Hello, I have been keeping and breeding ackies since 1991/2(eggs in 91, hatched in 92) I have produce and raised many many generations. Our results for growth, reproduction and longevity is amoung the best. Yet, we have never used UV, other then what comes with incandesent and halogen bulbs from the store.
About dusting, that is also misunderstood. If you raise monitors of mice, there is absolutely no need to dust with calicum. If you raise them on crickets, there "is" a absolute need to dust with both vitamins and calicum. What that means is, its merely a lack of calicum in crickets. Because crickets are not a good sole food item, if used, you need to suppliment.
We even had to suppliment a diet of crickets, when we raised the monitors outside in the best UV source on earth.
So no, using UV bulbs in not needed, but again, its only slightly harmful. If the monitors cannot get away from the lite, they can get cataracts. We have had that happen outside, then we covered half the cages and the problem went away. I have heard of that inside, but because we never had a need to use UV bulbs, I have not experienced it.
My major concern with folks using UV bulbs is, they are under a false sense of security. Its calicum in the diet thats important, not the UV that is suppose to be important.
On a side note, I have kept a few monitors for several years now, without any lites and they do not have a problem. (you know, like you would a kingsnake) Some may think that cruel, but, the monitors are doing absolutely better then they were.
Good luck, and listen to the monitors, FR
