Pet Turtle : Water Purification

Light serves two very important functions for your turtle - heat for basking and UVB radiation for calcium metabolization. If not provided properly both can lead to long-term diseases, poor growth, diseases and worse�

Unfortunately most lights mentioned in international turtle literature are not available in India! We are still trying to locate a source for them. Meanwhile, you can place an order with some upmarket pet storeowners' who arrange for these through human couriers coming from abroad.

Heating/Basking Light
This light is used to provide white light to the tank and heat in the basking area.

As mentioned earlier in the Temperature section, the basking (land) area should be at a higher temperature than the water. That can be achieved by using a white light source near the land area that generates heat. While a lot of literature mentions using specific Reptile Basking Lights, normal bulbs (that you use in your light fittings at home) can do the job equally well. Eitherways, the specialized reptile bulbs are not available in India!

We recommend either of the following easily available light bulbs:
OPTION 1 : Bulbs with a white paint/coating on the inside (e.g., Phillips SuperLux)
OPTION 2 : Spotlight bulbs, these are less round in shape and have a silvery coating on the inside to focus light on a specific area (e.g., Phillips SpotLine)

[Similar types of bulbs are available from other manufacturers like GE, Sylvania Laxman, etc., you can use any brand that is available]

These should be fixed in a light hood that is painted either white or silver on the inside for maximum reflection. We recommend you seek out a hood that can be swiveled, as you might want to move the focus of the light sometime later.

As most parts of India are warm, a medium to low wattage bulb is sufficient during summers. Depending on the climate of the place you stay in, a higher wattage bulb might be required in winters. The best way to check this is to start with a 40W or 60W bulb and take the temperature of the land area after every hour. You should be able to maintain land-area temperature in the range of 26.6 oC - 32.2 oC (80 oF-90 oF) even after keeping the bulb lighted for 12-14 hours continuously. In case you observe the temperature to be constantly bordering on 32oC (90oF), shift to a lower wattage - you don't want a sun-dried turtle!

Mount/Place this so that the light focuses on the land area. Ensure that there is no way that the turtles can reach the light source, its wires or topple it over! (this means a distance of atleast 10 inches from the land area!)

CFL's - a good source of white light are a STRICT NO as they don't generate enough heat.

UV Light for Calcium Metabolization
This is the biggest problem you will face when keeping turtles in India. We have been unable to locate a source that can provide a ready supply of UVB generating lights.
(IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY SUCH SOURCE PLEASE INFORM US IMMEDIATELY!)

Turtles use UVB rays to manufacture Vitamin D3, which is a vital component of the calcium metabolization process. In their natural habitats turtles are exposed to direct sunlight, in which they bask. Turtles in captivity don't receive this direct sunlight and this can lead to shell diseases, malformations, etc. To avoid this the tank needs to be fitted with a special light that can serve as an artificial source of UV rays. (Additionally turtles need to be given Vitamin D3 supplements in their diets, but for that refer to the section on Feeding). Merely keeping the tank next to a window in sunlight will not help as window/tank glass filters out nearly 93-95% of the UV rays in sunlight.

Internationally 'full-spectrum' fluorescent reptile lights (ReptiSun, VitaLite, etc.) are available that produce upto 5% of the UVB spectrum. These resemble conventional tube-lights that we have in our houses, but have special coatings that last upto an year. They need to be installed at a distance of approximate 8-12 inches from the basking area.

It is essential that these cool white lights be installed on the same side as the basking lamp. This is because turtles prefer to come out of the water and bask in warm light, and would get maximum exposure to UVB at that time.

In the absence of this UVB light, install CFL's or normal tube-lights to create a cool, low-electricity consumption light source for the tank.

You need to keep you lights turned on for atleast 10-12 hour stretches daily. These can be varied if you want to mimic the seasons.

As for giving the turtles UVB exposure there is just one way - direct sunlight!

To give your turtle unfiltered sunlight, you can create a temporary Direct Sunlight Exposure Habitat.(DSE). Extremely simple, it can be made using normal household equipment.

To make a DSE, click here.