Ultraviolet lamp for the turtle with their own hands. Effect of ultraviolet light on turtles

Turtle - animal cold-blooded (ectotherm). All processes in her body are entirely dependent on changes in the temperature of the environment. Everyone knows that in nature she likes to bask in the sun. In the terrarium, its energy is replaced by an ultraviolet lamp. For a turtle is very important, just vitally needed the right light source. But how to choose among the abundance of light bulbs that will not harm your reptile? And in general, is it possible to create it with your own hands?

Lighting

In the terrarium must be a small island of land, on which it will bask and relax. Above it and it is desirable to install an incandescent lamp. The distance from it to the land should be such that it heats the air to the norm of 28-30 degrees Celsius.

Lighting of a terrarium or aquarium is required. Turtles need an active day of about 8-12 hours to live in active life. Its duration depends on the time of year. Daylight lamps with a capacity of 15-40 W are used for lighting. It is necessary to provide in advance the length of the lighting device. At the same time, the size of its plafond should correspond to the length of the wall of the aquaterrarium.

The quality of the light

The main characteristics of the lamp - its intensity and quality of light. The latter is conditioned by the color temperature measured in degrees on the Kelvin scale and determining the color of visible light. Concepts such as "cold" and "warm" light are also important. The quality determines the color index and the distribution of wave intensity.

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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 corresponds to the photoperiode of the animal in its natural habitat. The light from the lamp should simulate a new circadian period (cyclical fluctuations in the intensity of biological processes) of the turtle, changing during the year.

Three aspects of radiation are important for reptile content:

• Ultraviolet;
• Visible light (radiation in the visible part of the spectrum);
• Infrared (heat).

All the ratios of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of light should be taken into account when the ultraviolet lamp for the turtle is selected. With their own hands, it is created by a considerable number of lovers of exotic animals. This is not difficult, if you correctly understand the role of ultraviolet radiation, its sources in the life of reptiles, as well as take into account all the necessary parameters.

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet is a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, which distinguishes a large energy power. The big one usually has only visible light.

By wavelength, the spectrum of ultraviolet light is divided into three groups:

• UVA is the longest wave of A with a range of 320-400 nm. Its importance to reptiles is essential.
• UVB - average wave B range 290-320 nm. It is vital for reptiles.
• UVC is a short wave with a range of 180-290 nm. These are dangerous rays for all living organisms.

What is ultraviolet for?

Ultraviolet lamp for turtle - one of the main sources of a healthy and fulfilling life. You can't do without it. In the natural environment, these animals receive ultraviolet light in sufficient quantities. Getting into atypical conditions, in captivity, turtles experience a lack of sunlight and often get sick. Pregnant females and young animals suffer from a particularly severe lack of ultraviolet light. Adults without access to ultraviolet light also suffer from osteopenia and have clear signs of vitamin D deficiency.

The UFO lamp for turtles perfectly mimics the sun's rays and promotes the absorption of calcium, which reptiles receive together with feed. Lack of ultraviolet light and calcium provokes many diseases, which often end in death.

Lamp's opening time, location

Additional UV radiation helps to completely solve this problem. The following types of appliances are used to make this lighting source:

• Reptile lamp
• Ultraviolet lamp for turtles;
• UV lamp for the aquarium.

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

In order to prevent exotic pets from warm countries from experiencing stress, the ultraviolet lamp for the turtle must be turned on during the entire daylight hours (up to 10 hours). At night, the device shuts down.

The UFO lamp for turtles is often assembled on its own. To create it, lamps are used, giving not only the light of the visible spectrum, but also the radiation of ultraviolet light of different intensity. The device is built into the lid of the aquaterrarium or attached to it in specially designed grooves. If they are not present, it is fixed on the wall of the aquaterrarium with a plafond for fluorescent lamps, which can be purchased in a pet store or in construction sites. It is desirable thatThe tortoise's UFO lamp was located directly above its favorite part of the land. Given that the material from which the terrarium is made can hold ultraviolet rays (orgglass partially, and polycarbonate and glass almost completely), it is better to fix the lamp over the ventilation grid.

When making such a device do not forget about the height of its location above the bottom of the terrarium. It should be on average 25-50 cm. Normally, the parameters of the required height are indicated on specialized lamps. At too short a distance, especially at a high intensity of radiation, there is a risk of clouding the cornea in the turtle.

Types of ultraviolet lamps

Ultraviolet lamps vary in power, spectrum and length. They also distinguish between the form. They are produced in a compact form as incandescent lamps or in the form of a tube.

UFO lamp for the turtle is often collected from such types of lighting devices as fluorescent lamps in the form of a tube with ultraviolet spectrum, fluorescent compact lamps with a cartridge, metal vapor lamps.

The first of them have their own working distance, at which the specified number of units of ultraviolet light 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 divide by the number of units emitted by UVB. In terms of power they are from 15 to 80 w with spectral and color characteristics that mimic the natural light of a variety of shades.

Metal vapor (mercury) lamps give a powerful light flow of a fairly full spectrum and heat. They keep their ultraviolet properties for quite a long time.

Which ultraviolet lamp is better?

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

In pet shops, in the departments of aquarium, you can get advice about the most suitable lamp for your pet.

Thus, the most preferred ultraviolet lamps for red-headed turtles are the products of the famous brand Repti Glo 5.0. They are specially designed to heat reptiles, perfectly affect the biological processes of the animal. According to the installation, they are no different from conventional daylight bulbs and can burn throughout the day without harming the animals.

If it is not possible to pick up ultraviolet lamps for red-headed turtles of this brand, you can use any other devices for reptiles, in the spectrum of which there is about 5% UVB and 30% UVA. If the packaging does not specify the percentage of UVB, the lamp is better not to buy, because it can seriously harm the turtle or be completely useless for it.

Some of the best ultraviolet lamps for different types of turtles are such as 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 Terra UV-special and others.

Most of these lamps are used for both freshwater and land turtles. There are no special differences between them. Land turtles are only more likely to need more spacious terrariums. Proper lighting, heating and temperature are essential for their maintenance. In captivity, these animals must be kept during the day at temperatures of up to 31 degrees Celsius, and at night they must be kept at 16.

To obtain a temperature gradient, you can make a heating device with a conventional lamp with a capacity of up to 60 watt. It must be installed in one of the corners of the terrarium, where the turtle usually eats and warms.

An ultraviolet lamp for land Turtles is also required. To simulate the sun's rays will suit any of the special lamps for reptiles. 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 of up to 8 degrees Celsius.

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

The lifespan of lamps

The operating period of such devices is always indicated on the packaging and on average is 1 year. However, ultraviolet lamps for turtles, used in aquaterrarium, recommend to change every six months. During the operation, the composition of fluorescent burns out, which leads to a change in the spectrum of light. It's moving into the red area. It's easy to see by turning on the old one and then the new appliance.

Using a lamp longer than the recommended period does not pose a danger to turtles, it simply becomes ineffective.

Biological stimulant

The quality characteristics of lamps in terrariums should be given increased attention. They are especially important for devices with ultraviolet radiation. An ultraviolet lamp for A turtle is a biological stimulant. It recreates an environment similar to a natural habitat and maintains the health of the animal.

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Devices are better to buy from well-known and proven manufacturers on the market, because today there are a lot of products advertised as full-spectrum lamps, but in fact completely not corresponding to the characteristics specified in the description. These are more common fluorescent light sources and incandescent bulbs that have a neodim element in the glass. They cannot serve as a biological stimulant for turtles.

Medical "solar" lamps are often used to create homemade sources of ultraviolet light. They emit high levels of ultraviolet rays. You can also use mercury-ultraviolet and mercury-quartz, but subject to strict dosage of their use. But the simplest and at the same time the best (price-quality ratio) option - to buy in pet stores lamp for reptiles Repty-Glo. It is distinguished by good quality and the appropriate level of UVV radiation.

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.