Need Information please - Page 3

Scubadiver59 · 05-11-17, 11:25 AM

I did warn the OP in my post at the very beginning that this was a hotly debated subject...so far I haven't been disappointed!

Hopefully the OP is enjoying themselves!!

fedeCF · 05-11-17, 01:10 PM

I just found some more interesting articles related to snake and uvb light exposure. Ore is just an exerpt from an article published on zoo biology, vol 29 issue #3. The link here.

The other is from a senior thesis that study how UVB Radiation Affects the Quality of the Female Sexual Attractiveness Pheromone of the Red-Sided Garter Snake. Here the exerpt (with a link to download the .doc file)

fedeCF · 05-11-17, 01:38 PM

Also this research.

It's entitled Production of cutaneous vitamin D3 after UVB
radiation in reptiles and amphibians. In the species studied ball python and boa constrictor are included together with few other snakes

chairman · 05-12-17, 08:27 AM

Providing low level uvb for snakes can be cheap and easy... virtually all commercial fluorescent bulbs emit uvb. Even compact fluorescents emit some uvb. The amount isn't enough for species that genuinely require uvb for basking.

I have used compact fluorescents to provide lighting in cages in the past. The common cfl bulbs generally raised ambient temperatures by about 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit and the surfaces of the fixtures approached 100 F, a pretty popular basking spot surface temp for many species. The only behaviour changes that I observed were consistent with seeking heat, but then again I'm really only familiar with uv basking indicators in lizards and turtles. I can't say that I noticed any other improvements but then this was very low level uvb exposure, not a bulb designed to maximize its output.

Skipper7 · 05-15-17, 03:21 PM

Sorry for th late reply FWK. I heard back from Fran and she sent some papers. I'll read through them tonight and then post them here.

EDIT: Will have to wait till I have access to my computer. Can't open the Dropbox file on iPad.

TRD · 10-21-17, 07:04 AM

Actually it is shown that snakes synthesize D3 through their skin;
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18241029

Reptile vision also requires the availability of UVa, as well as the research that snakes have far better eyes than is generally assumed in the hobby (ie- most people think they have limited vision);
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/je.../1931.full.pdf

Some species are truly daytime basking and do not have a diet of 100% rodents. F.e. grass snakes, garter snakes, ... these species benefit hugely from UVb exposure. Also in the wild you'll find them basking in the sunshine all the time.

In general some species are considered in the hobby of no need for UV, like Crested Gecko's, or Leopard Gecko's.. yet we have to supplement them with D3 - I wonder why.

There are more papers on the benefits of UV. You could find many of the AAH FB group, or on websites dedicated to UV lighting for reptiles like UV Guide UK - Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles - UVB reptile lighting on test

I'm not so short sighted that I would say "snakes need UV" but I do believe that adding proper UV lighting has health benefits. I can tell from my own experience that my snakes are now open and active during daytime, basking and doing their thing, and I keep primarily kings and milks who previously where hiding all day every day. They only started to come out and bask after I added UV light. That must mean something.

pinefamily · 10-21-17, 02:24 PM

I've been following this thread with interest. This has been a widely debated topic here in Australia as well.
General consensus over here is that, while it doesn't harm them, UV is not essential for Aussie snakes. No, I don't have any papers or research to back that up, only anecdotal evidence from people that have been in the hobby for decades.
From my own experience, the only snake we ever offered UV to actually lightened in skin colour. Our bredli turned a very pale tan colour. Once again, only an anecdote.

dannybgoode · 10-22-17, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefamily

I've been following this thread with interest. This has been a widely debated topic here in Australia as well.
General consensus over here is that, while it doesn't harm them, UV is not essential for Aussie snakes. No, I don't have any papers or research to back that up, only anecdotal evidence from people that have been in the hobby for decades.
From my own experience, the only snake we ever offered UV to actually lightened in skin colour. Our bredli turned a very pale tan colour. Once again, only an anecdote.

Which is kind of funny given you guys have one of the highest UV indicies in the world. I'll take science over anedoctes any day. There are so many papers now that show uv to be highly beneficial that to me it's a no brainer.

I would also suggest that the skin turning paler would suggest that the snake was trying to absorb more UV and thus was benefiting from it. Paler skin generally = higher UV absorption. Also snakes often 'colour up' under UV.