Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello there,

Zach here. I am confused about the UV requirements of BD's and I hope someone (s) may help me out . If i was to have a UV bulb along with the basking lamp, will that cover the UV requirements of the BD? What if I use Rep-Cal Calcium and UV3, is that good enough without the bulb. My bulb just died out, so i am feeding my BD dusted food wwith calcium and UV3. Should I replace the bulb and still feed dusted food, or what?

Thank you-Zach
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Zach Lim
Carnivorous Plant Grower and Herper
http://www.geocities.com/sf_snakes/index.html

it really depends who ya ask i suggest you dust with calcium w/d3 every other day for adults as well as providing a uvb bulb, even if it just be a reptisun bulb, i have used them with all of my dragons and all of my dragons have done very well. If you can provide a mercury vapor bulb for UVB lighting they are better then the florecent tubes as they give off more UVB. Dragons that are housed out of doors have different requirements as natural sunlight really takes care of their need for UVB and they produce enough D3 on their own to metabolize the calcium in their diets therefore they dont need the dietary D3 that dragons kept indoors must have. While you dont have a bulb dust daily, but i feel a UVB bulb should be provided, why not do all we can to ensure the health of our dragons
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reiko

photos

Sounds like you didn't dust your crickets before your bulb died out. Or did I read that wrong? I don't think ANYONE will tell you that dragons don't need their crickets dusted with calcium (every few days for adults, and everyday for juvies). It is the D3 that is debated, but you NEED to be feeding calcium, and it would be a terrible mistake that really hurt your dragons health if you didn't. I say you do need the bulb, I hava had dragons that came from places that claim to provide UVB through supplement, they are always poorer eaters, duller colors then after they have UVB for a few months, and more prone to problems like coccidia. Hope this helps.

Jen
THE WORLDS MOST BEAUTIFUL DRAGONS-------CLICK!!!!!!-----