Do Turtles Need Light at Night?
Turtles are diurnal animals, meaning that they sleep during the day and stay awake at night. This is a natural pattern for the animal and should be replicated in your turtle tank to ensure that the animals maintain their health and well being.
Yes, Turtles Can See in the Dark
As you may know, humans are nocturnal, which means that we need light to see. This is because our eyes adjust to the darkness and then we can make out certain shapes and objects. In turn, this helps us to navigate in the dark.
Like humans, a turtle’s eyes also enlarge in the dark to receive more light and they can adjust to the environment much better than if they were completely blind. This is because the oblique muscles in their eyes help to adjust their eye position with their head, and this can give them a good night vision.
In addition, the visual receptors in their retina come to life as they are exposed to less light and these receptors can make them more sensitive to the darkness than when they are in bright light. They can then locate food and move about more easily in the dark than they would otherwise have been able to.
Interestingly, this is a bit more than humans can do, but it’s still not as strong as it is for dogs or cats, who have better night vision. In fact, if you take a picture of a turtle in the dark with a flash on it and then look at the pictures, you can clearly tell that it doesn’t have a strong night vision as dogs or cats do.
This is because the rod cells in their retinas are a little more than human eyes, so it allows them to adapt to dark and light better than humans do. This allows them to get better night vision over time, if they spend enough time in the dark.
However, it’s still not as good as the vision we have in the daylight, so it’s important that you keep your turtle out of the dark for a sufficient amount of time each day. It’s also a good idea to use night lights for your turtle, so they can see more clearly in the dark.
What Are the Different Types of Light?
The two main types of lights you will need for your turtle are a UVB light and a heat lamp. They both provide the rays that your turtle needs to be healthy and happy.
With the UVB lights, it is very important to make sure that you replace the bulb regularly as they lose their effectiveness over time. You should change them every 6 months or so to keep your turtle as healthy as possible.
It is also a good idea to use an appropriately-sized UVB lamp. Some of the compact ones have been known to generate too much UVB and even irritate the eyes of some turtles, so be sure to check the bulb size and its distance from the turtle before buying it.
