The necessity of a basking light in making a common snapping turtles enclosure is usually ignored. Most people believe that snappers don't bask and as a rule, leave water only to lay eggs. As a result of these believes, the keepers don't supply them with a basking light.From my experience though, I would recommend the purchase of a full spectrum basking spot light, especially for juvenile snappers. All of my baby snapping turtles basked now and then, and some of them, taking a nap on a piece of driftwood under the hot rays of the spot light ( espesially in the winter ) became a daily routine.
The light should be suspended about 10 to 12 inches ( 30 cm ) above an easily accessible basking spot made up as a combination of rocks and large piece of driftwood.
The life and the strengh of a spot light depands on the maker, but usually any kind of full spectrum light can not supply the full spectrum longer than 6 months.