A have a slight problem with some of your statements. Mostly how they are stated. Mostly likely not with what you believe.



You said,

This forum is LOADED with threads debating this issue. Personally, I don't use UVB; not for my monitors or bearded dragons. However, I don't mean to try to encourage anyone to not use UVB as it can cover a multitude of sins (make up for some poor husbandry techniques).



The only FACT that I know of concerning the need for UVB with most reptiles is: There simply is not any solid scientific proof, evidence, pro or con.



In the first paragraph you said UV bulbs can cover a multitude of sins. UV bulbs do not cover anything, they simply mask the symtoms and allow other poor husbandry issues to finish off the reptiles.



In your second paragraph you stated that there is no solid scientific evidence. How wrong is that. If one is a believer of science, then the thousands of individuals and multitude of generations of many species of reptiles, RAISED and bred for decades WITHOUT UV BULBS, is scientific as it gets. And is proof beyond a shadow of a doubt.



The problem becomes not about science. Because SCIENCE never states it has to be written in a scientific journal. Science never states that is has to be written in a hobby mag or on the internet. Science is a way of thinking and backed by methods and results, which has indeed proved without question that UV bulbs are not needed. Science is the explaination of results.



There is no question that UV bulbs are not needed, the continued repeated results clearly show that. What is a mystery is, why hasn't some scientists investigated why its not needed. You know, How all these generations upon generations of monitors and other reptiles succeeded so well without it. It appears this is where science falls flat on its face. Oh wait, I apologise, its not science that falls flat, its those folks that believe they are science. Science is not a person its a method. It appears reptile scientists are not using actual scientific methods and approaches.



To hit that a little harder, to be scientific, a author or researcher, must investigate both sides of a story, not just one that he believes in.



In a very simple use of scientific principle, if you can have great success with UV bulbs and without UV bulbs, then basic scientific principle dictates its not the UV part of the bulb. Hence you should look elsewhere for your answer.



The real problem is not about reptiles or bulbs, its more about basic problem solving. Many of these keepers do not have a clue how to solve a problem. They simply want to read something on a label that states it will solve a problem or prevent a problem. It appears they do not want to understand the problem or have the problem be their fault. AFter all, we keepers are suppose to be the smart ones.



In most cases, UV bulbs are what is called a bandaid cure. That is, they really do not cure anything, but it makes you feel better, because you made an effort.



This continued discussion clearly shows there is a great need for better erasers. The old poor information and current advertisements that make such claims, should be erased.



I believe most advertisements state, the use of this UV bulb AND proper husbandry will result in success. Clearly those adds could have also stated, the use of proper husbandry will result in success. In this case, the cutting edge and the most consistant success with varanids has been without the use of UV bulbs. So I ask, what does science have to do with it? Cheers

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