Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First off let me say that it's been a while Switching jobs, training, etc. has taken up a LOT of time lately. I haven't dropped by in about 2 weeks. There was a lot of reading to do. Which sparked my question... There was a post made on here some time ago where someone mentioned keeping about 1/2 of their snakes outside to see if the uvb gave them better coloration. I could care less about the colors but I am curious to see what effect the added D3 would have on the corns. I don't think one person on this forum keeps a UVB light on their corn. Does anyone know of any studies that show either positive or negative results from the added D3? Has anyone given non feeders a little light? I am very curious as to the results....
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"I'll be whatever I wanna do!"

I keep an ultra violet light on my corn during the day. I have it on a timer, but It's mostly because my house doesn't have much light as it is. The windows are tinted glass to begin with so the sunlight coming through is filtered at best. I give him the uvb so that he'll at least get a pattern of day and night. The bulb burns on 12, off 12. I stopped burning it for a short time and noticed that he didn't come out cruisin nearly as often, he stayed hidden away and seemed to just be stuck in a rut. We all know when our animals are acting a lil off, he was off. I bought him a new bulb and a timer for it, after that, he's not had any problems. He started coming out as soon as the bulb was turned out for the night, he'd explore his enclosure and drink regularly again. Without the light, I had to actually place him in his dish to get him to drink. It was as if he couldn't find it, or just didn't want to.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

the light cycle of when you have the lights on should be enough
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

the problem with that is that I don't turn my light on in my bedroom too often. Yes he is kept in my bedroom and he's exhibited better behavior and health overall with a regular light schedule than without one.

no doubt about it, whether your herp requires uvb or not,it will just do better with it.The closer you mimic the natural enviroment the more natural the animals behavior will be. I recently bought a uvb light for my leopard gecko just to see what changes it would bring. I definitly noticed some change in behavior. He ate more vigirously,colors looked slightly brighter and he was just plain more lively. So though its not nessecary to keep uvb for something like a leopard gecko(which is nocturnal like most geckos) i did notice a positive diffrence. when summer time comes along i plan on builiding an outdoor cage for one of my leos as a little expierement and taking note of his behavior compared to my other leo. and dont worry, the night temps during summer around here dont drop below 65.

coloration, if thats a word,is determined by genetics. I don't believe UVB affects them one way or the other. They could be acclimated to the light they get as part of there everyday routine and taking it away could cause a deviation from the routine but not because it is UVB. I think you would get the same results just using any type of light. If you take it away then they would acclimate to having only the ambient light of the room as well and still behave normally. This has been shown more so with hognose snakes in captivity. My hatchling was kept in a glass tank for the first 6 months and ate very well. When he got bigger he was moved to a rack system without as much ambient light and went off feed for 4 weeks. I switched him back to a glass tank and he started eating again. I did not use any UVB in either case. I was also told by a former currator at the Living Museum here that they observed the same thing with their group western hognose snakes as well. It is believed they went threw a period of "depression" since they are strictly a diurnal species to begin with.
Hope this helps!!

because I've also used a regular light, the only difference is that the uvb didn't get the metal nearly as hot as the regular bulb did, so i spend the lil extra cash for it to get a cooler bulb.

Phenotype = genotype environment.

Coloration is a phenotype and thus the above formula is applicable. What is key is determining the important environmental variables which impact your desired phenotypic results. Genetics is the easy part.

Apparently kingsnake's forum system doesn't display pluses...

Phenotype = genotype PLUS environment

One of the main differences between corn snakes and lizards like bearded dragons, iguanas and anoles (as well as turtles) is that corn snakes have been raised and bred in captivity for several generations without the use of UV light. An iguana would die before becoming an adult if were not exposed to UVB.

The fact that there are plenty of disfigured lizards and turtles, due to lack of exposure to UVB, is a pretty strong testament to their need for it. The fact that snakes can grow to adulthood and then reproduce for several generations with no special lighting illustrates their independence of UVB.

Could UVB serve as an appetite stimulant? Maybe. That might make for a good experiment.

Tim

Third Eye

I understand full well that the corns don't "need" the supplemented D3 to live a long and healthy life. My question was leaning more towards the "Could it make a significant contribution" spectrum. It would be interesting to see if this could help with appetite, digestion, and general well being. I don't NEED coffee but it definately makes a difference
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"I'll be whatever I wanna do!"

Well in my new brooksi king hatchlings I got from Tom Stevens I've been keeping them in an aquarium together (in seperate sterlite tubs) and because the heating pad does'nt produce the heat needed I had to add a uvb basking light and they are out nearly 3 hours a day exploring (alot for a usually secretive snake) and they like crazy also I'm wondering how they will react to the rack system I'll be building for them with less light. (I know its not corn snakes but its the same topic of uvb)

I have'nt seen any change in coloration from when I got them when I added the light though. Although its much easier to see them when I get them out.

Is the bulb you are using shaped like a light bulb or is it more like a halogen bulb? The kinds you see in schools, stores, etc. If it is shaped more like a light bulb then it is giving off small amounts of UVA but little if any UVB.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"I'll be whatever I wanna do!"

Snakes don't need UV exposure to meet their vitamin D requirements.

They derive this vitamin along with abundant calcium from ingesting whole prey.

Most snakes are nocturnal; it wouldn't make much sense for them to be dependent on a vitamin which requires sun exposure for one part of its synthesis.