Basking, Hot spots, Lighting
For extra swimming room you should get a floating
island for your turtle. You can purchase one at your local Petco. The floating island floats around at the top of the water similar too drifting wood, but turtles can get on and off of it easier. It also has two stairs on both sides for easier access for the turtles. It also has a string with a weight at the bottom to keep it from floating away from your basking light. Or if you use flourescent UV heat bulbs then you don't need the string. The floating island can comfortably hold 2 turtles but I've seen upto 4 turtles that were all over 4" on it. Turtles require a farly large amount of basking time under temp. of 85-95 degrees average, also depends on breed of turtle. So a hot spot is required. A hot spot is a spot above their walking/swimming surface, and has to be warmer than their normal areas. The heat of the hot spot should come from a UV bulb only, should give off some heat. DO NOT USE NORMAL BULBS ONLY UV. AND NEVER HAVE THE LIGHT CLOSE TO THE TURTLES THAN 4 INCH.
