To UVB or Not

[Harley_Davidson]

In my hours of researching the various different reptiles I currently own, one thing I have always questioned is do you need UVB lighting? Now I know my beardie definitely does (and has) but what about other reptiles. So without turning this into a huge debate I would love to hear everyone's opinion on whether they provide UVB lighting for ALL their animals or only a select few?

 

[Ingo]

All terrestrial vertebrates -even nocturnal ones, even geckos- need UVB to produce vitamine D. Some need more, some need less, but all need a wavelength between 295 and 308 nm for conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Cheers

Ingo

 

[cricket4u]

From a psychological point of view, yes for all.

 

[Harley_Davidson]

From a psychological point of view, yes for all.

Can you extrapolate on that one? What do yo mean from a psychological point of view? And does this still apply if they are in a room with good indirect lighting?

 

[cricket4u]

Can you extrapolate on that one? What do yo mean from a psychological point of view? And does this still apply if they are in a room with good indirect lighting?

UV rays do not penetrate through glass. The real sun is preferred, but of course it's not possible for all. UV rays have been used to jumpstart a reptiles appetite. Not recommended for anyone to try without knowledge and caution (taking them outdoors). The sun is used for major depression disorder in humans and I believe it has the same affect in reptiles.

Edit: Correction made in my next post.

 

[Harley_Davidson]

UV rays do not penetrate through glass. The real sun is preferred, but of course it's not possible for all. UV rays have been used to jumpstart a reptiles appetite. Not recommended for anyone to try without knowledge and caution (taking them outdoors). The sun is used for major depression disorder in humans and I believe it has the same affect in reptiles.

Thank you! Yeah we won't be seeing the warmer temperatures until....ohhhhh July or August..... :crackup:

 

[multinut]

as a mere layman on this subject i have found that my geckos (phylurus platurus - leaf tails) like UV light - i have observed this at my mums where she has a whole colony of leaf tails that come out during the daytime and bask in the sunlight and also shed their skin on the brick walls during daylight hours

 

[ajb28221]

Easy to answer, do they get UV in their natural habitat?... yes!!

 

[agrivas91]

I mean if they are nocturnal species they really dont need it to survive, I do provide it to all my noctural geckos for the sake of giving them photoperiods.. Its all personal preference if its provided or not. Iven if they receive it in there natural habitat its minimal exposure.. ^

 

[miguel camacho!]

I wouldn't necessarily rule out the importance of at least low levels of UVB exposure for nocturnal animals. While I don't have any specific examples to offer without doing some information searching, I'd at least like to present the idea that just because a species is nocturnally active, it does not mean that it would never be exposed to or benefit from UVB exposure. Not all nocturnally active animals are completely shielded from exposure to light, and while the need for it might be minimal, it does not mean that the animal would not be able to behaviorally regulate exposure as needed.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

UV rays do not penetrate through glass. The real sun is preferred, but of course it's not possible for all. UV rays have been used to jumpstart a reptiles appetite. Not recommended for anyone to try without knowledge and caution (taking them outdoors). The sun is used for major depression disorder in humans and I believe it has the same affect in reptiles.

Of course UV rays can pass through glass! How do you think they pass through the glass in a bulb? :idea:

However, most windows have coatings that limit the amount of UV that is allowed to pass. Older, less efficient windows tend to allow more UV to pass where as newer more efficient windows tend to filter more UV. I don't own a UV meter, so I can't say exactly how much comes through my herp room windows. What I can say is that I don't use extra UV lighting beyond what enters my herp room during the day via windows and have managed for many years to successfully keep and breed many species. That's not to say that they might not benefit from more. There's still much research to be done in these areas. But I don't tend to have issues with MBD or with animals that seem depressed or lethargic in any way.

 

[cricket4u]

Of course UV rays can pass through glass! How do you think they pass through the glass in a bulb? :idea:

However, most windows have coatings that limit the amount of UV that is allowed to pass. Older, less efficient windows tend to allow more UV to pass where as newer more efficient windows tend to filter more UV. I don't own a UV meter, so I can't say exactly how much comes through my herp room windows. What I can say is that I don't use extra UV lighting beyond what enters my herp room during the day via windows and have managed for many years to successfully keep and breed many species. That's not to say that they might not benefit from more. There's still much research to be done in these areas. But I don't tend to have issues with MBD or with animals that seem depressed or lethargic in any way.

I think deep inside you know what I meant to say.:lol: Give me a break, this was back in April. I have learned since then to double check what I write. That is why I edit so often. Her question was in regards to UVB in which the required amount 290-320nm does not reach the reptile. I never said it was required to sustain life, instead I believe it's a benefit. However, I am glad you pointed this out so that I can clarify.

 

[multinut]

i always thought that without the sun no one would survive