UVB lighting and red tail boas

[Nic]

hello everybody on here was wondering if anybody new if BCC or BCI needed any uvb lighting i have had my snake for 3 years and have been studying herps for awhile i took my snake to the vet the other night and she told me to gve him some uvb light periodically but there is so much contoversy over live eating reptiles and the need for it and so forth its kinda giving me a head ache ive never heard of it for boas but just wondering if anybody new anything
thanks in advance
Nic

 

[DeLgAdO]

WELCOME TO MFK NIC!!!

yea i have heard that snakes like rtb's dont nead uvb as they obtain vitamin D3 from their diet, but if it was me i would alway have that lighting available to my snake (if i had one that is)

what do you feed him? rats? frozen?

 

[Nic]

he eats live rats

 

[Nic]

thanks for the welcome delgado so far i really like this site still trying to figure most stuff out

 

[DeLgAdO]

Glad you like it im hooked for life


heres an article about red tail boa lighting/ heating

check it out



Temperature Gradient
The proper temperature range is essential in keeping your snake healthy. The ambient daytime air temperature throughout the enclosure must be maintained between 82-90 F (28-32 C), with a basking area kept at 90-95 F (32-35 C). At night, the ambient air temperature may be allowed to drop down no lower than 78-85 F (26-30 C). Special reptile heating pads that are manufactured to maintain a temperature about 20o higher than the air temperature may be used inside the enclosure. There are adhesive pads that can be stuck to the underside of a glass enclosure. Heating pads made for people, available at all drug stores, are also available; these have built-in high-medium-low switches and can be used under a glass enclosure. You can also use incandescent light bulbs in porcelain and metal reflector hoods to provide the additional heat required for the basking area, or the new ceramic heating elements which can be put into regular light sockets and radiate heat downward. All lights must be screened off to prevent the snake from burning itself. All snakes are susceptible to thermal burns. For this same reason do not use a hot rock. Buy at least two thermometers - one to use in the overall area 1" above the enclosure floor, and the other 1" above the floor in the basking area. Ideally, you should place a third thermometer at near the upper basking bench or branch. Don't try to guess the temperature--you will end up with a snake who will be too cold to eat and digest its food. Once your snake has grown quite large, you may wish to invest in a pig blanket, a large rigid pad for which you can buy a thermostat to better control the temperature.

No special lighting is needed

You may use a full-spectrum light or low wattage incandescent bulb in the enclosure during the day but snake, having evolved to living underground, have not need for regular full-spectrum/UV lighting. If you do use such a light in the tank, make sure the snake cannot get into direct contact with the light bulbs, nor burrow itself into the casing of the fluorescent hood. If you are uncertain about what lights out there do what, please read the article "Lighting and Heating".

 

[Nic]

thanks im just about hooked for life on this site im think ill get all the help ill ever need here im about to set up a 90 gal fresh water and im looking for big beautiful fish to fill it

 

[repkyle6888]

i have a friend who breeds them and her baby Bugsy who is almost 30 (the snake) has never had it. THEY DO NOT NEED IT

 

[TaratronVaeVictus]

Nope, snakes do NOT need UVB lights, and the lights that provide UVB are usually not heat sources. Incandescent lighting is the latter, and flourescent the former.

 

[stary_traveler]

Yeah, as long as fed whole prey items, no special uv is needed!


Same goes for most snakes...........but if any of you keep strictly insect eaters, like green snakes, they can use some uvb. Crickets and insects are not nutritionally complete.


Uva, the plant light wave length, can also be helpful for picky eaters or nonfeeders I've heard. It's worth a try anyway!

 

[Nic]

he has full spectrum light bulbs from agrosun for all the plants in the tank im in the process of getting a new camera and learning this sight once i get the cam and figure this sight out ill have pictures of all my set ups and fish tanks