All Turtles Are Sold Only For:
Educational, Scientific or Export Purposes
Water Hygiene and
Sanitation for your Turtle
Problems Requiring Veterinary Attention (nutritional Disorders)
Reproductive Problems (other then egg-binding)
Further Information about Water Turtles
The Turtle Man
E-Mail: To Order Or For My Location
Care of Water Turtles
Light
Ultraviolet (UV) light helps maintain health because it aids in the absorption and use of dietary calcium. Regular incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs do not emit UV light. Also, the UV light is filtered from sunlight as it passes through window glass or plastic. Consequently, none of these sources is suitable for captive reptiles, including water turtles. If artificial UV light sources are unavailable, captive water turtles should be exposed to direct sunlight for 2-4 hours daily. Most turtles take advantage of the warm sunlight by resting on their basking areas. The water in very small aquariums can readily become overheated if this sunlight exposure schedule is rigidly followed. Therefore, caution should be exercised.
An alternative to direct sunlight is an artificial UV light source, such as a Vitalite (Duro-Lite Lamps, Duro-Test Corp., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071), that can be used during daylight hours. Such a light source should be left on during daylight hours to approximate a natural photoperiod. It is best to supply 10-12 hours of daylight and 12-14 hours of darkness each day, with a gradual increase in the number of hours of light supplied in the spring and a gradual decrease of light provided in the fall and winter months.
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