Do-it-yourself UV lamp for a turtle. The effect of ultraviolet light on turtles

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Turtle is a cold-blooded (ectothermic) animal. All processes in her body are entirely dependent on changes in ambient temperature. Everyone knows that in nature she loves to bask in the sun. In the terrarium, its energy is replaced by an ultraviolet lamp. For a turtle, it is very important, just the right source of light is vital. But how among the abundance of light bulbs to choose the option that will 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 island of land on which she will bask and rest. Above it, it is desirable to install an incandescent lamp. The distance from it to land should be such that it heats the air to the norm of 28-30 ° С.

Terrarium or aquarium lighting is a must. Turtles for an active life need a daylight duration of about 8-12 hours. Its duration depends on the season. 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 must correspond to the length of the wall of the aquaterrarium.

Light quality

The main characteristics of a lamp are its intensity and quality of light. The latter is determined by the color temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin, which determines 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 hours corresponds to the photoperiod of the animal in its natural habitat. The light from the lamp should simulate the new circadian period (cyclic 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 described ratios of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of light must be taken into account when choosing an ultraviolet lamp for a turtle. With their own hands, it is created by a considerable number of lovers of exotic animals. It is not hard,if you 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. Only visible light usually has more.

According to the wavelength, the ultraviolet spectrum is divided into three groups:

• UVA is the longest wave A in the 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 for?

Ultraviolet lamp for a turtle is one of the main sources of a he althy and fulfilling life. You can't do without it. In the natural environment, these animals receive ultraviolet radiation in sufficient quantities. Getting into atypical conditions, into captivity, turtles experience a lack of sunlight and often get sick. Pregnant females and young animals are especially hard on the deficiency of ultraviolet radiation. Adults deprived of ultraviolet light also suffer from osteopenia and show clear signs of vitamin D deficiency.

The turtle UV lamp mimics the sun's rays perfectly and promotes the absorption of calcium, which reptiles get from their food. The lack of ultraviolet and calcium provokes a lotdiseases 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:

• reptile lamp;
• UV lamp for turtles;
• UV lamp for aquarium.

They perform not only the function of lighting for animals, but also provide them with the conditions for the necessary thermoregulation, creating the most natural habitat for them.

In order for exotic pets from warm countries not to experience stress, the turtle's ultraviolet lamp must be turned on throughout the daylight hours (up to 10 hours). At night, the device turns off.

The turtle UV lamp is often self-assembled. To create it, lamps are used that give not only light of the visible spectrum, but also radiation of ultraviolet light of different intensities. The device is built into the cover of the aquaterrarium or attached to it in specially provided slots. If they are not available, it is fixed to the wall of the aquaterrarium using a fluorescent lamp shade, which can be purchased at a pet store or at construction points. It is desirable that the turtle's UV lamp be located directly above its favorite part of the land. Given that the material from which the terrarium is made can block ultraviolet rays (plexiglass partially, and polycarbonate and glass almost completely), it is better to fix the lamp overventilation mesh.

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 parameters of the required height are indicated on specialized lamps. If the distance is too small, especially if the radiation intensity is high, there is a danger of corneal clouding in the turtle.

Types of UV lamps

UV lamps vary in power, spectrum and length. They are also distinguished by their shape. They are available in compact form as incandescent lamps or as tubes.

UV tortoise lamp is often assembled from types of lighting fixtures such as tube-shaped fluorescent lamps with an ultraviolet spectrum, compact fluorescent lamps with a socket, metal vapor lamps.

The first of them have their own working distance, at which the specified number of ultraviolet units is issued. More often it is 50 cm. The power of the lamp corresponds to its length. But such light only contributes to the stimulation of natural behavior in reptiles, and ultraviolet light is not involved in the synthesis of vitamin D.

Compact fluorescent lamps are divided by the number of UVB units they emit. They range in power from 15W to 80W with spectral and color characteristics that mimic natural light in a variety of hues.

Metal vapor (mercury) lamps give a powerful luminous flux of a fairly full spectrum and heat. They retain their UV properties for quite a long time.

Which UV lamp is best?

How to choose the right UV lamps for turtles? Photos of their varieties allow us to understand some of the similarities and differences between these devices. Their choice and the selection of the necessary parameters largely depend on the age and type of animal, the volume of the aquaterrarium.

At pet shops, aquarium departments, you can get advice on the most suitable lamp for your pet.

So, the most preferred UV lamps for red-eared turtles are products of the well-known brand Repti Glo 5.0. They are specially designed for heating reptiles, they have an excellent effect on the biological processes of the animal. By installation, they are no different from ordinary fluorescent lamps and can burn all day long without harming animals.

If it is not possible to find this brand of UV lamps for red-eared turtles, you can use any other devices for reptiles, in the spectrum of which there are about 5% UVB and 30% UVA. If the packaging does not indicate the percentage of UVB, it is better not to buy a lamp, as it can seriously harm the turtle or be completely useless for him.

Some of the best UV 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 TerraUV-special and more.

Most of these lamps are used for both freshwater and terrestrial turtles. There are no special differences between them. Land tortoises are only more likely to need larger terrariums. An extremely important condition for their maintenance is the correct lighting, heating and temperature conditions. In captivity, these animals should be kept during the day at temperatures up to +31 °С, and at night - +16…+18 °С.

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 up.

UV lamp for tortoises is also required. To simulate the sun's rays, any of the special lamps for reptiles will do. Its spectrum should be about 30% UVA and 10% UVB (10.0).

It is important to remember that in winter, land turtles need wintering, which lasts from November to March and takes place at temperatures up to +8 ° С.

In the summer, it is recommended to use a natural source of ultraviolet - to take out the terrarium in the sun.

Lamp Life

The service life of such devices is always indicated on the packaging and averages 1 year. However, UV lamps for turtles used in aquaterrariums are recommended to be changed every six months. During operation, the fluorescent composition burns out, which leads to a change in the light spectrum. It shifts to the red area. This is easy to see by turning on the old and then the new appliance.

Lamp use longerrecommended time does not pose a risk to turtles, it just becomes ineffective.

Biological stimulant

Qualitative characteristics of lamps in terrariums should be given increased attention. They are especially important for devices with ultraviolet radiation. Turtle ultraviolet lamp - biological stimulator. It recreates an environment similar to the natural habitat and keeps the animal he althy.

Devices are best purchased from well-known and reputable manufacturers on the market, since today there are many products advertised as full-spectrum lamps, but in fact, they do not at all correspond to the characteristics indicated in the description. These are more often ordinary fluorescent light sources and incandescent lamps that have a neodymium element in the glass. They cannot serve as biological stimulants for turtles.

When creating home-made sources of ultraviolet, medical "solar" lamps are often used. They emit high levels of ultraviolet rays. You can also use mercury-ultraviolet and mercury-quartz, but subject to the strict dosage of their use. But the easiest and at the same time optimal (in terms of price-quality ratio) option is to purchase a Repty-Glo lamp for reptiles in pet stores. It is of good quality and appropriate UVB emission levels.

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. Keep in mind that they are completely unsuitable for turtles.