Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a three year old blue tongue skink that does not get UVB lighting but appears to be very healthy. My question is should UVB lighting be required or will lack of it eventually do harm to my blue tongue skink.

The question of whether BTS's require UVB light is up in the air really. Most people say they do find without it, others say include it anyway, as it doesn't hurt them to have it.

Health wise I think they can manage without it, as long as they are getting some supplemental D3 in their diet. For adults dust crickets or other insects once a week with a calcium powder that includes D3.. or if your skinks whole prey couple times a month (ie a pinky mouse).

When I had two Northern blue tongue skinks I provided UVB lighting all the time, and they both thrived with it. I would feed pinky mice once a month or so.

I think it is better to have a UVB light, not a high output one, but something like a 5.0 tube running the length of the cage provides more than enough, should they need it. My BTS's certainly don't avoid the light, they bask underneath it often enough, even if they are not always out in the open all day long.

I don't recommend using compact UVB bulbs though, or the Mercury Vapor style, as these to put out alot of UVB or very bright light.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

When I got my skink from his previous owner, he'd apparently never had UVB lighting. He seemed perfectly fine. Now he has a small bulb at one end of his cage, and still seems fine. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it, just get a bulb "just in case" when you happen to be at the pet store.