Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:08 pm
The mercury warning is because in many parts of the US (possibly world) it is illegal to dispose of those bulbs in the standard trash. You are supposed to recycle them, rather, so the mercury can't leak out when they break. Check with your local trash disposal to find out how they handle them.
13W means it has less power than a 26W. The 26W is typically needed to be 8-12 inches from the basking area, so you could move it closer, maybe 6-8 inches, but keep an eye on, well, your turtle's eyes to make sure they don't become swollen.
You can use a standard fixture for the bulb, like a clamp lamp or a box fixture. Just make sure it's rated for the bulb.
JAX
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Baby Boy - January 9th, 2011! (3 months old)
1 RES - 7" long - Umi (3.5 years old)
1 black lab/hound mix - Josie (1.5 year old)
2 cats - Mysti and Molly (6.5 years old)