UV for Bredl's

pdomensis · 01-10-13, 12:47 PM

I realize there's some debate on whether UV is beneficial to snakes, and quite a few people land on the side of "if it might be good for the snake, then why not do it?" I can understand that logic, but in my case, I've got a young bredl's python who only ventures out of his hide when all the lights are out. I wish he were more active and visible during the day (do captive bredl's become more diurnal, or stop using the hide as they get older?). Anyway, is there any reason to use UV if he's covered and has no access to the rays?

shaunyboy · 01-10-13, 12:56 PM

once your bredl gets a bit of size about him and feels more secure,he should come out more

do you have branches and fake plants in his tank ?

these help bulk the tank out and make the snake feel more secure

i use 2.0 UVB Natural Sunlight Bulbs with my Diamonds...

in the past ive used 2.0 uvb natural sunlight fluerescent " tubes " with bredl,i thought it improoved their colours..

i did an experiment,i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITH 2.0 natural sunlight uvb.....and i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITHOUT uvb...

imo the pair with 2.0 uvb had more enhanced looking colors

personally i would NOT use uvb above 2.0 for any type of carpet

uvb,the snake needs to be able to bask in the light,to get benifit from it

cheers shaun

pdomensis · 01-10-13, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the reply and info. He's got 2 hides, 2 branches and a rock in a 10 gal. I've steered away from plants since he grabs onto everything when I try to get him out, so it's a little spartan right now. Next fall I plan to develop his large cage and deck it out a little more, and I plan to put a UV bank in that cage. I'll try some fake plants in his current home and see if he comes out some more.

marvelfreak · 01-10-13, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i did an experiment,i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITH 2.0 natural sunlight uvb.....and i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITHOUT uvb...

imo the pair with 2.0 uvb had more enhanced looking colors

cheers shaun

I noticed when my Bredli and BRB were upstairs and got more natural sun light their color was lighter and brighter.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-10-13, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

I noticed when my Bredli and BRB were upstairs and got more natural sun light their color was lighter and brighter.

Through a window? Windows are designed to block out almost all UVB light, so it hardly would have given them any. Unless you had the windows open, of course.

~Maggot

red ink · 01-10-13, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

once your bredl gets a bit of size about him and feels more secure,he should come out more

do you have branches and fake plants in his tank ?

these help bulk the tank out and make the snake feel more secure

i use 2.0 UVB Natural Sunlight Bulbs with my Diamonds...

in the past ive used 2.0 uvb natural sunlight fluerescent " tubes " with bredl,i thought it improoved their colours..

i did an experiment,i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITH 2.0 natural sunlight uvb.....and i put a pair of hatchling bredl in a tank WITHOUT uvb...

imo the pair with 2.0 uvb had more enhanced looking colors

personally i would NOT use uvb above 2.0 for any type of carpet

uvb,the snake needs to be able to bask in the light,to get benifit from it

cheers shaun

I believe the Alice Springs Desert Park noticed the same thing from wild caught bredlis they had there...

They has them for years and were very bright and red when they first got them... as time passed they started to go dark and dull to a maroon/re-browm colour. During renovations they were given a new display enclosure, this time with metal-hilide lighting that emitted quantities of UV. They found that over a period of time the specimens started to get brightter again... not to the extent to what they were when they first came in but a definite difference.

Donnie · 01-11-13, 09:51 AM

Would you say this is just applicable to bredli's or do you think any carpet would benefit from uvb? I am setting a few vivs up at the moment and have been toying with the idea of putting in uvb lights but not sure if it would be to any benefit.

shaunyboy · 01-11-13, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red ink

I believe the Alice Springs Desert Park noticed the same thing from wild caught bredlis they had there...

They has them for years and were very bright and red when they first got them... as time passed they started to go dark and dull to a maroon/re-browm colour. During renovations they were given a new display enclosure, this time with metal-hilide lighting that emitted quantities of UV. They found that over a period of time the specimens started to get brightter again... not to the extent to what they were when they first came in but a definite difference.

i waited untuil the hatchlings were around 5 months old,before i started my experiment...

after the 3rd shed with uvb,imo they started to look brighter,richer in colour,imo after their 5th shed,it really showed their colours..

i may try the same thing with the copper jag soon,as she has similar colours to a bredl

to the op
thanks for putting this thread up,as it's got me thinking about uvb...

its positive effects,with the copper jag and my black & white diamond jungle

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 01-11-13, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

I noticed when my Bredli and BRB were upstairs and got more natural sun light their color was lighter and brighter.

i love how natural sunlight makes Carpet colours enhance,so they look their very best...

thats why i love outside shots so much,gives you a good look at the snake at its best

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 01-11-13, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

Would you say this is just applicable to bredli's or do you think any carpet would benefit from uvb? I am setting a few vivs up at the moment and have been toying with the idea of putting in uvb lights but not sure if it would be to any benefit.

i have only experimented with bredl mate

you would have to try it to see how it works with other carpets...

i used one of the T5 small fluerescent 2.0 uvb Tubes,with a shop bought silver reflector,that the tuibe clips into,it directs the light downwards into the tank

you can see one at the top at the back of the tank in the picture below

heres the tank completely set up

to the right of the tube is a basking bulb

a lot of people don't like those little dial guages you see in the pic's,i use them for glancing at temps as i walk past my tanks,i use a Raytek ST80 Pro lazer temp gun,to do my proper temp checks

imo those wee guages are great for glancing at,to get an idea of whats going on in the tank
cheers shaun

pdomensis · 01-14-13, 12:07 PM

Where does one get a light cage like you have?

jarich · 01-14-13, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

a lot of people don't like those little dial guages you see in the pic's,i use them for glancing at temps as i walk past my tanks,i use a Raytek ST80 Pro lazer temp gun,to do my proper temp checks

imo those wee guages are great for glancing at,to get an idea of whats going on in the tank
cheers shaun

Couldnt agree more Shaun.

marvelfreak · 01-15-13, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Through a window? Windows are designed to block out almost all UVB light, so it hardly would have given them any. Unless you had the windows open, of course.

~Maggot

My windows can open at the top or bottom. So i use to open them at the top for a couple hours a day they would get sunlight shining into their cages.

shaunyboy · 01-16-13, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdomensis

Where does one get a light cage like you have?

in the UK we can get them from reptile shops and e bay pal

cheers shaun