Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you notice a difference in color (of the animal) and appetite without UVB light as opposed to using UVB light? I am one of those who were "brain washed" into thinking that UVB is essential. I just bought an Ornate Uro. from Regal Reptiles today and I'm going to try using the T-Rex suppliments instead of the UVB. Robyn, You posted a couple of days back about the Ornates and I had to go to Regal to check them out. They are pretty nice, it would have been a sin to leave there without one, so I did what any good goober would do, I bought one! I'll post a picture when I get a chance.

Rick

Just my own observations here:
I had my red phase Saharans under regular heat floods and a fluorescent UVB bulb about 18" away (which equals almost no UVB reaching the lizards). Recently I broke the fluorescent hood, so I tried a mercury vapor bulb as a replacement. Within three days, both of them were far more vibrant than they were under weak UVB.

I don't know enough about supplementation to keep them without any UVB. Mine never see actual sunlight and the MVB brought out their color quite a bit. The reds were redder and the blacks were blacker on both the male and female. I'm a believer.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I don't think I'd ever raise a reptile without it, because if one did get metabolic bone disease I'd be kicking my ass for not using it. I have just been wondering how essential it is. I have a reptisun bulb in my bearded dragon's tank and he usually only gets within 12-18" of it. I was thinking about getting a powersun bulb, but one of the downsides to the tank setup I got is that the heat lamp doesn't have a ceramic fixture (the heat lamp is incorporated into the tank, since you can't use normal clamp lamps or anything). I think I might move his basking spot up higher and closer to the UV tube, but I have seen so many breeders with great animals that don't use any UV, so I figure as long as he gets his food dusted he'll be fine. But I do change my mind a lot so I might end up rearranging his basking spot anyways.

On the other hand, I have a mali uro that's recovering from serious neglect from it's past owner, and I have her under a powersun bulb. The thing I don't like about these are that it's hard to look into the tank without catching a glimpse of the light and getting blinded (not really, but it does hurt your eyes). But I think it's necessary for at least a few monthes because she went without UV or supplements for 2 years, and I don't think she had anything but a hot rock for part of that time.

I would like to see some studies though on UVB and reptiles. I know that the place where I got my beardie hardly ever uses UVB lights. I guess it's a good thing that he doesn't preach what he practices though. Some people probably wouldn't bother to supplement the food.

-ryan

When I said "I don't think I'd ever raise a reptile without it", that excludes nocturnal reptiles.

-ryan

Ryan-
UV Lighting-- I currently use flourecents, however they have surely lost most of thier value by now. just old. I wanted mercury vapor bulbs-- $80x5=$400!! (pet store t-rex bulbs) No can do . Wife might shoot me & lizards. But I have found some bulbs at less than 12 the price. take a look at these
http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigappleherp.storefront/EN/product/261800
Yes I could do it as a suppliment, but it's worth it to watch them shine -- with taking some of the worry ( too much?/ too little?/ did i forget?) out of the equation.
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JDBlackdog
2.1 MALI
1.1 YELLOW GEYRI
1.2 SOMOLIAN
1.1 ORNATE
0.1 ROTTWEILER

we have never used UVB stuff, so i wouldn't be able to say anything about color differences...

healthwise, which is where my main concern lies, i think good supplementation is more effective, and certainly more affordable.

the anecdotal evidence from a large number of lizard breeders that DON'T use full spectrum lighting speaks for itself, i think. i don't think UVB bulbs will do any harm, it is just not necessary for an experienced keeper. certainly newbies that don't use ANYTHING can have disastrous results, but that is more ignorance than UVB pro or con : )

if i wanted to pursue color potential, i would probably setup some type of natural sun exposure time, perhaps we will play with that after winter : )

the one thing that does bother me about the UVB stuff is the cost. the bulbs are only effective for a short period, and they cost quite a bit. i can buy nearly 20 of my favorite 45 or 90 watt halogen flood bulbs for the cost of a single "power" type UVB bulb, and i get terrific basking temps of 130-160 using those bulbs, at a MUCH lower wattage as well...
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Rick,
I have only owned Uros for 4 months now, so the info I give you will be based on my experiences with Bearded Dragons and Vield Chams. I have never used UVB producing bulbs, but my animals eat, grow, and reproduce fine. I have friends that are large BD producers(3-4 k/year). They used UVB on a few breeders and have come to the conclusion that any color differences are due to the spectrum of the light and not due to the UVB. In other words, it is an illusion. The T-rex supps. contain plant extracts that Allen Repashy and Phillipe de vosjoli believe may enhance colors in reptiles.(from giantgeckos.com)
The fact is dietary supplementation of d3 works. It is then your choice if you want to add a UVB bulb to your set-up. I have always chosen not too.
good luck
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

I have always used UVB, both fluorescent and MVB, along with supplementing with D3. But I was shocked at the difference natural sunshine makes!! My Mali's color was so much lighter and more intense! Beside their behavior! I now also have Saharan's, and can't wait for Summer to see how much more colorful they get outside!
Nothing beats Natural!
Beth
Arizona

Thanks for the input. I agree, they are very expensive for the short life span. I am going to try just using the supliments instead but I have a MV just incase I (myself) experience UVB withdrawl.

Rick

hi;
i use full spectrum flouresents that i found at home depot. here's the ratings:
light output 2200 lumens
color rendering 92
color temperature 5000k
48" 40 watt "natural color" made by philips. i use 1 double shop light
fixture on my 48"x24"x18" cages. i think i payed about $7.00 for the fixture and about $6.50per bulb that's a lot less than
a mecury vapor bulb which i've tryed but
had little luck with(only lasted about 2
months before burning out). plus i also use miner-all(I) and vit-all(1 feeding a week). This works great for me. I would
talk to some of the big uromastyx breeders
and see what they use or check out their
care sheets. i don't want to risk the health of my animals and $20.00 for the
fixture and bulbs isn't alot of money.
i also use incandesent spot lamps for heat
as well. if you find something that works for you stick with it. this is just my opinion and what works for me. have a good one.

Full spectrum does not mean it produces UVB light. In fact I can assure you if you purchased the bulb from Home Depot, it produces little to no UVB. This is ok though, If you read my other posts you will see that I don't use any "special" lighting. You supplement well it seems.
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

like I said, UVB producing bulbs are mainly an insurance policy for me. Supplementation of all food items every other day with mineral indoor supplement is the current schedule I'm on (should I adjust it at all?).

But, like azteclizard said, a lot of people get special lights to make their reptiles' colors better. All the light is doing to make the colors better is exposing the reptile to a different part of the light spectrum. It's not like it's physically changing the reptile's colors. The key to better colors and more activity in desert reptiles is having BRIGHT lights. I'm still searching for the right heat lamp (anyone got suggestions?), because I like the light intensity of the mercury vapor bulbs bot not the price. In my bearded's tank I have a zoomed basking spot, and I think I'm going to try a halogen light next time because it's kind of dim.

That's probably a good explanation to having reptiles outdoors. They get more colorful because they're under the most full spectrum light they can get, and they get riled up easier because of the bright light, and probably instincts imbedded in their brains (have to be alert when they're in the wild).

I still am sticking by the UVB tubes. Even with having to replace them and the heat bulbs twice a year (heat bulbs might last longer) it still usually comes out cheaper than most mercury vapor bulbs (except the one's at bigapppleherp.com). Especially when you know where to get reptisun 5.0 bulbs for only around $16-20, and when you find the right basking bulb at your local hardware store.

-ryan