Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know whether or not it's okay to use a flourescent blacklight for nighttime viewing on a snakes cage?
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1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
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0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
1.0 San Felipe Rosy Boa "Legalos"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
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no harm whatsoever. in fact it somewhat helps because it simulates what a snake would be seeing outside via moonlight, and you will probably notice more activity...i know this due to personal tests. I have been using incandescant blacklights for months for heating ever since I got them...until I get my big wooden cage finished.

The incandescant and flourescent should produce the same wavelengths of light...just different form of doing so. I've had them over my snakes for 1.5 months, 2.5 months, and 3.5 months or so. ALSO...there is no need to go buy an expensive "reptile night time" bulb...just go down to home depot get yourself a blacklight flourescent or whatever. Have fun!
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds ("Bill" and "The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo" )

Thanks! I've been using the infrared heat lamps for my ball python, and I just went and bought a flourescent blacklight from home depot. But then I realized I needed to make sure it was okay first. It was a lot cheaper (about half the price) of the reptile kind at the petstore.

Thanks!
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
1.0 San Felipe Rosy Boa "Legalos"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"
0.0.1 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Irian Jaya BlueTongued Skink
0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer "Kira"

the differences in lighting from the pet store and home depot is basically what can be mass produced. those bulbs at home depot are bought by pallets full..literally thousands of bulbs at one time then shipped to a warehouse owned by home depot. even if you go to like petco or pet supermarket (national chains) they cant buy but maybe a hundred or two at a time so you cant get as good of a price. plus they jack up the price by saying its made for reptiles...that opens them up to liability if by some fluke it harmed an animal. If you go to walmart look at 60 watt incandescant (screw in) blacklights for animals they are about $6-7. If you turn the corner and get a 60 watt blacklight they are about $3. This is mainly because of the added liability for the reptile bulbs.

Also from my understanding, reptiles can't see the red spectrum of the light...it's just used for heat. however they can see the blue/purple spectrum, and the only way it says "moonlight" is because it's a dim light that they pick up.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds ("Bill" and "The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo" )

oh...and im glad i was able to help you out for once since you're always helping me out! lol.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds ("Bill" and "The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo" )

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
1.0 San Felipe Rosy Boa "Legalos"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"
0.0.1 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Irian Jaya BlueTongued Skink
0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer "Kira"