A red ear must be able to dry its shell occasionally to prevent fungus and bacterial attacks. This is one reason they bask in the wild. The basking area in an aquarium can be a large branch that extends out of the water or a pile of smooth rocks large enough to afford a high and dry area. Floating plastic islands and lily pads are available but they may not support the turtle sufficiently to allow it to get completely out of the water and dry out. A solid basking area is preferred. If kept in an aquarium (not recommended), a light with sufficient UV energy, such as a Vita-Lite, is essential. The light should not pass through intervening glass as the glass will remove most of the beneficial UV. The light should be within 6 inches of the basking area. An incandescent light in a clamp on reflector can be used to provide extra heat at the basking site and will be appreciated by the turtle. This extra heat source has the added benefit of providing a temperature gradient that allows the turtle to choose its preferred body temperature. For optimum health, red ears need a range of temperatures from 75 degrees F to 95 degrees F.