Fascinating Information About Reptile Lighting
Proper lighting is just one step of keeping your reptile happy. In addition, proper lighting can keep your reptile healthy. Specific disease, such as osteoporosis, can sometimes be traced back to a problem with lighting. There are also studies that suggest that proper lighting plays a role in providing overall immunity for your pet's health and well being.
Reptiles, like any other animal, need the twenty four hour cycle of light and dark (day and night) to keep them at their healthiest. How much light is needed? Studies have been made and recommendations have been based on these studies. For a good rule of thumb on this it is a good idea to look at the animals natural habitat for guidance. Lets say your pet is sub-tropical or tropical - then in the summer about fourteen hours of daylight and ten hours at night is pretty common. In the more temperate areas the requirement is eight hours of daylight (winter) to sixteen hours in the summer. However, using indoor lamps to duplicate natures light will encourage the animals to breed, but never use inadequate lighting to inhabit breeding using separate cages is recommended in that case.
One of the first popular lights for reptiles was the Vita-Lite lamp which was made by the DuroTest Corporation, and it was the most popular choice for reptiles until 1990. Its manufacturers called it a full-spectrum light, indicating that it produced visible and UV light similar to that of natural sunlight. The full-spectrum label these days does not necessarily mean a light emits UV light, so always read the label carefully if your pet needs UV light as most reptiles do.
A and B are two different types of UV light. A - UV is a black light and while no recommendations for this light in connection to pet reptiles, it is known to promote social behavior in the animals natural habitat.
Ultraviolet B is required so that animals may produce the Vitamin D they need for proper health. Reptiles do a good job of regulating their Ultraviolet B exposure if they have a place to retreat to, such as a cool, shady enclosure. Nocturnal animals typically do not require Ultraviolet light as exposure to it is not a part of their natural environment. (There is a third type of Ultraviolet light known as Ultraviolet C, but it is harmful.)
The human range of light which they can see, interestingly enough, is smaller than reptiles. Vision of reptiles extends to thermal spectrum and a consideration when considering light options for your pet. Provide you pet with the proper lighting to insure its good health and comfort. Less is better - do not use unnecessary lighting.
You will need to replace your ultraviolet lights every 9 to 12 months, since humans cannot detect when ultraviolet lights begin to dim. This will aid you in keeping your pet at its overall best health.
All light sources need to be placed to keep the reptile from direct contact with it. In some cases lights generate a tremendous amount of heat and you risk your pet or even yourself being burned if you do not take these precautions.