Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, what is this about blacklights being bad for reptiles? Another thing that is sold in mass quantity at pet stores that is bad for my gecko?! I read nothing about these being bad in any care sheet, and the light I bought is clearly designed for reptiles to simulate natural night-time moonlight. But I do believe it is a black light. Please explain why black lights are bad, or give a reference, something, please, help me...to...understand.

Part2 - I read somewhere that a good hotspot temp is 88 degrees, then I read somewhere else that 90 is optimal. What temp would you all recommend (currently my leo's hot spot is about 86 degrees). So I was thinking of getting a 100 wat bulb instead of the 75 watt I have now. So blue or red huh? No black. hmmm

Brak

I've never bought one of those pet-black lights, but most black lights that are bulbs (not a flourescent tube) just have a painted outside. The light still comes out the same because it is blacklight that you're sending (the other waves are trapped by the paint), but in quantities that are emitted by any other regular bulb (very low). That is my understanding of it, and that's why those *should be safe* when there are others that might damage the eyes or skin
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