Becoming a new turtle owner

[ayla]

Are the strip lights the long ones? I don't think I've seen them at pet supplies I'll have to check again , thank you though that helps a lot.

 

[lisa127]

This is what I use for heat bulbs
http://www.petco.com/product/111470/Zilla-Night-Black-Heat-Incandescent-Bulbs.aspx

And this is for the UVB
http://www.petco.com/product/6352/Zoo-Med-Repti-Sun-50-Fluorescent-Lamps.aspx

That is what I use for box turtles. Of course you don't want to buy from PetCo, I was just showing you what I use. Online you can find them cheaper. I like to order from LLLReptile, but there are others as well.

Locally, I find Pet Supplies Plus cheaper than PetCo, but I'm not sure if you have those near you or not.

 

[ayla]

I have a pet supplies about an hour away & petco a little over an hour away, the only stores I have in my town are two dollar stores , two hardware stores and a shopko (a mini walmart) and none of them sell reptile supplies , im not actually sure if the hardware stores would or not . I'll have to definitely try to make my way out towards them and see , I was also looking at food for winter to make sure it's getting enough to eat.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Many tortoises can be fed grocery store greens through the winter.

Taking a tub out for sun runs the risk of the animal overheating, drying out, and dying. Sudden rain can cause flooding. Drainage is critical. So is shade, moisture, and a depth of substrate they can dig into. Unless its on wheels, anything big enough for the animal is going to be massively heavy & impossible to move.

 

[Avery Kays]

How much space do you really have outside your house? Having an outdoor enclosure is really ideal. If you don't have much space to make an enclosure outdoors I understand but my turtle only needs a 5 by 8 space. During the winter if your turtle is still indoors try to stimulate winter by moving the tank/cage to a cooler room. This way the turtle will want to hibernate so you won't have to worry about feeding it in the winter. Hope this helps.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Zoomed or reptisun bulbs.

It's not the case that box turtles don't need UVB bulbs - unless they're outdoors all summer and hibernating all winter.

 

[terryo]

I have to agree with this more or less. The young or those that are unable to go outside for the Winter, I keep in a glass tank...size appropriate...with a long tube 5.0 UVB and a heat emitter (60 wt.) These turtles may go out all Summer, and when they come in for the Winter I still offer them a bit of UVB. Just my HO though.