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Related Articles & Questions
- Home & Habitat
Reptile UVB Light Guide: What Every Pet Parent Needs to Know
Learn the importance of UVB light for your reptiles and the right reptile lights for your pet’s habitat.
Updated on July 17th, 2026
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- Food & Nutrition
My 5-month-old red-eared slider has a soft shell. Should I worry?
Sam may not be getting enough calcium and UVB light exposure. This can lead to a soft shell. Make sure he has at least 30-60 minutes of exposure to full, unfiltered sunlight each day or provide a UVB light source in his tank. It should be no more than 12-16 inches from the surface of the basking area depending on the type of bulb. It should not be blocked by glass, plexiglass or fine mesh. The ZooMed ReptiSun bulb is an excellent light source. Feed a commercial pelleted diet and supplement with fresh greens and prey. Dust with a calcium supplement and a multivitamin. Leave a cuttlebone in the tank as a source of calcium that can be munched on when needed. It would appear there may be a vitamin A deficiency based on the swollen eyes in the image posted. Feed red or orange vegetables and dark, leafy greens as these contain higher levels of vitamin A. ZooMed Repti Turtle Eye Drops should also help. You can find it online or in most pet stores. The link below will provide more information regarding the care and husbandry of sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
Why is my turtle's shell weak and wrinkled with skin issues?
It would appear this turtle, not a tortoise, is suffering nutritional deficiency. Reptiles require UVB lighting, either natural unfiltered sunlight or artificially produced by an appropriate light source, in a addition to an appropriate diet with adequate calcium and vitamin supplementation. All these things will aid in the development and maintenance of a health shell. The deficiency may be reversible, however the shell may be malformed for years to come if it survives. Ideally, this turtle should be examined by a veterinarian. A specialist can be consulted via phone or online to obtain proper treatment information. In general, turtles need clean water, a heat lamp for basking, a UVA/UVB light source and a dry area for basking. Most are omnivores and will eat small prey (feeder fish, worms, crickets), fresh greens and a commercial pelleted diet. As stated above, they also require calcium and vitamin supplementation. You can find general care information here: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/care.htm
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Vet Q & A
My tortoise has a dry shell. Can I use olive or avocado oil?
It would be more practical to provide regular baths or soaks in warm water or a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Adequate hydration, UVB lighting, a balanced diet and vitamin/mineral supplementation will all promote shell health as well as overall health.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Home & Habitat
Is my pet a turtle or tortoise? Where should it live: land or water?
What you have appears to be an aquatic/semi-aquatic species of turtle. Basic requirements include a tank of at least 10 gallons initially, a water heater, a water filter, a basking area out of the water, a heat lamp and a UVB light source.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
Why is my turtle's shell peeling and has white spots? Is she healthy?
Turtles need more than a heat lamp for good health. Basic requirements include: clean water, a water heater, UVB light, basking platform, balanced diet and vitamins and minerals. Sunlight is good, however window panes and tank glass block most of the beneficial UVA/UVB rays that turtles need to synthesize Vitamin D3 and to properly utilize calcium. A good UVB bulb should be placed above the tank no more than 12-14 inches away from the basking area. It should not be blocked by glass, Plexiglass or fine mesh. The peeling and white spots may be due to poor water quality, poor diet, lack of UVB lighting or a combination of the three. Keep water clean via filtration and weekly partial water changes. Scoop out uneaten food daily. The filter should be rated for at least twice the volume of the tank since turtles can be very messy. You may be able to get Shelby to eat greens if you offer them about an hour or two after the heat lamp comes on in the morning. This will give her time to warm up. A cold reptile will not eat. Dice the greens and vegetables into manageable pieces. they should be dusted several times weekly with a calcium supplement and a multivitamin. Once she eats the greens, you can offer pellets and protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, crickets, raw beef heart, etc.). The spots can be gently scrubbed daily using a soft bristled brush and diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens). Allow for a 1-2 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning.If it doesn't improve or if Shelby becomes lethargic or stops eating, then have her examined by a your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Since most aquatic turtles are red eared sliders or yellow bellied sliders, I have included a link regarding care and keeping below. If you have a different species, post a new question with the species or request a consultation and we can discuss the case in greater detail. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
