I don't think it's essential, i've never had any problems anyway... Does make some look really good though, esp. boas look excellent under UV...
Ben

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My Reps!1.1.0Corns1.1Royals1.0JCP1.1Beardies0.1Salmon Common Boa0.0.1 B&W Tegu0.1 Normal phase Common Boa
Dream list!:
Asian Water Monitor, Burm, Retic, Copperhead!

Only 2% though.

2% is a hell of a lot more than zero percent, though. Especially when you consider that chameleons and other reptiles that definitely need UV only need it at about 8-10%.

Or to look at it the other way around, our snakes could benefit from as little as 2% UV and yet we don't give it to them.

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I keep Green Tree Pythons, Emerald Tree Boas, Black-Head Pythons, Woma Pythons, Irian Jaya Pythons, Royal Pythons, Leopard Geckos and dart frogs.

Yes you are right there chondro. Not many of us do give snakes 2% uv when they could benefit from them. Chameleons how ever dont need it any higher than 5%. By the way black headed pythons are my fave snake of all time. You are luky to have them. I know some 1 who breeds them, but i will never be able to aford 1.

I always kept my panthers and yemens under 10% UV bulbs, but if you're saying they don't need more than 5% that just further highlights just how much "only 2%" UV actually is.

Black-heads are great snakes to own. I'll be breeding mine next year.

cheers

Stuart

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I keep Green Tree Pythons, Emerald Tree Boas, Black-Head Pythons, Woma Pythons, Irian Jaya Pythons, Royal Pythons, Leopard Geckos and dart frogs.

Good luck with your breeding program mate. All the best.

I've just set up a 3 foot viv for Scarlett (the baby Suriname) and installed a 5% UVB light (recommended by reptile shop) so as to be better able to give her a close approximation of summer and winter.

Can I ask why only 2% is advised and the source of the info?

Thanks,

Kind Regards

Tara xxx

p.s. Excellent article Stuart.

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i use UV in snake vivs, i use 2%, i allows me to see the snakes properly, and it has no harmful effects on them, they are all doing well, and look superb under the light.

also my room is dark so i wanted some light to see them, and it also gives them a proper photoperiod

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Tom


My Reptiles0.1 Carolina Corn 0.1 Snow Corn 0.1 Sunglow Motley1.0 Sinaloan Milk1.1 Trinket Snake1.0 Rankins Dragon0.1 Crested Gecko1.1 Hainan Cave Geckos1.2 Hognose Snakes0.1 Spotted Python

i only use 2% uv. they do look great under it!

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0.1 burmese python
1.0 albino burmese python
1.0 bci
0.1 brazillian rainbow boa

0.1 gorgeous girlfreind

www.cancreptiles.weebly.com

the only snakes i use it with is my rough greens (as someone said they need the d3) but all my others havn't got any and they have been just fine

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1.1.0 royal python's
1.1.0 rough green's
my corns
0.1.0 blood red het hypo
1.0.0 anna type A
0.1.0 amel
others
0.0.1 giant african praying mantis
1.1.0 imperial scorpion's