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Question about UVB lighting?

sullman May 25, 2004 07:29 PM

Do King Snakes need UV lighting or anything? Just got one and this is something that I over looked. I am using a basking light for heating/light source. All the care guides I read never mentioned UV light so is this a must for king snakes or it doesn't matter? I know I looked up UV lighting with rat snakes and a lot of owners said that some people feel that uv lighting with rat snakes actually was bad for them and felt it lowered their life span. So whats the deal with king snakes?

Replies (3)

mariasman May 25, 2004 08:38 PM

n/p

kingaz May 25, 2004 11:27 PM

Kingsnakes do NOT require any type of basking light like tropical snakes do. I just let them have ambient room light, never direct sun. Many kingsnakes are nocturnal and would prefer not to have any bright light. For a heat source, use an under the tank heat pad or strip. To increase the air temp, I have used ceramic heating elements above the enclosure.
It sounds like you're doing a great job of setting up your snake's enclosure!

Greg

sullman May 26, 2004 08:24 PM

Thanks Greg,I looked up a lot of info before I decided to get the snake. I feel the best way to keep a snake is to learn about it first! The UV thing totally slipped my mind because I was reading about the snake in general and every care guide said nothing about the subject. I have a 50 watt basking light being used as a light and heat source during the day and a night-glo at night.My wife doesn't like the under tank heaters. Her cousin's house caught fire and it was later discovered that an undertank heater caused the fire so she is kinda scared of em I guess.

He comes out somewhat during the day but definately prefers to come out at night. I know it's not to hot during the day because the temp is at the highest 85 degrees on the warm side and about 77 on the cool side.The overall temp of my house is always 74 degrees...sometimes down to 72 it's really hot outside and I turn the AC down..lol..

Anyway I would have to agree that they tend to be nocturnal from what I have seen. He is always out at night sitting on a piece of drift wood in his enclosure. He is a very good eatter from what I seen so far.

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