Basking

Basking is an important activity that all turtles need to take part in to remain healthy and when setting up a proper environment for your turtle this should not be over looked.

Turtles are cold blooded animals, and being able to get out of the water helps the turtles remain healthy and boosts their metabolism and immune system. In the wild, you will find turtles basking in the sun for hours at a time, sometimes even stacked one on top of the other!

Basking spots need to be partially submerged, but allow for your turtle to get completely out of the water and 100% dry. You can build a basking spot out of partially submerged rocks, floating logs (however these absorb water and begin to rot) or store bought decorations and “docks” that are specially designed for your turtle. At Wee Turtle we recommend the floating “Turtle Dock” by ZooMed, a soft styrofoam platform on suction cupped sliders. This allows you to reposition the dock and adjust the depth of the water with ease. If you decide to go with rocks for a basking platform make sure you choose smooth flat rocks, rough rocks can catch the turtles nails and pull them out as well as cause shell damage. Rock with sharp edges can cut your turtle or injure their shell. Make sure wooden basking areas are not treated with chemicals.

For the turtles basking area you need to provide a UVA light, you want a light that will encourage the turtle to come out of the water and bask, this is approximately 10 degrees above the waters temperature. Suggested basking temperature is 30-35 degrees celsius. You do not want the area to be too hot or the turtle could be burned. A 75W bulb will do nicely, and if you can find one, we suggest a tight beam, this helps to focus the light to better provide your turtle with the warmth it needs.

You will also need to get a lamp as a bulb on its own is no good. There are many special lamps available that have been specially designed for reptile habitats, not all of them are made equally. We suggest you pay the few dollars extra for the lamp that comes with a clamp and an on/off switch as these small additions are invaluable.

Lamps without a clamp may be set on top of the habitats lid, however if you have a glass top or tight knit screen lid the UV rays will not be able to reach your turtle and this can lead to you turtle getting sick.

UVB lights are also very important to your turtles health. The vitamin D found in UVB rays helps your turtle digest calcium which is important to your turtles health. It is highly recommended that you have a UVB light for your turtle.