Are UV Lights OK for Red-Eared Sliders?

Reptiles, especially red-eared sliders, have rapidly increased in popularity as pets. Each reptile requires a unique combination of heat, lighting and cage ornaments, and it can be difficult for a novice reptile owner to know what their reptile needs to remain healthy. Online red-eared slider care guides often offer conflicting information about the unique needs of these animals, but red-eared sliders need UV lighting to remain healthy.

  1. Calcium and D3

    • Red-eared sliders need calcium in order to have healthy bones and shell growth. While it's easy to dust turtle food with calcium, many reptile owners are unaware that turtles also need D3 to metabolize calcium. D3 can only be obtained from UV rays. By providing turtles with artificial UV lighting or access to sunlight, turtle owners ensure that their turtles are able to properly metabolize calcium.

    UVA vs. UVB

    • UV light comes in two forms. UVA rays are emitted in small amounts. UVA rays have longer wavelengths than UVB rays and are given off in small amounts by almost all light sources. UVB rays, however, are the rays turtles need in order to metabolize calcium. Turtle owners who use artificial UVB lights should make sure the lights give off UVB rays. Most pet stores sell lights specifically designed for this purpose.

    Feeding Habits

    • UV light helps to regulate a turtle's circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are the sleep/awake and feeding cycles that every animal possesses. When turtles are exposed to UV light daily, they develop healthy eating habits and are less likely to succumb to disease. UV light can also help to expedite the healing process in sick red-eared sliders.

    Too Much UV

    • With increasing concerns about skin cancer and other health ailments caused by exposure to UV lights, it's understandable that turtle owners might worry about UV overexposure. Turtles are, however, much more likely to suffer from underexposure and there is no science indicating that overexposure to UV light is a problem for turtles in captivity. Turtles do, however, need a period of darkness each day, so it's a good idea to put UV lights on a timer to allow a turtle to have a natural light cycle each day.