Turtles are easy to care for which makes them a good choice if you want a pet. They don’t need a lot of attention and they only have a few requirements to survive. All you have to do is to have the essentials ready for them. Just give them food and clean their tank regularly.
However, turtles are cold-blooded and they need enough heat and light to survive. In the wild, they spend their time basking in the sun to keep them dry and warm. In captivity, they require a basking area with a heat and light source. But what if you don’t have a heat lamp?
There are different ways you can do to keep your turtle warm. But you have to make sure that you will use a safe method. Pet turtles depend on their keeper since they don’t have access to natural resources. As a turtle keeper, you have to make sure that it gets the heating source it needs to survive without a heat lamp.
How to Keep a Turtle Warm Without a Heat Lamp?
You don’t have to worry about not having a heat lamp available right away. Turtles can survive without a heat lamp provided that you find alternatives. Just make sure to set a basking area for your turtle. They need to dry and warm their bodies every day to avoid getting sick.
It’s not that complicated to find a different heat source for your turtle. There are other ways to keep them warm without the heat lamp. Don’t worry, you will be able to provide the turtle the heat it needs to stay healthy. We have listed different ways to keep turtles warm.
1. Make Use of the Sunlight
If you don’t have a heat lamp, the sun is the most accessible way to provide heat. Place the tank where the turtle can be exposed to sunlight. You should put the tank next to a window where the sunlight usually hits. Make sure that the water temperature will not be too hot.
It’s better than the heat lamp for turtles since it’s more natural for them. In the wild, turtles bask under the sun. It provides them with the heat they need as well as the UV rays they need to stay healthy. This will help the turtle to grow and survive in captivity.
2. Rock Heater
It’s a new trend for turtle keepers to keep their pets warm. Rock heater will produce heat the turtle needs even without a heat lamp. It’s also a good way to decorate your turtle tank. Just place the rock heater inside the tank and plug it in to make the turtle warm.
The rock heater also makes a good basking area for the turtle. One example is the Zoo Med Reptile rock heater only costs about $10. This rock heater can reach up to 85F which is the right temperature for turtles to be comfortable. You can try this instead of a heat lamp.
3. Heating Pad
It’s another alternative that lets your turtle stay warm. The heating pad must be placed outside the turtle tank. Avoid placing it inside since some turtles might try to eat the heating pad. You can place it near the basking area and secure it with tape to avoid it from falling.
Another piece of advice is to also put a thermometer on the turtle tank. It will help you to monitor the air temperature of the tank. That way, you can make sure that the temperature will not make your turtle uncomfortable. Turtles require an air temperature around 75 to 85F.
4. Incandescent Light Bulb
Use an incandescent light bulb if you don’t have a heat lamp. You can place it on top of the turtle tank. Although it will add more electricity, it emits a good amount of heat. That’s enough to keep the turtle warm and have a light source on the tank.
The incandescent light bulb also emits UV rays if compared to other light bulbs. It’s like exposing your turtle to the sun. But if you use incandescent, turn it on during the day and off at night. Also, make sure to place it where the turtle can’t reach it or it might get electrocuted.
5. Candles
Without a heat lamp, turtles can’t make their bodies warm. It’s essential for their health and survival to have a heat source. If you don’t have the other alternatives, you can use candles instead. It will help to keep the turtle warm even without a heat lamp on the tank.
However, it poses a fire hazard so only use it as a last resort. When using candles as a heat source, make sure to place them a few inches away from the turtle tank. You also have to stay watch to avoid the candles from falling and creating a fire. It’s dangerous so it’s better to use other alternatives.
Can Turtles Live Without a Heat Lamp?
Adult turtles can live without a heat lamp but only for a few weeks. If the turtle didn’t get enough heat, it would be bad for their health. They must have a heat source to warm up their bodies. This helps them to fight germs and infections.
Heat lamps and UVB lights are essential for the turtle’s breeding, activity, mood, and overall health. Vitamin D3 is produced under the UVB light which synthesizes calcium. It will help their metabolism rate which is important for shell growth and bone development.
Turtles also need to have a day and night cycle or circadian rhythm. That’s why they need to have these lights to avoid developing diseases. When a turtle catches a cold, it will cause respiratory infection. It’s a serious illness for turtles that can even cause death.
Without a heat lamp, turtles will be stressed since it will shorten their life cycle. If they don’t get enough UVB light, turtles will have metabolic shell disease and their immune system will fail. They will affect their survival and shorten their lifespan. It’s best to use alternative heat sources to avoid this from happening.
Why Do Turtles Need a Heat Lamp?
Turtles need a heat lamp since they are cold-blooded animals. They can’t regulate their own body temperature. Heat lamps will help their metabolism and have a strong immune system. If they don’t get enough heat and light, they can’t survive for a long time since it’s essential for their survival.
They also require the UVB rays that are being emitted from the heat lamp. It helps them to produce vitamin D3 to synthesize calcium. Without it, they are prone to shell rot and other diseases. If the turtle doesn’t have a heat source to increase their body temperature, they will develop respiratory issues.
When turtles bask, it means that they are trying to dry their bodies and be warm. The basking area should be available for them on the turtle tank. It’s also where you can place the heat lamp to help them increase their temperature. That will help their metabolism to absorb the nutrients from the food they eat.
Turtles need a heat lamp, especially in captivity. They don’t have access to the sun like in the wild. You have to provide this so they can survive in captivity. They need heat to regulate their body temperature. The heat lamp will also help turtles to avoid infections and fungus.
How Do I Keep My Turtle Warm?
When turtles are in the wild, they keep themselves warm from sunlight. It also provides them with the vitamins they need from the UV rays it emits. That’s why you have to make sure to provide them with a similar environment in captivity. If you don’t have a heat lamp, there are other ways to provide heat for your turtle.
However, it may be cheaper to get a heat lamp for your turtle. But if it’s not available at the pet shop nearby, don’t worry. You can still keep your turtle warm in different ways. Although these methods may sound new to you, it’s time to try them out.
1. Incandescent Light
This type of light bulb will help turtles to increase their temperature. It’s best for breeding turtles. Turtles will also receive UVB rays from this light. It helps them with the production of vitamin D3. This will also provide them with a regular day and night cycle. Its ability to provide heat and UVB light is best for basking.
It can be installed on the ceiling of the enclosure. This can provide heat all over the turtle tank. Incandescent light can provide plenty of heat for turtles. It also emits UV lights which is also essential to keep turtles healthy. This is a good alternative to heat lamps.
2. Automatic Day-Night Simulator
It’s a smart device that will be able to replicate sunrise and sunset in the turtle tank. This device will automatically turn the lights on and off while it controls the temperature of the tank. The device can simulate the natural habitat of turtles. It’s expensive, it’s a good investment for turtle keepers.
The automatic day-night simulator can also produce UV lights. However, this light is harmful to the human eye. Make sure to avoid looking at it directly since it can cause blindness. Place the device where others can’t look at the UV light directly. Keep the children away from the device.
3. Ceramic Heat Plates
It’s an excellent heater for turtles at night. The ceramic heat plates do not emit visible light. If you use it during the day, you can mix it with a UVB fluorescent tube for the turtles to have their light. Before the installation, burn it for a few hours to avoid the burnt smell.
The heated area should be the size of a turtle’s shell as they only emit heat into a small region and are suitable for little turtles. The ceramic heat emitters are not ideal for larger turtles because they can cause spot burns on their shells when placed too close.
4. Radiant Heat Panels
It works like ceramic heat plates but it can provide heat for a large area. They are panel-shaped and can be attached to the ceiling of the turtle tank. It provides overhead heating for the enclosure. There are different sizes to choose from depending on the area that needs heating.
Radiant heat panels are best for vivariums and heated houses. You should install them with a thermostat. It’s more economical than ceramic heaters. This can heat a much larger area with the same cost in the electricity. If you have a large turtle tank, this is the best choice.
5. Thermos Tubes
Another device that can provide heat in the turtle tank is the thermos tubes. They are cylindrical in shape and rated at 60 watts. You can choose from a different variety of lengths between a foot to six feet long. For small turtle tanks, 600mm and 900mm are recommended.
If you have a larger turtle tank, 1.5m to very 2m are advisable. The thermos tubes are versatile. It’s also reliable as a background heating for turtle tanks. This is even better than a regular heat lamp. Make sure to choose the best heating source for your turtle tank.
How Do I Keep My Tortoise Warm Without a Lamp?
Tortoise can’t survive without a source of heat for a long time. It may only take a few weeks for them to survive without a heat lamp on the vivarium. Heat is essential to their metabolic process. It helps them digest their food to get the nutrients they need to survive.
Heat lamps are popular for turtle keepers since they’re more economical. It also encourages the tortoise to bask under them. They simulate the heat of the sun when basking in the wild. It helps the tortoise to stay warm and dry which is necessary to avoid illnesses.
But how do you keep a tortoise warm without a heat lamp? There are different ways to find a different heat source for them. Exposing them to sunlight is the easiest way to keep them warm and healthy. But you can’t always be available for the tortoise’s daily sun exposure. The best thing to do is find an alternative.
1. Ceramic Heat Plates
It’s a good alternative for heat lamps for tortoises. Ceramic heat plates can be screwed to the same socket where the heat bulb goes. You can easily switch on this type of heating source for tortoise. They can provide enough heat and are a good alternative for heat lamps.
2. Heat Mats
Heat mats emit a gentle amount of heat and you can place them on the floor of the enclosure. Although it can only be an additional heating source. It can’t be a full substitute for the heat light since it does not provide heat. That’s not enough heating and lighting for the tortoise.
UV Light for Tortoise
Tortoises also need UV light as turtles do. It’s essential for them as well but some heat lamps don’t have it. UV bulbs are different since they emit UV lights. They give off a dull blue color while the heat lamp gives a sunny glow. Don’t confuse these two since they are not the same.
Without UV lights, tortoises will become unhealthy. They need it all year round to help them survive. It helps the growth and development of their shells and bones. It will make the tortoise sick without the UV lights on their enclosure. This is essential for their survival, same with turtles.
UV bulbs need to be replaced every six months. It loses its ability to emit UV lights after some time. Although it’s not an immediate threat for tortoises, lack of UV light is bad for them over time. In the wild, they have plenty of heat and UV lights from the sun. They need that more when they are in captivity.
How Long Should a Heat and UV Lamps Be On for Tortoise?
If you want to keep your tortoise indoors, you have to provide it with a similar habitat. It has to simulate their environment in the wild as much as possible. When it comes to the lighting, they need to have a sunrise and sunset on their enclosure to stay happy.
Even if you have an automatic device to dimmer lights, it can’t replicate the rise and fall of the sun. That also includes the temperature and UV. But you can provide your tortoise with what it needs to survive. Use a UVB strip light for better UV exposure.
Make sure to have a covered space for the tortoise to hide from the heat if it’s too much for them. It will provide them options to stay or back out from the UV or heat if they want to. It’s similar to the wild where they can retreat under a rock.
Have a correct lighting setup for your tortoise to get the UV light it needs. Provide them a space where they can expose themselves to the UV they need. It’s how they can process vitamin D3 for them to stay healthy. While the hiding spot is for them to avoid getting dehydrated.
FAQs
1. Can I Put My Turtle in Warm Water?
Yes, you can put your turtle in warm water if needed. It’s a good alternative if you don’t have a heat lamp. Although it takes more work than just providing a heat lamp for your turtle. It will keep it warm if you add warm water to the turtle tank.
This is a temporary fix if you don’t have the heat lamp yet. It has to be done every day to make sure the turtle stays warm. Make sure that the water is warm and not steaming. Check it first before adding it to the turtle tank to avoid accidents.
You can also use a thermometer to monitor the water temperature on the turtle tank. That way, you will know when you need to add more warm water. Doing this can also keep the water in the tank clean. But it will be easier if you have a heat lamp installed.
2. How Long Does a Tortoise Need a Heat Lamp?
As long as your tortoise is indoors, you have to provide an artificial heat source. They also need to have a UV lamp to help them stay healthy. Heat and UV lamps should be part of their enclosure setup. Whether you’re keeping an adult tortoise or a juvenile, they need them both.
Generally, the heat and UV lamps must be on between 8 to 10 hours a day. Indoor tortoises don’t have access to the sun. That’s why they need to be under the heat and UV lamps when necessary. For tortoises that live outdoors, they still need a heat source especially when it’s cold.
3. Why Do Turtles Need a Heat Lamp?
Turtles need to have a heat source since they are cold-blooded. They can’t regulate their body heat without it. Although the recommendations can fix the heating issue, it’s better to get a heat lamp. They need to have this to survive in captivity. It can provide the heat they get from the sun.
Heat lamps will aid to speed up their metabolism. The heat will help them to maintain a strong immune system. It’s one of the reasons why they go basking. It can also provide them with the UVB rays they need.
Vitamin D3 is essential for turtles to process calcium to have a strong shell and bones.
Conclusion
Turtles are easy to care for as long as you provide them the essentials, they should survive. If you feed them well and keep them warm, they can live for a long time. Now that you know other ways to keep your turtle warm, you don’t have to worry about its survival anymore. Just make sure to provide what they need and your turtle companion will stay healthy.