UV Light for Reptiles and Frogs

Dr Amisha PatelSugarloaf Animal Hospital

Today's Talk

1) Why is UV light important?

2) How to provide UV light

3) Where to get reliable information

4) Summary

1) Why is UV Light Important?

What is UV Light? Ultraviolet light (UV) -is waves of energy

particles Wavelengths of UV light are too short for us to

see.

UV light is confusing – what are the different types?!

Important: UV -A and UV -B

UV UV -A: responsible for normal behaviours

such as feeding, basking, mating etc UV -B: synthesis of Vitamin D which helps to

process calcium (UV -C: harmful)

Why is UV Important? General wellbeing and normal behaviour Feeding, mating, daily routines, growth,

immune function Important for muscles, blood, bones and

every other process in the body! Vitamin D conversion allows proper absorption

and metabolism of calcium

How Does is Work?

UV light

→ skin

→ vitamin D synthesis → increased calcium absorption from

diet

Complex interplay between calcium, Vitamin D, various organs and hormones!

And if we don't get it right? (Assuming that nutrition and temperature are perfect....) Too little AND too much UV?

Brittle bones or softening of bones → fractures Swollen limbs, soft swollen jaws Constipation Stop eating and emaciation Partial paralysis Tremors/twitching Turtles – soft shells Burns, blindness, cancer, infections

Generalisations Snakes: require UV-B but not high

requirements (natural diet of whole prey has high levels of calcium and vitamin D)

Amphibians also do not seem to require UV-B Anecdotal evidence of improvement from

exposure Diamond pythons, lizards and turtles require

UV-B ALL SPECIES REQUIRE UV-A

2) How to Provide UV Light

Source 1) Sunlight 2) Fluorescent light bulbs

Species dependent – 1-2 hours per day

Sunlight Best form Don't expose during hottest parts of day Ensure they have a cool, shady area to

retreat to Need natural unfiltered sunlight

Fluorescent Light Bulbs Heat source should be separate from UV light

source, but at the same end of the enclosure Glass and plastic filter out 95% UV-B rays Bulb must be kept inside enclosure! Bulbs should be replaced every 6 months Wide mesh screens over bulbs to prevent

burns (aluminium fly screens filter 30%)

http://www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/reptilesAsPets/enclosure/lightGuard/

Distance Further distance = less UV Basking spot of 10-12 inches/25-30cm below

bulb (in enclosure) is ideal Not to the side – glare Gradient – so can shelter from UV-B

Bulb Recommendations Fluorescent tube that runs 2/3 of the length of

enclosure Effective at 30cm distance Well known brands e.g. Zoo-med, Exo-Terra

NOT one hit wonders Not compact bulbs 5% or 5.0 NOT metal halide or mercury NEC T-10 Blacklights

Where to Purchase Pet stores

Krempins Aquarium and Garden Centre Valley Reptile Supplies Pet Barn The Hydro Shop -Brock

Internet Herp Shop

Sugarloaf Animal Hospital

Confusions

1) Ratings and numbers5% or 5.0 = the amount of UV-B emitted out of the

total amount of energy- prefer less than 5.0

CRI = equivalent to light spectrum of sun at noon

2) Incandescent = heat, visible light and UV-A (frosted, reflector floods, spots, halogen)

3) Fluorescent = visible light, UV-A and UV-B

(FS-fluorescent sun lamp, black-light (BL) fluorescent tubes)

Confusions continued

3) Basking/spot lights = provide heat not UV

4) Full spectrum = wide spectrum = not UV-B

5) Compact twisted bulbs – UV-B disperses quickly

6) Blacklight Blue - eye damage

3) Where to Get Reliable Information

Sources Internet:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk http://www.anapsid.org http://www.reptileuv.com/

Veterinarians That keep up to date!

Clubs/societies

Warning

Don't get lost in all of the details!!!!

4) Summary

Summary Why is UV light important?

UV- A and B Affects every aspect of health and wellbeing

Painful and life-threatening consequences How do we provide UV light?

Unfiltered sunlight or fluorescent bulbs Where to get reliable information?

Internet, vets, societies