Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for some low wattage black lights...I need somthing that is only 15 watts. I have a couple snakes that will only come out if its dark and that makes it kinda hard to see them...the light fixture that i have is inside the cage so a higher wattage bulb would not work

Petstores carry them . If you cant find it in a petstore you might want to try http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3828&N=2004 113179

I have bought 15 watt from them but red not black but it wont hurt to ask them. I do know hagen makes them and chain type petstores carry them for those tiny tanks.
Out of curiosity you find more than 15 watts in the cage dangerous?
I have no experiense with light in the cage but was reading 40 watts is safe tho to me that seems rather hot.

Red would work also..i just like the black better. 40 watt sounds pretty warm to put inside a cage...i think it would burn the snake if it was to touch the light

Yes thats true 40 watt is warm. I know some use it that high but it does sound to hot.
The petstore I go to has the 15 watt in red and black by Hagen . Several sites that carry fish stuff have them also.

If you have a light directly in the cage where the snake can contact it, you can buy a light bulb cage to put over it.
That way, the animal cant touch it and burn itself.
Any light bulb should be protected.

Those bulb cages look terrible and are big for a 3 to 4 foot cage though you are right about protecting the snake.
I was under the impression that a 40 watt bulb would be safe but dont think so now.

15 watt are safe without anything over them...they barely get warm...If your not sure just grab the bulb...you'll know if its to hot or not

If you can't find a low enough wattage black bulb, you can put a rheostat on it and dial it down to whatever temp/brightness you desire. I have a 75 watt black light in my Jungle Carpet Python cage for night time heat, it does have a wirecage around the bulb so the snake can't come in direct contact with it, and I adjust the rheostat so that even if he lays on the wirecage it won't be hot enough to burn him.

Thats a good idea...might give that a try

Sometimes I dont see the obvious. Your right touch the bulb to see if its to hot and 40 watts was to hot.
I tried 30 and that was fine. The idea below by that other person is also great idea that never occured to me either.
Thanks

As I posted below the painted black lights are not dangerous at all. It's only the fluorescent types that are designed to fluoresce certain pigments or tissues that can be dangerous due to the UVR spectra they produce.

Since you are worried about heat I suggest you consider the painted compact fluorescents. I have seen them in both red and black. I believe they are under 20 watts.

When you test them to see if they get too hot you'll want to grab the base where the ballast is housed. That's where it gets warm.

Another option is to make your own painted bulbs. There are readily available spray paints that dry to a non-toxic finish and will stick to either regular incandescent bulbs or the compact fluorescents. You'll have to research and see which types work - I can no longer remember.

In case you're wondering my background on this subject, I used to manage a lab that studied acoustic communication in insects. We had all sorts of light filters, etc. to allow us to mimic nocturnal conditions.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

I have been previously using blacklight bulbs for heating a couple of my older "fishtank" type enclosures for my younger colubrids... I recently read a couple studies done where constant exposure to blacklight actually deteriorates the cornea of the eye at a rate 4-5 times faster than normal. I'd highly reccomend against a blacklight, and use a red light; preferably an infrared light. This part of the spectrum can't be seen by the snake, so it won't disturb your nocturnal friend at all.

Now I say constant exposure meaning 24/7. Night time may not hurt as bad, however I just don't want to risk it. Red light bulbs don't cost much more (however they are more disturbing for me at night seeing as how my tanks are in my bedroom...)

Heat isn't the only thing you need to worry about when having an exposed bulb. You also have to remember your snake will probably want to crawl over it, and if it wil be slightly warm then it will want to stay there. as your snake gets heavier, it increases the highly likely possibility of breaking/shattering the bulb. this can cause severe harm, if not kill your snake. I'd HIGHLY reccomend the use of a wire guard.

I've never heard about the black like being damaging to the eyes...thats interesting. I have no problem using a red light, i was just looking for a black light because like you said, they are less annoying at night.

yeah, I recently changed to the red.

Here's a 15w bulb. they're not hard to find.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/heat-bulbs-night-heat-bulbs-ceramic-bulbs/-/zoo-med-15-watt-red-bulb/

That study was done on black lights that are designed to fluoresce certain pigments, etc. This does not apply to the incandescent bulbs that are coated with purple/black paint to produce a colored light.

The problem with the fluorexent black lights is that they produce light in the ultraviolet spectra and these can be dangerous.

The incandescent black lights are perfect safe and likely produce less visible light for your herps.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)