UVA / UVB Lights on turtle tanks...

Question
Tracie,

I maintain fresh water fish tanks for a private school and have a good understanding of how to keep them.  Because of this however they have also asked me to take care of their 3 turtles that I know nothing about.  

I have done a pretty good job so far, but in reading up on how to properly care for them I came across an article that said I should provide them with UVA / UVB light.  The turtles are kept inside in a 20 gallon long tank with proper filtration and all, but only have an incandescent light which also provides them with some heat (it is on a timer and stays on about 10 hours a day).  There is a very small amount of 'outside' light that comes in via two glass doors, but their tank is a good 50 feet from that door.  

My question is, do I need to worry about getting them UVA/B light?  I don't want their shells to weaken or have some other issues by not having it, as the children are quite fond of them!  :)   

Thanks!

John

Answer
Hello John,

I am glad to hear you are concerned about soft shell.
Yes, turtles do need UVB lighting so their shells can remain strong.
They are not able to process calcium without UVB or D3 without UVB.  
The glass is filtering out all of the usable UVB for them.
I recommend the the Zoomed Reptisun 10 tube bulb or the Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb.  They are both good!
Do you have pictures of them?

Tracie