I think you need to find a new vet. Although UVB never hurts, and is said to aid in feeding response during winter food strikes, it has never been proven that nocturnal snakes benefit from the bulbs. Lets break this down in peices:



most pythons and boas tend to be nocturnal. They have pits in their faces for heat seeking, and generally poor eyesight.



When looking at their pupils, they are elongated, not round, for night time hunting. (This little bit of knowoledge also often proves handy when wondering if any other reptiles need artificial day light...roun pupils=diurnal, elongate=nocturnal). Nocturnal animals generally emerge at night for hunting/breeding activities, thus never really being exposed to very much sunlight.



The UVB vitamins that snakes require to absorb calcium comes from the mammilian prey's internals (generally the liver or spleen i believe). I have never seen a snake supplement.. This is why some coulbrids, like stubborn grey banded kings that only eat small lizards, become calcium deficient and require a supplement.



And i am sure you can talk to hundreds of snake breeders and enthusiasts alike that have NEVER used anything but a heat tape and a sweater box to heat and keep their ballies in.



This is my opionion and i have answered your question as best to my knowladge as i can. I have dealt with snakes all of my life, and have kept my own ballie healthy and happy for five years and counting. I hope this helps.

[ Show Entire Thread ]