[angelina200018]

please only serious answers from experienced owners. I have my turtle in a large tank...he has a dock to rest on with a water heater, strong filtration system, uv lighting, and a spot heat lamp to bask.. At night I turn off the uv (duh obviously) but I am beginning to wonder if I can leave on his spot light or not... His shell is beautiful and healthy but would he benefit from having the basking lamp on all the time?second part of the question...how Do you really look to see how old a turtle is using their shell? or is that just a myth?

[Rachelle B]

If you'd like to keep a lamp on at night, I would recommend one of the nightime uv lamps. Leaving a white light on all day will mess up it's "internal clock" which could affect its sleeping and eating schedules. They do sell bulbs that are made for nightime. They still provide heat and uv light, but don not mess with the internal clock.As for the age thing, I've heard you can estimate by how deep the grooves are, but I'm not sure if it's correct or not.

[Brian S]

i wouldnt recomand it because i heard it affects thier sleeping...looks like ur turtle is in good hands =]

[Han Solo]

It shouldn't hurt to leave the light on all the time, but it isn't really neccesary. I have often heard that each ring on a turtles scale represents one year, but I have never actually read it anywere, so I am not possative if it is correct or not.

[Male0138]

Just turn the lamp off at night, turtles in general will sleep when they want. My red eared sleeps during the day, at night sometimes, whenever he feels the need. Shell is a myth. Age is generally distinguishable by color of them as a whole (and the red markings).

[mysticdreamer]

hi therebest to leave both light off ... they don't need light or basking area at night temps normally drop at night everywhere...even in the desert..... and u should do so as well in captivity....for more info.. on RES turtles .. come visit our temp website under all others section..about the second part it is a myth

[Madkins007]

Red-ear Sliders are used to nighttime temperature drops, so turn off the spot light as long as the water temps are right.Shell rings are not a reliable indicator of age... but a turtle with more rings would be older than one with fewer rings from the same habitat. The problem is that you will rarely know how many rings they will develop in a year.

[Adam R]

i own a res and a painted turtle. i have a uv for both and a heat lamp the heat lamp is on a timer set for about 12 hours. that's all they need. the uv should only be upto about 14 hours. night time bulbs are not needed but can be used to help regulate water temp. as for the shell beauty that is from the uv not the heat lamp. so it wouldn't do anygood what hinder the turtle's sleep patterns.as for the turtle rings. it is a myth. completely. they are turtles not trees i have a 9 month old taht is 5 inches long RES and he has several rings. also color isn't a definate because he has always been a little dark and wasn't bright green like some of the pictures that you may see or yours may be. but it is untrue. rings tell absolutely nothing.