Do Turtles Need a Heat Lamp?

Unless you're a pure lover of NatGeo Wild, there's a huge probability you might know next to nothing about the care for Turtles. In this article, I'm going to be answering the question: Do Turtles Need a Heat Lamp?

Turtles are fascinating creatures belonging to the reptile family. Their distinct hard–shell makes them unique from other reptiles. Being reptiles means they are cold–blooded animals. They are regarded as cold–blooded because they depend heavily on their external environment to regulate their internal body temperature. In other words, they adapt to the temperature around them. Turtles are naturally slow animals.

Now, like other reptiles, Turtles require heat too to survive. In the wild, they spend the day basking in the sun. Mainly freshwater and small terrestrial species are kept as pets in homes. When kept in your home, it is expected that you maintain or mimic their natural habitat conditions as much as you can. This is where the heat lamp is of crucial importance.

The heat lamp provides a warm environment for the Turtle's survival. The heat lamp act as a substitute for the natural sunlight gotten directly when in their natural habitat. Heat is naturally needed to enable them to survive and function normally. It plays a major role in warding off diseases and strengthening their immunity. Just like food plays an important role in growth and development in humans, likewise the importance of heat in turtles. Being cold–blooded animals, they are not capable of generating their heat. So the heat lamp comes in handy in maintaining and regulating their body temperature.

Research has shown that if a turtle falls sick, an increase in temperature could contribute to its speedy recovery. Turtles can live without heat for a long time. Even years. Most especially the fully grown adult ones. But it isn't advisable for their health condition. In addition, heat is especially significant in the growth of baby turtles. As they grow, they require heat to digest food quickly and process nutrients inside the body. Thereby, avoiding malnourishment. Lack of heat could also make them prone to respiratory infections.

How long Should the Heat Lamp be on?

The sun is up 12 hours a day. It's recommended that you mimic their natural habitat condition. You could leave it on within the range of 13 to 15 hours a day. The heat lamp doesn't need to be on the whole day. However, at night, the heat lamp isn't needed. Since the goal is to create an environment similar to your turtle species' natural habitat condition, they do not require being active or energetic at night. So the lights are better off and your Turtle would be fine. In addition, during the winter period, the heat lamp could be left on a little longer.

Since the importance of heat lamp in these cold–blooded animals' habitat have been established, you should also take into consideration the type of heat lamps you buy. It varies among turtles. Likewise, the amount of heat needed. When selecting a heat lamp, you might want to take note of the Power options. Excess heat also isn't recommended for their health. Try regulating the heat according to the specie of your turtle.