Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I use full spectrum UV fluro lights in my snake enclosures. I have a problem with a young snake that keeps climbing on the fluro tube at night and I am worried she will break the light. I think I will have to put a plastic cover over the light so she can not get to it. Does Glass or plastic affect the spectrum of UV that gets to the snake? I’d prefer not to use UV light bulbs if I can get away with it.

Thanks for any help.

many people will tell you that most snakes can go without uvb lighting just fine (though some keepers of diurnal snakes, Thamnophis species in particular, disagree)
all substances have differing amounts by which they reflect, absorb or internally reflect light of differring frequncies but as a rule, glass and most thick clear plastics do not admit the passge of much UVA or UVB.

I think better to be safe than sorry. I would like to be able to provide full spectrum light but if a cover will stop UV I’ll just have to use normal fluro’s. I’d rather avoid the drama of broken glass.

Thanks.