I don't know what you may have heard, but UV lighting is absolutely essential to tegus (and humans!) and this is proven!



Humans and Tegus need certain amounts of UVA light and UVB light. UVC is the dangerous one. UVA and UVB are spectrums of light that we can't see, kind of like how we can't see microwaves or x-rays, but they exist. Anyways, UVA and UVB are most essential in tegus in allowing them to synthesize Vitamin D in their bodies. The UV is absorbed through shining on the skin.



I ran into a terrible problem with my tegu & lack of UV light. when I first brought home my 6 month old tegu, I provided him with all wonderful, appropriate bulbs, and a large hide space. My little tegu grew so fast and slept so much in his hide space in the dark that after only one month he had developed Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD refers to many bone diseases related to lack of calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D. Since we have had reptiles before and our tegu was a good eater, the only answer was that he did not synthesize vitamin D, which allows the calcium-phosphorus system to create bone & utilize calcium. My tegu was terribly sick-not eating, softened bones,not bearing weight on his front legs-and we felt like terrible negligent owners when, there was really nothing we could have done but not given him a hide box. Anyways, our tegu took 2 months to recover and now he is left with a crimped tail and scoliosis and his growth was very stunted, but is a great eater, very personable, and loves playing and being scratched. However, not a day goes by that I am not embarrassed and ashamed of what happened to him. I feel like some negligent owner who knows nothing of lizards even though I know its not true and that we gave him our best care & proper equipment from the start. Ok, sad story aside, MBD can come on very quickly even if your growing lizard is getting some but not enough UV light!



Humans and many other animals are positively effected by UV light in ways scientists are just beginning to uncover. For example, I live in New England, where it is often cloudy and the UV rays are obstructed, and me and many other people suffer from diagnosed (or not) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is like a combination of depression and human hibernation due to lack of UV light in the winter & rainy months. UV light triggers many chemical reactions that we don't understand yet.



Also, Snakes do not need UV but they have been shown to benefit from it for example, get well faster when they are sick if they have UV.



When you have an animal, make sure the UV lights are sufficiently close to the animal. i.e., if you have a very tall tank and your animal stays mostly on the bottom, perhaps put the UV lights inside the tank if it won't make it too hot. Also check for the intensity of bulb you need. strip lights come in 2.0 or 2%(for amphibians, arachnids, and snakes), 5.0/5% (for most lizards), 7.0 for iguanas, and 8.0/8% for desert lizards like bearded dragons. Make sure you have both UVA and UVB bulbs or a combo.



All in all, your best bet is to buy those expensive reptile lights and be SURE to replace them ANNUALLY! So make sure your reptiles (and you!) get enough UV. Good luck!
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Melissa and Corny

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