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Why snakes need no UV ?

a_chen_tw Mar 14, 2004 03:06 AM

As title . Most of snakes keeping in captive do not need extra UV units . I don't why . Unlike lizards or tortoises , if you didn't offered snakes any UV units , they will still be very heath in captive . So .. why ?

Thanks ,

Replies (3)

Tigergenesis Mar 14, 2004 05:44 AM

I found this:

Snakes, by virtue of the fact that they have evolved to eat whole prey, are pretty easy to feed and get virtually all their calcium and vitamin D needs through their diet.

Snakes derive their vitamin D3 from the livers of the animals they eat (mice, rats, etc.).

This is because snakes consume whole prey as the diet, and the prey is "nutritionally balanced" for snakes. However, providing UV light would not be harmful and may be beneficial
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snakeguy88 Mar 14, 2004 09:57 AM

It could especially helpful for snakes that are small, dirunal insectivores, such as rough green snakes. I am not aware of any studies being done, but I speculate (as other have stated in the past) that it very well could be beneficial for them.
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meretseger Mar 14, 2004 12:24 PM

I always heard that they don't need it because they went through a completely fossorial (burrowing) stage in their evolution, so they found ways around having to use UV to make vitamins. Much like nocturnal geckos did, I guess. Snakes that eat slugs and insects would otherwise theoretically need UV as much as lizards with the same diet do.
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