Lighting Q

[Z Trip]

It's been awhile since I have attempted to research lighting for a lizard. (I have snakes and they don't need UV) so here is what I am asking.

At work we sell the 4 foot long T8 bulbs that are "Natural Sunlight". Will that be ok for something like a skink? I'm pretty sure it has a 5000K rating.

Thanks.

 

[Toby_H]

If your skink needs UVB lighting... then nope...

 

[Z Trip]

If your skink needs UVB lighting... then nope...

I know they need UV rays but there must be a bulb that does that. Pet stores want like 40$ for a bulb when I can get two for 5$..... What is so special about the "zoo med, Exo terra" bulbs. Sylvania and Philips are both great bulb manifacterers, what's the deal. I'm pretty sure if the bulb is "natural sunlight" the the lizard will be fine right?

 

[davo]

I dont know if this will help you but it might http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm

if you go to the fluorecent tubes bit, it says that a lot of tubes designed to simulate daylight emit UVA but only very low levels of UVB, which I imagine will be the case for the bulbs you're looking at.

 

[Toby_H]

I know they need UV rays but there must be a bulb that does that. Pet stores want like 40$ for a bulb when I can get two for 5$..... What is so special about the "zoo med, Exo terra" bulbs. Sylvania and Philips are both great bulb manifacterers, what's the deal. I'm pretty sure if the bulb is "natural sunlight" the the lizard will be fine right?

The Zoo Med, Exo Terra and others emit UV-B...

The $2.50 bulbs do not...

That's what makes them so special


The "daylight" or "natural sunlight" labels are implied toward their K rating... it has nothing to do with UV...

Any/All flourescent bulbs emit UV-A... but it's the UV-B that some reptiles need...