UV Light for Reptiles and Frogs
Dr Amisha Patel
Sugarloaf Animal Hospital
Today's Talk
1) Why is UV light important?
2) How to provide UV light
3) Where to get reliable information
4) Summary
1) Why is UV Light Important?
What is UV Light?
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Ultraviolet light (UV) -is waves of energy
particles
Wavelengths of UV light are too short for us to
see.
UV light is confusing – what are the different
types?!
Important: UV -A and UV -B
UV
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UV -A: responsible for normal behaviours
such as feeding, basking, mating etc
UV -B: synthesis of Vitamin D which helps to
process calcium
(UV -C: harmful)
Why is UV Important?
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General wellbeing and normal behaviour
Feeding, mating, daily routines, growth,
immune function
Important for muscles, blood, bones and
every other process in the body!
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Vitamin D conversion allows proper absorption
and metabolism of calcium
How Does is Work?
UV light
→ skin
→ vitamin D synthesis
→ increased calcium absorption from
diet
Complex interplay between calcium, Vitamin D,
various organs and hormones!
And if we don't get it right?
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(Assuming that nutrition and temperature are perfect....)
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Too little AND too much UV?
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Brittle bones or softening of bones → fractures
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Swollen limbs, soft swollen jaws
Constipation
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Stop eating and emaciation
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Partial paralysis
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Tremors/twitching
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Turtles – soft shells
Burns, blindness, cancer, infections
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Generalisations
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Snakes: require UV-B but not high
requirements (natural diet of whole prey has
high levels of calcium and vitamin D)
Amphibians also do not seem to require UV-B
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Anecdotal evidence of improvement from
exposure
Diamond pythons, lizards and turtles require
UV-B
ALL SPECIES REQUIRE UV-A
2) How to Provide UV Light
Source
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1) Sunlight
2) Fluorescent light bulbs
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Species dependent – 1-2 hours per day
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Sunlight
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Best form
Don't expose during hottest parts of day
Ensure they have a cool, shady area to
retreat to
Need natural unfiltered sunlight
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
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Heat source should be separate from UV light
source, but at the same end of the enclosure
Glass and plastic filter out 95% UV-B rays
Bulb must be kept inside enclosure!
Bulbs should be replaced every 6 months
Wide mesh screens over bulbs to prevent
burns (aluminium fly screens filter 30%)
http://www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/reptilesAsPets/enclosure/lightGuard/
Distance
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Further distance = less UV
Basking spot of 10-12 inches/25-30cm below
bulb (in enclosure) is ideal
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Not to the side – glare
Gradient – so can shelter from UV-B
Bulb Recommendations
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Fluorescent tube that runs 2/3 of the length of
enclosure
Effective at 30cm distance
Well known brands e.g. Zoo-med, Exo-Terra
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NOT one hit wonders
Not compact bulbs
5% or 5.0
NOT metal halide or mercury
NEC T-10 Blacklights
Where to Purchase
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Pet stores
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Internet
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Krempins Aquarium and Garden Centre
Valley Reptile Supplies
Pet Barn
The Hydro Shop -Brock
Herp Shop
Sugarloaf Animal Hospital
Confusions
1) Ratings and numbers
5% or 5.0 = the amount of UV-B emitted out of the
total amount of energy- prefer less than 5.0
CRI = equivalent to light spectrum of sun at noon
2) Incandescent = heat, visible light and UV-A
(frosted, reflector floods, spots, halogen)
3) Fluorescent = visible light, UV-A and UV-B
(FS-fluorescent sun lamp, black-light (BL)
fluorescent tubes)
Confusions continued
3) Basking/spot lights = provide heat not UV
4) Full spectrum = wide spectrum = not UV-B
5) Compact twisted bulbs – UV-B disperses
quickly
6) Blacklight Blue - eye damage
3) Where to Get Reliable
Information
Sources
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Internet:
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Veterinarians
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http://www.uvguide.co.uk
http://www.anapsid.org
http://www.reptileuv.com/
That keep up to date!
Clubs/societies
Warning
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Don't get lost in all of the details!!!!
4) Summary
Summary
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Why is UV light important?
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How do we provide UV light?
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UV- A and B Affects every aspect of health and
wellbeing
Painful and life-threatening consequences
Unfiltered sunlight or fluorescent bulbs
Where to get reliable information?
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Internet, vets, societies