Advice for Day and Night Bulbs

[TRD]

Well... hugely may be a bit overstated since people have been keeping snakes without UV for decades or more, reaching good age and under good health, apparently without adverse effects... I would be interested in any scientific document describing the benefits of providing UV while the animal itself doesn't require it for metabolic processes. I know only of adding light UV to plant lighting which makes the leaves more appealing green, but doesn't do anything else for the plant. Human skin also tans due to UV. Obviously it would also cause a reaction to reptile skin since too much UVB is harmful and needs to be blocked (ie- pigment increases). I'm more interested in the benefits to the immune system of the reptile, or in this case, a snake.

Personally I provide full spectrum light, around 6500 K, and extends somewhat in the UVA range. But I don't provide any UVB to my snakes.

[dannybgoode]

Originally Posted by TRD

Well... hugely may be a bit overstated since people have been keeping snakes without UV for decades or more, reaching good age and under good health, apparently without adverse effects... I would be interested in any scientific document describing the benefits of providing UV while the animal itself doesn't require it for metabolic processes. I know only of adding light UV to plant lighting which makes the leaves more appealing green, but doesn't do anything else for the plant. Human skin also tans due to UV. Obviously it would also cause a reaction to reptile skin since too much UVB is harmful and needs to be blocked (ie- pigment increases). I'm more interested in the benefits to the immune system of the reptile, or in this case, a snake.

Personally I provide full spectrum light, around 6500 K, and extends somewhat in the UVA range. But I don't provide any UVB to my snakes.

Absolutely essential no, hugely beneficial yes. If you are on facebook I can direct you to a group where there are a whole range of scientific (as in proper peer reviewed science) papers researching the matter.

I have linked to some on here and also if you go to the UV Lighting for Reptiles: How much UVB do reptiles need? site and have a mooch around there are a ton of papers on there as well.

Snakes do use it to metabolise D3 much like we do. Uv is essential for humans too and indeed most terrestrial animals.

As to skin damage - the amount produced by reptile lighting is way way below what they'd be exposed to in the wild and of absolutely no concern.