heater?

[bluejen1313]

Is it recommended that a RES have a heater in the tank. When I first got Tom, a RES, the pet store told me to get one. It broke. When I went back, they said they would adjust the temps themselves by getting in the water to cool off or out of the water to bask. Tom is set up with a basking lamp and uva/b bulb. What do you think? Jennifer

 

[Greg T]

I'm really not sure if this is right or wrong, but when I kept RES for a number of years I did not have a heater in the water. I kept the tank indoors, so I figured water temperature staying around the same as the house was would be fine. They would climb up on the island and bask under the light all stretched out, and swim like crazy, so it never seemed to be an issue to me. I guess if the water temperature would drop below 65 degress or so, I would consider a heater. My water temperatures seemed to stay in the 70's most of the time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Itort]

A heater is not needed for a RES as they are a temperate climate turtle (we have plenty in the rivers in eastcentral Iowa). Room temp is fine with the basking lihgt and UV B.