heat lamp

[hali]

Have just bought a halogen heat lamp for my 2 musk turtles - their shells are about 2 inches long now - how far does the heat lamp have to be above the basking shelf please?

 

[Yvonne G]

It usually says on the box the bulb came in. If it doesn't, then you would place it so that the thermometer registers around 100 laying directly under it.

 

[hali]

blimey that high???? do you need to cover the glass shelf with anything as it will get very hot at that temp?

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't know much about the halogen heat lamps, but if memory serves me correctly, they get pretty darned hot. So you want to adjust the height over the basking spot so that its in the 90's to 100 range. I'm not sure its a good idea to have the light shining through the glass. If you remove the shelf does that mean the turtle will be able to climb out?

 

[montana]

If its hot it is hot .. Halogen dosn`t put out UV . you may be able to drop your bulb lower because of the glass .... The temp at your basking spot is what is Important ... What are you doing for UV???

 

[hali]

shelf is going in as they dont have a basking spot at mo - they do have a UV bulb in the tank already