Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How neccessary is uvb lighting for snappers? Is it possible to use a d3 suppliment as opposed to the uvb light, and if so is there a good suppliment on the market?
Thanks,
RF900

I use it for my alligator snapper, but I am not sure how necesary it is. I know some keepers don't use any artificial sun for their alligator snappers. I think commons might benefit from it more since I have noticed them closer to the surface or even basking in the wild. I don't think it will hurt. Mine is actually very active and alert with it. When I occassionally keep him without direct light he tends to be more lethargic. My Red Belly and the snapper are in a 30 long tank (divided, of course) but they share a common UVB light and the cooter has a suplimental uvb basking lamp too. So the snapper gets a lot of light and certainly doesn't seem to mind. As for the supplement I would try it, but as with many other reptiles the supplement needs uvb light to really kick in.

-----

1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Cape York Spotted Python,1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.1 Hog Island Boas,1.0 Peruvian Red-Tail Boa, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 0.2 "Flame" Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie