BT skinks and UVB?

[Robby]

Please, someone with knowledge of Blue-Tongued Skinks, tell me if UVB is necessary for keeping these animals healthy.

For example, have you ever known of any instances where a Blue-Tongued Skink became ill or died from lack of UVB?

Alternately, have you seen any that thrived as a result of UVB?

The Internet is full of conflicting information on this subject. I can't tell who's had direct experience with the lizards, and who's repeating something they've heard.

Thanks for helping!!

Rob

[Tim Winegard]

You would think they would need it because of the fact that they are diurnal and live somewhere like the Bearded Dragons.
I would say yes but Im no expert

[dlucka]

Hi Robby

I never worked with Blue-tongueed, but i can tell you where they came. They live in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and some Indonasian islands (1 species)Most live in semideserts, bush steppes and open forests.
They should be given reguar ultraviolet radiation, calcium and vitamin supplement.

This is from The atlas of reptiles and amphibians for the terrarium.
It's a verry good referance book.
If you want to know more just ask :-)

[Youkai]

Hey there,
I've seen first hand what good quality UVB can do for an animal.
At work once there was a mix up with fixtres, resulting in this skink not getting enough UVB from the light he was under. We couldn't figure out why he was suddenly eating less, lethargic, etc. I feared he was sick - then checked he bulb. Within a couple days of being put under the right light again, he was thriving.

[Robby]

I appreciate your replies.

The reputable reference source is convincing, as well as the first-hand experience.

So, I bought a UVB fixture for my BTS yesterday. He's been basking in its light. Good stuff. On a superficial note, he also looks shinier and more colorful than before.

Now, if he would only stop hissing at me....

[DBHerper]

Well I have worked with a lot of Tiliqua ( Blue Tongues ) and I can say that this is a very controversal topic. In my experience any diurnal animal should have regular exposure to UVB radiation, although I have not seen a dramatic change in health when not kept under it. They tend to be a little less active and babies grow a little slower. I have never seen a Blue Tongue develop any disorders because of not being kept under it. I say they are easy to get and use so why not, just remember there is such a thing as too much soo don't over do it. I suggest something like a ReptiSun 5.0, don't go higher than this because it could cause radiation poisoning.

[Linds]

I've worked with blue tongues a little, but this applies to all dirunal species........

Any diurnal animal should be provided with UV lighting. However, UVB lighting can be avoided in captivity, and growth defects can be easily avoided with proper d3 supplementation. The commercially available UVB bulbs are so weak that they still require d3 supplementation. IMO they are just a waste of money. I have noticed differences in activity with using just a regular spot for basking, and UVA spot, though they can still be kept fine with regular incandescent bulbs - I still like to use a UVA basking spot with animals that have higher UV requirements, as I find it keeps their activity levels optimum. The only worthwhile UVB comes from the sun, not a bulb. Hope this helped :)

[Jeff_Favelle]

That's a real tough call Robby. There are breeders in the States that have $10,000 monitors and they don't give them any special lighting and they get 10 clutches of eggs from them per year! Some of the big agamid breeders also don't use UV or UVB lighting. However, some do. It hasn't really been all that researched. I would say that unless they are albino, it certainly won't hurt them, but I won't go out on a limb and say that they benefit from it either. The hobby is simply too young to have done any useful tests to date.

Good luck man! :D

[DBHerper]

Just to clear things up about the number of species or subspecies living in Indonesia, there are more than one. Tiliqua Scincoides Chimaerea, Tiliqua Scincoides Ssp, Tiliqua Gigas Gigas, and Tiliqua Gigas Evanesence are the for different subspecies that inhabit Indonesia.

[Alexahnder]

I don't use any lights for mine, but I let them roam outside alot.