Can a uva lightbulb for turtle basking be used with a typical household lamp?

I don't know how fast red ear sliders grow, but i do know that you can melt a standard household lamp with almost any type of basking light. Reptile lamps are specifically designed to handle the high heat that basking bulbs put out, so they're a worthwhile investment to prevent fire, melting, and damage to both your stuff and your turtle. If you have to use a household lamp, make sure its metal and NEVER touch it while the light is one. Most lights should cool for at least half an hour before being handled, both because the heat could burn you and the lights are ridiculously fragile, especially when they're hot.