Do turtles need heating lamps?

Question

All I have is a turtle, a tank and a basking area...no heating lamps and filters. I change the water regularly but the turtle won't bask! I can't but a heating lamp because my mum won't let me (the turtle was a present). Does the turtle need a heating lamp to bask? She seems confident because she eats from my hand and stuff. Will she live without a heating lamp...maybe if I leave her in the sun? She's been alive for a couple of weeks now!

Answer 1

Only land turtles do the water kind do not for they are covered in water and used not for heating lamps but the sand ones are used to sun and heat so if you are keeping one i suggest you buy a heating lamp

ps: if you leave her in the sun is good but will you keep her in the sun forever all day all the time ????

I maybe only 12 years old but i know almost anything about animals hej if you need to buy a lamp for less money i suggest you buy it on ebay

Answer 2

yea i heating lamp will be a good idea. But since your mom won't let you get one,you can also put the tank near a window so that sunlight comes in. i guess you can also use a desk lamp to put over the basking area, but that wouldn't be as good, but you'll have some type of heat coming from it. (as long as you use light bulbs). i don't think they NEED a heating lamp the bask, my turtles don't have a heating lamp and they still bask, and sometimes they go up on the basking area without any sun/light.

i think a filter will be a good idea too, 'cause when i first started out with turtles and i had to filter, i had to change the water every day 'cause they got so smelly and dirty, but now i have a filter and i change the water usually about once a month.

Answer 3

Turtles need a good ALL UV spectrum lighting and it is a must that you keep their water temperature between 75-90 degrees so a good under water heater is a MUST.  Turtles cannot digest their food under 75 degrees.  As far as having a heat lamp, no they will bask under the UV lighting.  LEave light on for 8-12 hours a day and turn off at night.

DO NOT  "EVER"  feed your baby turtle by hand.  Yes they are cute and sweet and it trusts you enough but when it is fully grown (dinner plate sized top shell)  it can and most likely remove a finger because it will ALWAYS associate your hand with food.   So, any time you have to interact with it, when it sees your hand reaching toward it it will assume that it's food.  

Here a a few really good sights for turtle care information.  Please learn all you can because they are not the easiest pets to care for.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/_BORDER...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilest...

http://www.turtlecare.net/

http://www.sdturtle.org/WATER%20TURTLE%2...