2 turtle questions

Question
I have 2 unrelated questions.  First, I heard that one cannot fly with their turtle.  Is this true and why?

Second, I read in one of your other responses that UV light does not pass through glass and therefore I am confused.  I have a breeder tank with a very heavy light bar. To prevent it from accidently falling in I purchased the glass that fits the tank, of course not fully covering the top.  If the UV does not penetrate how would they be able to sell it for use on tanks?

Thanks.

Answer
1. Flying. I have flown with turtles that I had rigged up as 'carry-on' luggage- but that was before 9/11. Since then, the airlines make the rules and they don't have to make sense. Even back then, it was pretty much the gate worker's discretion as to whether it would work or not.

2. UV and glass. UV does not penetrate most glass or most plastic. Some materials are designed for UV- inclusing some greenhouse materials. Tank toppers are usually designed for fish, who do not need UV in the same way. In fact, many reptile toppers are just fish toppers with a new label. USUALLY the glass that IS UV transparent is labeled such.

You might want to rethink that topper. If there are enough gaps or holes, then enough UV might be getting through- but I would want as much UV getting in as I could arrange, at least for a couple hours a day.

When I use an aquarium, I usually build a box that fits the top of the tank and mount my lights inside the box, with a strong mesh between the hot lighting and the tank itself.