to completely solve this problem. For the manufacture of this lighting source, the following types of devices are used:
- lamp for reptiles;
- ultraviolet lamp for turtles;
- UV lamp for the aquarium.
They perform not only the function of lighting for animals, but also provide them with the conditions for the necessary thermoregulation, maximally creating a natural habitat for them.
To ensure that exotic pets from warm countries do not experience stress, the UV lamp for the turtle should be turned on throughout the daylight hours (up to 10 hours). At night, the device turns off.
The UV lamp for turtles is often assembled on its own. To create it, lamps are used that give not only light of the visible spectrum, but also ultraviolet light of different intensities. The device is built into the lid of the aquaterrarium or attached to it in specially provided grooves. If they are not, it is fixed to the wall of the aquaterrarium using a shade for fluorescent lamps, which can be purchased at a pet store or at construction points. It is advisable that the UV lamp for the turtle is located directly above its favorite part of the land. Considering that the material of which the terrarium is made can trap ultraviolet rays (plexiglass partially, and polycarbonate and glass almost completely), it is better to fix the lamp over the ventilation grid.
When making such a device, do not forget about the height of its location above the bottom of the terrarium. It should average 25-50 cm. Usually, the required height parameters are indicated on specialized lamps. If the distance is too small, especially with significant radiation intensity, there is a danger of clouding of the cornea in a turtle.
Types of UV Lamps
UV lamps vary in power, spectrum and length. They are also distinguished by form. They are available in compact form as incandescent lamps or in the form of a tube.
The UV lamp for a turtle is often assembled from such types of lighting devices as tube-shaped fluorescent lamps with an ultraviolet spectrum, compact fluorescent lamps with a cartridge, metal-vapor lamps.
The first of them have their own working distance at which the specified number of units of ultraviolet radiation is issued. More often it is 50 cm. The lamp power corresponds to its length. But such light only contributes to the stimulation of natural behavior in reptiles, and ultraviolet is not involved in the synthesis of vitamin D.
Compact fluorescent lamps are divided by the number of units emitted by them UVB. In terms of power, they come in from 15 to 80 watts with spectral and color characteristics that imitate natural light of various shades.
Metal-vapor (mercury) lamps give a powerful luminous flux of a sufficiently full spectrum and heat. They retain their ultraviolet properties for a sufficiently long period.
Which ultraviolet lamp is better?
How to choose the right UV lamps for turtles? Photos of their varieties allow us to understand some similarities and differences of these devices. Their selection and selection of the necessary parameters largely depends on the age and type of animal, the volume of the aquaterrarium.
In pet stores, in the aquarium departments, you can get advice on the most suitable lamp for your pet.
So, the most preferred ultraviolet lamps for eared turtles are the products of the well-known brand Repti Glo 5.0. They are specially created for heating reptiles, excellently affect the biological processes of the animal. By installation, they are no different from ordinary fluorescent lamps and can burn throughout the day without harming animals.
If it is not possible to choose ultraviolet lamps for the red-eared turtles of this brand, you can use any other reptile devices that have about 5% UVB and 30% UVA in their spectrum. If the percentage of UVB is not indicated on the package, it is better not to buy the lamp, as it can seriously harm the tortoise or be completely useless for it.
Some of the best ultraviolet lamps for different types of turtles are JBL - Solar Reptil Sun, Lucky reptile, Namiba Terra - Replux, Sylvania - Reptistar MiniLynx, NARVA Special, ExoTerra, Hagen, Arcadia - D3 Reptile Lamp, ZooMed - Reptisun 5.0, 10.0, SERA - T8 Terra UV-special and others.
Most of these lamps are used for both freshwater and land turtles. There are no special differences between them. Land turtles only more often need more spacious terrariums. An extremely important condition for their maintenance is proper lighting, heating and temperature conditions. In captivity, these animals should be kept during the day at temperatures up to +31 ° C, and at night - +16 ... + 18 ° C.
To obtain a temperature gradient, you can make a heating device with a conventional lamp with a power of up to 60 watts. It must be installed in one of the corners of the terrarium, where the turtle usually eats and warms.
UV lamp for land turtles also required. To simulate sunlight, any of the special reptile lamps is suitable. Its spectrum should be about 30% UVA and 10% UVB (10.0).
It is important to remember that in winter, land turtles need a wintering that lasts from November to March and takes place at temperatures up to +8 ° .
In the summer, it is recommended to use a natural source of ultraviolet radiation - to take out the terrarium in the sun.
Lamp life
The operational life of such devices is always indicated on the packaging and averages 1 year. However, the ultraviolet lamp for turtles used in the aquaterrarium is recommended to be changed every six months. During operation, the fluorescence composition burns out, which leads to a change in the spectrum of light. It shifts to the red area. This is easy to see by turning on the old and then the new appliance.
Using a lamp longer than the recommended period does not pose a danger to turtles, it simply becomes ineffective.
Biological stimulant
The quality characteristics of lamps in terrariums should be given increased attention. They are especially important for devices with ultraviolet radiation. UV lamp for turtle - biological stimulant. It recreates an environment similar to the natural habitat, and maintains normal animal health.
It is better to purchase devices from well-known and reputable manufacturers on the market, since today a lot of products have appeared that are advertised as full-spectrum lamps, but in reality do not correspond to the characteristics indicated in the description. These are more often ordinary fluorescent light sources and incandescent lamps having a neodymium element in the glass. They cannot serve as a biological stimulant for turtles.
When creating home-made sources of ultraviolet, medical “solar” lamps are often used. They emit a high level of ultraviolet rays. You can also use mercury-ultraviolet and mercury-quartz, but subject to the strict dosage of their use. But the simplest and at the same time optimal (in terms of price-quality) option is to purchase a Repty-Glo lamp for pet reptiles in pet stores. It is distinguished by good quality and an appropriate level of UVB radiation.
The main thing is not to try to use quartz, blue lamps, lamps for fish, plants, amphibians with a spectrum of less than 4% UVB. It should be borne in mind that they are completely unsuitable for turtles.