uv light for reptiles and frogs dr amisha patel sugarloaf animal hospital
TRANSCRIPT
Today's Talk
1) Why is UV light important?
2) How to provide UV light
3) Where to get reliable information
4) Summary
What is UV Light? Ultraviolet light (UV) -is waves of energy
particles Wavelengths of UV light are too short for us to
see.
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
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%)
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
Sources Internet:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk http://www.anapsid.org http://www.reptileuv.com/
Veterinarians That keep up to date!
Clubs/societies