Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i heard that uv lights were better for etbs. so since my other 25 watt heat light had died, i got a 13 watt uvb bulb. the temp is a little bit lower (80 degrees instead of 83 daytime) but he is used to lower temps (73-84 he seems to like but he doesent seem to like warmer than that). i was wondering if this is a good light for him or if i should switch back to a normal basking light. your advice is appreciated.

This is ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 UVB.

I´ve read about similar problems even with desert lizards such as Pogona vitticeps.

If you really want to put some UVB, use a 2.0 and for no more than 4 hours a day.
I´ve never read anything about UVB being useful for the health of snakes. ETBs dont even like a lot of light, they come from a very dense vegetation, where little sunlight penetrates the canopy.

I did hear about ETBs basking in the sun when kept outdoors, but I dont think they do it for the UVB.

>>This is ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 UVB.

No, it is a picture of a sick tree boa. How someone came to the conclusion the condition was caused by a light bulb would be a terrific scientific paper if it existed. Unfortunately, it is not. These snakes evolved under the sun. They are green to blend in with foliage so that means they out in the sun along with the foliage.

>>
>>I´ve read about similar problems even with desert lizards such as Pogona vitticeps.

Pure hogwash.

The UVB lamps including 10.0 have less UVB than the sun, so a bearded dragon (which evolved under sunlight) cannot be damaged by a 10.0

FWIW the 2.0 you recommend has little to no usable UVB. Instead it is made to have a beautifully sunlike color. Not to be used in situations where UVB is needed. Perhaps on ETB's!?!

As for the original question, should an ETB have UVB lamps?

Perhaps. If you try it, provide shade as well. The animal will then utilize the UVB as needed, if needed. Will hide in shade when/if not.

Best wishes.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

Less UVB than sun doesnt mean harmless. Many species live under conditions where they dont have a lot of direct sunlight.

This picture I provided was taken by a vet friend of mine. The cage had no heating devices.

The cases of Bearded Dragons I heard and read about where eye problems, rather than skin burns.

About UVB in ETBs, I dont believe any snake needs it. Most people keep/breed their ETBs with no UV.

>>Less UVB than sun doesn't mean harmless.

And nothing you have provided proves it is harmful.

> Many species live under conditions where they don't have a lot of direct sunlight.

But definitely NOT ETB's. They are green to look like foliage so predators do not see them. That means they are lit by sunlight same as the leaves. Perhaps not direct sunlight but definitely sunlight hits their bodies.

>>
>>This picture I provided was taken by a vet friend of mine. The cage had no heating devices.
>>

First of all are we blaming the broken tooth on UVB lamps? Did you miss that? That animals is screwed, but nothing in that image says "sunburn".

Does not look like a heat problem. Looks like an infection. If the vet thinks that condition was definitely caused by UVB, then he has jumped a wild leap. He has no way to control for other causative factors including poor care at the wholesaler. He can only make a guess based on knowledge provided, and those are wrong more than right. The owner of that snake presented data based upon his opinion. Thus the vet came to the same conclusion. This idea was not made in a vacuum.

>>The cases of Bearded Dragons I heard and read about where eye
>> problems, rather than skin burns.

How was this conclusion reached in the information you provide. Can I read it?

I have animals coming into my store with 10-12 and even 15 years under zoomed 5.0 first and now 10.0 without problems. Because there is nothing bad to report nothing is reported. SO, when a problem does happen a conclusion is made (right or wrong) and then it is gospel Forget all the many thousands of reptile years bd's have been under these required lights. (a reptile years is one animal for one year) That was never considered when this conclusion was made. These lights are required by the species and those that say otherwise have found a substitute like real sunlight.

I kept lizards for years before UVB lamps were available. None reproduced, they lived, but no breeding. When UVB lamps became available, every one of my females laid eggs and I got babies. From ten species. Many females wintered for three to five years without reproducing, then all of a sudden they all reproduced. The only change? UVB lamps. They continue to breed year after year under UVB lamps. The concept of telling people they are dangerous based upon something you "read and heard about" is bad, very bad. We sell thousands of these lamps a year and see no eye problems from UVB, so even if that one individual you report had a problem it is not descriptive of the species.

>>
>>
>>About UVB in ETBs, I dont believe any snake needs it. Most
people keep/breed their ETBs with no UV.

Some snakes like Masticophis species thrive under UVB. I posted about that over in that forum.

Sure we know ETB's don't REQUIRE it. We have good evidence that they live and reproduce without it. But perhaps they'd be hardier and less "touchy" if they had it. Perhaps they'd have more babies if they had it. UVB helps hormone systems work more efficiently with proper Vit D balance and a cascade that starts from there. There are human doctors reporting UVB is essential to preventing cancer in humans. Most melanoma is found first in places the sun never sees over 99% of the time (like the perineum). The lowest incidence of skin cancer in humans in Australia is amongst the lifeguard community and highest amongst office workers. (Lifeguarding is a career down there). Sunlight is important to humans.

Because of posts like yours nobody will consider trying. Sadly, because nobody is willing to try, we will never know if you are right or wrong.

I make no conclusions and present no opinions. Just pointing out there is more to learn. To close our minds is to stop learning.

You don't need to respond to this. Your opinionis very clear to all readers.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

Don't know about UV on snakes, but as far as beardies go...
My beardies are all under Mercury Vapor Bulbs. We're talking over 10x the UVB output of a reptisun 10.0 and still less than the sun. Yeah, no burns, no avoiding the UV. Active, healthy beardies.

The only way I could see a beardie getting a burn for any type of UVB light would be a Mercury Vapor Bulb (they produce considerable heat) that the animal was given access to.

The eye problem referred has been linked to coil/compact types of UVB bulb and largely because they are hints that these bulbs are also producing UVC rays. It's kera-junctivitis.

And I do sorta think that if the snake was uncomfortable under the UV provided, it would've moved.
-----
1.1.0 beardies
1.0.0 bloodred corn
0.1.0 striped anery corn
0.1.0 the cutest lil BRB ever- courtesy of Dave!
0.1.0 leopard gecko
0.1.0 golden gecko
0.2.0 mourning geckos
1.1.0 cats

>>And I do sorta think that if the snake was uncomfortable under the UV provided, it would've moved.

EXACTLY.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

>>The eye problem referred has been linked to coil/compact types of UVB bulb and largely because they are hints that these bulbs are also producing UVC rays. It's kera-junctivitis.

UVC is a sterilizing wavelength. Some lamps are made to produce UVC for bactericidal, viricidal and other *cidal properties. The telltale sign you have a UVC producing bulb is the OZONE produced by the UVC light. I sincerely doubt these CF UVB lamps make UVC. You'd smell ozone.

Plus the liability to the mfg so great, they will avoid at all cost. And I dont mean ZooMed or Trex. I mean the lamp factory(ies) they utilize.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

oh, another thing i forgot to add. the gtp that i had mentioned to someone that my friend had that randomly died after a year never had any uvb. he believes that the lack of uvb caused the snake to die. frankly i doubt this is true, but i would like to know anyway because if it isnt true then im putting a regular 25 watt zoo med basking lamp back on there cuz it gets tump up to 84 and the exo-terra uvb 2.0 13w only gets them up to 78-79 degrees, which is when the temp in the room is about 76, now it is generally colder and the warmest i can get it in there is 77 under the uvb bulb. should i just switch back to the other basking bulb i had on before?