Most reptiles need UV light to survive in captivity. I wanted to know if people mostly use UVA or UVB lighting as UVB is harmful to some reptiles and humans.
Also, has anyone had a UV bulb shatter in the tank and get glass all over the floor?

UVB is the useful bit that helps them synthesis vitamin D3.

Yes too much UVB can be harmful, but reptiles apparently can see or otherwise sense UVB levels and move out of the light when levels are too high or when they have had enough, this is why it's important to provide a UV gradient the same as a heat gradient, and places for them to hide completely to allow them to self regulate.

The sun is a very powerful source of UVB providing far higher levels than most of the bulbs we use, and reptiles have evolved over millions of years to cope with it.

They also have bio-feedback mechanisms that allow them to break any excess D3 down to prevent self-poisoning of the metabolism.

__________________
"When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it."

http://www.herorat.org Go on sponsor a rat today and possibly save a life

That's useful to know. I never thought about it that way.
Thanks

Apparently the UVA causes reptiles to become more active and show colouration better.

Although i'd suggest having UVB as priority and then maybe adding a separate UVA bulb as extra if that was what you wanted.

I've just checked my UV tube, its an Exo-Terra Repti-Glo 10.0, the box says that it has 10% UVB and 33% UVA, does this mean that I should have another seperate UVB tube and the one I have is just making my BD active and colourful rather than doing any good health wise

__________________



Baby girl born 7-04-08
My Reptiles1.2 Royal Pythons 0.1 BCI
1.0 cornsnake
1.0.1 Bearded Dragons InvertsSAF L parahybanaAF G roseaAF A semanniP regalisH lividum3 B albopilosum slingsN coloratovilosumG aureostriataMaraca horridaWantedPython brongersmaiGTPDogStaff bitch Puppy

thats all you need 10% uvb which is the10.0 it just happens to also emmit uva

If you want more info on the benefits of UVA and UVB for reptiles, check out Reptile UV Info - The Reptile Ultraviolet, Heating and Product Evaluation Information Center and UV Guide UK - Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles - UVB reptile lighting on test , two excellent sources of information. The second one, UV Guide UK - Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles - UVB reptile lighting on test has some very good comparitive reports on UVB sources for reptiles and Reptile UV Info - The Reptile Ultraviolet, Heating and Product Evaluation Information Center has soome great pdf resources concerning UVB and reptiles including an interesting report on the benefits of UVB on the reptilian immune system.

__________________
"When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it."

http://www.herorat.org Go on sponsor a rat today and possibly save a life

Sorry if it wasn't clear, i just meant to buy your main UV source based on the UVB amount as it's important to get it right.

If you then want a higher amount of UVA then add a seperate high UVA bulb instead of using a single bulb with high UVA and unspecified UVB.

uva is white light... a normal lightbulb which you use all over the house gives off high UVA.
UVA promotes natural behaviour...basically bright light makes them feel active and happy... makes sense.
the tubes % are a bit naff and dont mean a lot to be honest... i mean if 10% is uvb and 33% is uva whats the other 57%?

__________________
Entire collection for sale
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...sale-pics.html
Please acknowledge.

erm....free care sheet with all buys? jk
erm... ill have a spliff with you if you give me moneies? layaway available? :P