Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've decided to add red bulbs for extra heat this winter, as well as the better view. No specific questions, just wondering if people have any input or related experience to share.
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I'll be moving from Florida to Maryland in December so I will have to worry about winter too. And I'm sure I'll be dealing with many more humidity issues than I am in this oven of a state. As for the bulbs, I'm a big fan of the infrared ones too. But for nocturnal species, I think the coolest heat source you can have is one of those "natural moonlight" bulbs by exo terra. Looks way cool in a dark room.

Steve

Humidity will be an issue for ya, I live in PA so I know what you'll deal with. I also put in the red bulb to see how everything'll look and my snake responded quite abruptly. If someone could please explain the red light issue it'd be much appreciated, as my snake was obviously aware of it.
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1.1 Ghosts
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the idea about the night bulbs is that reptiles can not see light in that spectrum (blacklight & red). i have used both and have never had any problems with either. i do prefer the blacklight bulbs as they dont disturb me as much and i am able to observe all sorts of behavior at night and the animals dont seem to be aware im watching or show signs of being uncomfortable.

i have read somewhere that black lights are not good for reptiles because they give off something(radiation??)and being exposed to them for too long is dangerous.i dont remeber exactly why or where i read it.maybe i didnt read it and im just imagining things.maybe someone can tell me if im correct.

ok i looked into this online and all i could find was that BLB (black light blue)light was bad for eyes. black light was said to be good. i dont think a company like zoo med or any other company producing night lights (black lights) would be producing them for so long. thank you for bringing it to my attention though, as i frequently get my bulbs from the hardware store and will now make sure they are not BLB lights.

yep,i searched also and thats exactly what it was that i read,a certain kind of black light(blb)is dangerous and shouldnt be used.i agree with you that blacklights made for reptiles should be safe.so,the party blacklights that are made to make posters glow,they are blb???i did try one of them once and although my snake didnt seem to mind much,i had to get rid of it after one night because it got so damn hot!!!>..i dont know what type of blacklight it was but all i know was that it heated up my cage more than any heatlight or ceramic heater i have ever owned.even after having it turned on for only like 2 seconds,you had to wait a couple minutes after turning it off before you could touch it with your hands..

Lol small world I was going to ask the same question. I use a 40 watt EXO terra black light bulb and must say even set at low really heats up one side of the 20 gallon at night nicely.
I found it gave a darker nicer "light" than the zoo med. More of a moon glow.
I used a red light with the understanding that reptiles could not see red light but like you my snake seemed to see it and hid all the time at night since I switched he comes out a lot and I am convinced he cannot see this but could the red.
I dont know how safe black lights are tho which was I was going to ask. I had to use overhead heat as even in summer I blast the ac.
In my 20 gallon long tank overhead lighting in a spotlight dome on one side of tank gives a great temp gradient and thats with bulb set on low but as winter sets in will set it higher.
If you find out anything on safety of black light I would be interested as I use that now not red light anymore.
Thanks

My Reptile room unfortunatly serves as a passage way to the Laundry room. In order to accomidate my wife the room had to have lighting capability 24hrs. But not to mess with daytime cycles I used Red lights (kinda thinking about Jay's Blacklight idea). Anyways long story short the lights in the room between sunrise and sunset come on as regular lights but after sunset the lights can only come on as Red. Granted these are not for heat but just red bulbs but they allow me the user to operate in the facility while they sleep. Just an idea.
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

sounds like a pretty good solution. i just find red light irritating to ME which is why i like the blacklight. it is easy on the eyes (unless you have it over lit like a night club or something) and provides awsome viewing of nighttime behaviors. i have dicovered a whole new side to my bci when i am able to view him at night using blacklights.

I knew about the light and wavelengths not visable but never thought about the blacklight use slipped my mind. I agree red light is not pleasent to my eyes as either. I think I will pursue the blacklight idea further thanks for the input. I will especially enjoy the blacklight idea when I get some Chondro's in the future. Who new good news and bad all in one day.
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

I switched because I think my snake can see red light but glad I did the black light enhances the white color in my snake its a nice kinda "creepy" glow and I dont think he can see it at all.
My snake is "active" at night for awhile like most milks but for active snakes,lizards it must look great.

Going to a large petshop today. Talked to a guy i know there and he said they carry LED type reflectors that should be able to be used with herp stuff. Think he said they were marketed to simulate moonlight which is what I was after and they should pose no serious heat output if they are like the LEDs I have for work lites.

Just bought one to goof with. It's called an "Aqualight" 3/4 watt Blue Moon glow LED light $19.00. If the LED is like the ones at work and in my flashlights I've had for a few years it should last a long time.

Those are good for night viewing but for those of us that need heat they arent good. I think those were originally made for saltwater invert tanks?
For night vieweing and they say they stimulate breeding or corals if its what I think it is. I saw them advertised few yrs back in my fish magazine.

Yup. Sounds like the one. Boy is it bright for only 3/4 of a watt! I was putting it in a Vision #400 and the dispersal of lite looks better if you could have it higher than 14". Kinda cool though.

Yes I read about them in my fish magazines they are better interms of light than reptile type black lights.
People that keep saltwater tanks with marine inverts like corals,etc that breed at night and do better with moon glow type light keep them.
They came out few yrs ago I think and have heard great things about them. Its good to use only 3/4 watt to for night light lol.