You will also need uv lighting providing uva and uvb for proper calcium metabolism and skeletal development of the red ear.
Red eared slider without heat lamp.
Yellow bellied slider turtles spend a good deal of time in basking spots which for captives must stay at the correct.
The daytime ambient air temperature in the tank should be between 75 and 80 degrees fahrenheit with a basking spot between 90 and 95 f over the land area of the tank.
Your red eared slider will need a heat lamp in order to bask.
At night when sleeping extra heat and light are not necessary as long as the temperature remains around 65 o 70 o f 18 o 24 o c.
Proper lighting is crucial for a captive yellow bellied slider turtle s health.
Without one their health will be greatly affected.
Moreover it can help at night especially if the temperature is too low.
An extra heat source can help get your basking temperature there.
If your red eared slider is still not basking it may be time to speak with the vet.
Do red eared sliders need a heat lamp.
One mistake many first time red eared sliders.
For health related questions always consult your veterinarian as they have examined your pet know the pet s health history and can make the best recommendations for your pet.
If you suspect your pet is sick call your vet immediately.
When setting up your new red eared slider turtle tank consider having 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle as a general rule of thumb but a 20 gallon tank is a minimum size for hatchling red eared sliders.
Keeping in mind that red eared sliders can read 10 12 inches as adults you can see that eventually you will need a very large tank.
That doesn t mean you should keep a light on for him all night but it should be on for part of that time.
The basking temperature should be between 85 90.
Heat lamps are vital for all pet turtles.
So a heat lamp is required for a red eared slider but just getting any heat lamp won t do it.
The heat lamp should never be placed in such a way that your slider cannot get away from it if he wants to.
Yes red eared sliders need a heat lamp.
As noted above you will only need a heat lamp if you can t get the basking temperature to at least 80 degrees fahrenheit.
So let s take a closer look at what you actually need to look at when buying a heat lamp.
The basking area should have a gradient of temperature such that the turtle can choose a suitable temperature.
You must provide your red eared slider with a night time.
Red eared sliders being ectothermic regulate their temperature by the ambient temperature.