UV for Reptiles, What it is and Why They Need it
Article by Hemswell Aquatics And Reptiles
Light is very important for most reptiles, they rely on it for breeding purposes, feeding purposes and as a digestion aid (in Bearded Dragons, for example).
Reptiles don’t just require a normal day and night cycle, they also need access to specific UV and heat levels. There are certain reptiles that need very specific types of light to be able to function properly. To keep most reptiles in good health, UV light is a vital requirement. Even for reptiles that don’t require UV light, they still need a regular day and night cycle to avoid stress.
Nocturnal lizards and snakes, for example, don’t need the same UV requirements that Bearded Dragons, and many other lizards do. However, mimicking the night and day cycle and how it changes through the seasons is essential if you’re planning to breed your reptiles. Snakes have evolved so that they can get virtually all the calcium they need from their diet – other reptiles have to use other resources e.g. sunlight. Nocturnal lizards, due to their nocturnal nature, have little exposure to sunlight when they’re in the wild; providing them with a UV source in captivity isn’t required.
UV light consists of UVA, UVB, plus UVC wavelengths. Reptiles need to be exposed to both UVA and UVB wavelengths. In captivity, this can be easily provided through the use of special light bulbs.
UVA and UVB exposure is important for reptiles because it helps with the production of the vitamin D3. Vitamin D3′s role in reptiles is to metabolise calcium. When reptiles are exposed to UV, D3 is produced. Producing enough vitamin D3 and metabolising enough calcium is crucial because if a reptile doesn’t produce enough, it can suffer from something called Metabolic Bone Disease (sometimes just referred to as MBD).
It is possible to supplement their diet with vitamin D3 and calcium, but research has proven that certain reptiles e.g. iguanas, effectively use D3 produced by exposure to UV more than the D3 they ingest in their diet. Naturally, if you’re keeping a reptile in captivity, it is often impractical to constantly expose them to sunlight. This is especially true because UV light cannot pass through glass, so keeping them indoors in a spot that recieves sunlight, isn’t a practical alternative. A UVA or UVB lightbulb is the perfect accessory to make sure your reptile has all the UV light it needs!
The crucial difference between the light bulbs available on the market is how much UVB light they produce. There is a vast range of bulbs that can be found in pet stores, so first time reptile keepers can become easily overwhelmed. Just make sure that whatever light you get offers a full spectrum of light and that it produces over 1.1% of UVB light.
Remember: UVB lights diminish in efficiency over time, whichever UV light you decide to purchase should be replaced within 9-12 months. Also, reptiles that require UV light normally need another source of heat – try to combine these two elements in your reptile housing so that they’re both in the same part. Reptiles will then be able to bask in the warm area and recieve the benefits from the UV light bulb at the same time.
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