UV Lighting education

[zukomonitor]

Originally Posted by jrf23

Thanks for the link! Really useful information!

Glad to help

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by Razaiel

Yes - that's me (not that I'd call myself experienced lol). Since keeping Sav I've been on a lot of monitor specific forums and read a lot of stuff - and keep on reading the stuff regarding the UV and some of it sounds scary enough to put me off. i.e. possible eye damage that could only (apparently) have been caused by using uvb and also with keepers possibly over-supplementing by using them along with too much D3. resulting in overdosing. I've just been over to varanus.nl (specialist monitor forum) and used the search function to look up again over old posts on what they were saying on it over there and it all seems quite conflicting and confusing.

Many long term keepers that have been around a while (like FR of Goanna Ranch) have never touched a uvb in their monitors' lives - and they keep on breeding and on KS).

If it were just the fact of adding it if it did no harm but may do some good I would get it like a shot, but I'm very wary of doing something that wouldn't be good.

Incidentally, just went on the uv site linked and they were also mentioning possible eye damage.

So yeah, it seems to be one big question mark in a way and really frustrating not being entirely sure what to do for the best.

Presumably, some of the Yank and Aussie sites like goanna ranch can keep their breeding stock in large outside pens? If so, they wouldn't need UV light would they?
All animals need UV rays on their skin in order to absorb D3 and make calcium and strong bones. All diurnal animals that is, including humans.
The problem with the internet is that you get an overload of info, then start reading things into stuff and if you don't fully understand in the first place, you can get confused. I will shortly be getting my first lizard and will be providing UV lighting just as I do for my tortoise when he can't go outside.My lizard (chamaleon) will also have access to natural UV as I plan on building a portable viv' to hang in the tree by the back door on hot days. All animals need it and to not provide it just because you read something somewhere without even knowing the full story, like if the animals have access to outside, that's wrong.

[jrf23]

And it was a really big help too! I'm looking at setting up a cham viv and never considered what bad UV could do! Most people say just stick a UV tube on top of the flexi, but having read this, that seems like a supremely bad idea! Even being 8 inches away from the source could give 3 times the recommended amount of UV exposure in a normal tube! I think now, and after the recommendation of cham_keeper I'm going to go with a powersun bulb to provide a UVB source and general heat in the enlosure (yemen is a hot dry place after all). It'll be easy to adjust one of these bulbs and make sure that it is 18" above the highest accessible part of the viv to provide the right level of UVB compared to a tube!

Thanks for the link! I hope other people find it as useful as I did! Good job getting it sticky!

[It's corny but..]

I'll contionue to use UV as i'm not convinced that they are more harm than good for my sav - i live in a dull place and his viv is located in less than sunny place, with a ceramic for heat. I would never try the Compacts, and i'm even more concerned that the Osram Vitalux is being sold online with little information - it produces more UV than is ever seen in nature!!!!

[jrf23]

Originally Posted by fenwoman

All animals need UV rays on their skin in order to absorb D3 and make calcium and strong bones. All diurnal animals that is, including humans.

I completely agree, it's just getting the right levels which is the trouble!

[Johelian]

Originally Posted by It's corny but..

I would never try the Compacts, and i'm even more concerned that the Osram Vitalux is being sold online with little information - it produces more UV than is ever seen in nature!!!!

Its a similar situation with the Megarays and other MVB bulbs (particularly the "zoo-bulbs) - hanging them at the wrong distance can result in far higher levels of UVB exposure that would be encountered on earth. These are best used in enormous enclosures; I believe ReptileUV wont even supply their highest-output bulbs unless you can prove that they will be used in massive zoo-like enclosures.

[DeanThorpe]

Crikey....you post a link to uvguide and ppl start talking about eye damage...
the bad tubes were/are the exo terra 10...which is why ive been advising against it for the last heck knows how many months since the reports were published...including exactly why...nothing to do with levels of uv but the dodgy wavelength the exo terra tens delivered it at.

Compacts were a problem, this time zoomed, although apparently sorted..i believe it was down to the wrong distance from rep being printed on the box rather than an actual fault with the compacts.

I cant believe someone has removed thier uv from thier boscs viv cos of this thread.

ANYWAYZ...

[baden187]

Well i dont know if this will be any use to anyone but I am friends with Frances Baines who is one of the ppl behind UV Guide.co.uk on this Tuesday am going to her house for an indepth disscussion regarding the testing results do's and dont's so to speak.....

Most reptile users will have UV lighting in thier Vivs etc.. with really no idea what they are really putting in there or what is the best brand to use, distances etc....

If there are any Questions you would like me to forward on to Frances plz PM I cant promise anything but she is very nice lady and wants to help where she can she will always put the reptile first as you can understand she is very busy thats why i will forward questions to her myself hopefully get the answers on Tuesday (Yes I will be taking notes )

HTH

Baden

[DeanThorpe]

Can you have her confirm that the issues with eye problems from uv sources are due to incorect use [ie too close to the animal or animals eyes/line of sight ]or wavelength rather than, for instance them just being too strong?

[baden187]

Will do Dean but as asked can you plz put it in a PM as I dont want to miss any questions wanting to be asked which will happen if i got to scroll the thread in PM's it be much easier for me

Cheers M8