 Recent Herp Discussion | | | | | | | | Online Users: 154 | | 100 members and 54 guests | | AdrianPero, ambah, andrew_555, aussie1, Australis, baitnbug, BHPMAD, Bonustokin, Bredlislave, callith, carkat, CassM, channi, Chrisreptile, chrisso81, Christopher, chunky, cobrajet, coneill74, croc_hunter_penny, Danni, Danny.Boy, Dave94, dazza65, DDALDD, DennisS, Dipcdame, Divan, dpeica, dragon lady, Drazzy, Ela21, fishead, FNQ_Snake, fpvmatt, fraser1980, froglet, Gery, gozz, GreyGrey, Hetty, hobbo, hodges, hozy6, itbites, ItsDavid, jase_ale, jessb, Joy from S & T, Jungle_Freak, kakariki, kingie, koubee, LadySnake, laurajayne, lee5, Leigh, Love_snakes, Magpie, Matthew Burgess, mattmc, michelleryan, Miss_Croft, mr.slave, mrboajangles, MrElectricity, mrillusion, MrKite, MzSel, nat0810, nightowl, ogg666, PilbaraPythons, PremierPythons, reptile1, richardsc, rockman, simonchristie, slimebo, Slytherin, sockbat, springerduck, swampie, tan, taylor111, Timmo, Tolly, tree, TRIMACO, TURBO8, urodacus_au, vinspa, Violetilda, vs380kw, wil, xshadowx, _Jas_ | |  | | 
03-Dec-04, 05:46 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-04 Location: Sydney | | | How much UVB rays does your python need?
I' been giving my diamond python about 1 hour of natural sun a week.
I don't have a UV light in my enclosure. Is this enough.
I was told that diamond pythons need 3-4 hrs a day, is this true? |
03-Dec-04, 06:00 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-04 Location: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada | | | | Snakes actually don't require any UVB.
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03-Dec-04, 06:11 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Feb-04 Location: Sydney | | | Ash, studies have shown that Diamonds are MUCH better off with UVA light, unlike other pythons.
If i were you i would just install a 2ft UVA/UVB light, makes it much easier and take it when you can. |
03-Dec-04, 06:11 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Sydney Age/Gender: 56  | | | | Um... that's a contentious issue! Not sure about UVB and UVA, etc., but sunshine is supposed to be good for them; whichever version of UV the sun produces. :-)
Do a search through the posts, and you see a lot of arguments for and against in relation to diamonds - mostly for. :-) I don't think anyone has come up with definitive proof either way, but there's a lot of anecdotal evidence in favour of it. Not that I'm an expert, but in any case, it can't hurt! I give my diamond about an hour a week, and she seems to enjoy basking in the sun. |
03-Dec-04, 06:37 PM
| | | | I believe that Dr Glenn Shea has done some research into the topic and found that Diamond python Syndrome is mainly linked to the fact that keepers have their diamond's enclosures at too high a temperature for lengthy periods of time, keeping in mind they are a naturally cold tolerant snake. This would make sense considering diamond pythons are typically nocturnal.
I can't point you in the direction of any scientific papers, so my post is purely anecdotal also.
cheers.
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03-Dec-04, 07:10 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-04 Location: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada | | | | I'd love to read some more information regarding the UVB needs of a Diamond Python. Very interesting.
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03-Dec-04, 07:12 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Sep-04 Location: melbourne Age: 32 | | | | i'll put my two bobs worth in.
My murray darling has never looked so good since i started taking him outside and leaving him on a big gum tree branch a found , just have it sitting upright in the sun and he just laps up the rays, and he's always fiesty as when its time to come back inside.
He's due for a shed in about two weeks and usually he is all dark and looking crap, basically.
but hes still coloured up, although dulling. |
03-Dec-04, 10:36 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Melbourne O>I>G>L Souly! | | | Quote: |
Ash, studies have shown that Diamonds are MUCH better off with UVA light, unlike other pythons.
| What studies Ether? Where can I read about these mate? |
03-Dec-04, 11:00 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-03 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: | | | I'm not what I'd consider a scratch on the surface of understanding plenty about these snakes (or any others for that matter) , nor do I keep a Diamond........yet  But I hear and read this sort of thing quite often. Obviously if you think about it, snakes with dark colouration have been given that specifically dark coloured skin to soak in light for a reason. I hear often about bone disorders in Diamonds due to lack of natural sunlight -perhaps I'm wrong in what I've heard, maybe I'm right?  Quote: |
UVB is a non-visible wavelength, and allows the synthesis of vitamin D3, which helps to process calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease. Most snakes DO NOT have high UVB requirements, as they get the vitamin D3 from the liver of their prey. Amphibians also do not seem to require UVB lighting. Diamond pythons, Lizards and turtles REQUIRE UVB lighting, otherwise they will develop metabolic bone disease and turtles can also have soft shell problems.
| The one thing that blows the theory of Ultraviolet lighting is the fact that these snakes are noctural Perhaps they are dark for maximum exposure? Does anyone here use calcium suppliments for Diamonds at all? :roll: |
04-Dec-04, 12:34 AM
| | | | don't GTS need sunlight? |
04-Dec-04, 02:35 AM
|  | primitively archaic Moderator | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Gender: | | | Quote: |
The one thing that blows the theory of Ultraviolet lighting is the fact that these snakes are noctural
| Yes Moose, they are nocturnal in that they hunt at night but they do bask during the day (even in winter).
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04-Dec-04, 07:20 AM
|  | Has Happy Herps.... Sponsor | Join Date: Aug-03 Location: SYDNEY | | | | I like to light up my tanks for myself and others to enjoy the animals. So the way I look at it, why not supply a UV fluoro in there to come on during the day. This way you get to see the animals when they are active and they can also get some UV light while they are out. JMO
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04-Dec-04, 09:16 AM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Sydney Age/Gender: 56 | | | | I was asked the same question in a PM.
As I would hate to be responsible for giving wrong advice, and as I'm certainly not an expert, I thought I'd post my response here. Please feel free to prove me wrong! ;-)
The PM to me :
"The lady at the reptile shop told me that diamonds need 3-4 hrs of sun a day. is this a load of crap and is she just trying to con me into buying a UV light?"
My response :
"Hi.
It's true that diamonds MIGHT need UV, but 3 - 4 hours a day is more than they need, in my opinion, and UV lights are next to useless for snakes! They only have an effective range of about 1 foot, and I've yet to see a diamond basking under one!
Sunlight a couple of hours a week (or more if you can manage it conveniently) is more than enough, imo.
Bear in mind that I'm no expert, but I've got a 2 year old diamond who is perfectly happy and healthy. I have one of those UV-friendly mesh cages that I use outside on the weekend, and that seems to do the trick.
Do a search of the forums for "UV". You'll get a lot of posts regarding lizards, but you'll also see this topic discussed regarding diamonds as well.
The UV lights also have a life (not sure what it is) and after that time, they are ineffective. The light may still work but the amount of UV they give out is minimal, at best.
Again, I'm no expert, so I could be wrong, but that's what I think is true, based on what I've read.
I'm going to post this in the forums, as I'd hate you to depend on my advice alone." |
04-Dec-04, 12:33 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: May-04 Location: Brisbane Gender: | | | | Viper, I asked a similar question about a week ago, and couldn't gat a definate yes or no, so i went out and bought some UVA/B lights just incase. The problem is that I'm a terrible tightass and it cost close to 2 hundred bucks for 2 x lights (full setup).It hurt.
Infact I am such a tightass that my wife wont feed me strawberries because I cant pass the pips.
The other question I asked was"how do you give the python the suppliments if your going to use them" but i didnt get an answer. |
04-Dec-04, 02:37 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Cairns | | | | You can buy gelatine capsules for putting supplements into if you so wish. You then shove it down a dead rats throat and feed to the snake.
I give all my snakes natural UV at least once a month.
It really does seem to improve the colouring and behaviour.
I do not use UV lights as they are inefficient, ugly and require cages to not be dangerous IMO.
A couple of hours a week of natural light (always allowing the snake to get into the shade if they want), is all you need.
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