Reptile & Amphibian Forums

can uvb penetrate water? I know alot of bromeliads grow high up in the canopy where they recieve full light and tadpoles in those broms are getting it too. anyone know if uvb has any positive effect on tad development?

UVB does penetrate water for a short distance, but where the bromes containing tadpoles are located in a canopy in a rain forest, it's still pretty low down, filtered and shaded, and the water contains debris and tannins that further filter UVB. Whether or not it benefits tadpoles is apparently still in question, from the research I did. Exposure of tads to UVB does not seem to affect the incidence of SLS (spindly leg syndrome), and I can't find a positive advantage for using it on dart tadpoles in captivity, as long as the parents were not calcium/D3 deficient to begin with. I don't know of any commercial breeders who use it for tads for an advantage. Most come out healthy, as do those I've raised with only low light and no UV. After they've absorbed their tail and begin to feed, however, it's important to provide them with the calcium and D3 vitamin substitute on their food for lack of UVB exposure to convert the calcium as soon as possible. That's about all I know or could find out. You might put the question upon frognet.com for some more responses, then come back and share them with us.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

D. auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, galactonotus orange, galactonotus yellow, fantasticus, reticulatus, imitator, castaneoticus, azureus, pumilio Bastimentos. P. lugubris, vittatus, terribilis mint green, terribilis orange.

yea thats true. i forgot about the tannins in the water. They probably block whatever penetrates the canopy. darn,for a second i thought i was on to something too.. haha