utra violet lighting

[spottedpython]

when i build these enclosures i'm going to put utra violet lights in the diamond pythons cages and i was wondering do i need to anything like turn them off at a surten time and do they need to be pluged into a thermostat at all and would a 24 inche 20 watt utra violet light be good and i'm wondering does the ones at herp trader do the job or not

[instar]

People do say Diamonds need uv. Id go with the strongest possible tube that provides both uva and uvb spectrum. Buy a fitting (and tube) long enough to cover the enclosure. With that said, no amount of artificial uv will supply as much as a few hours out in the sunshine each week.
how much of that, i leave up to someone who keeps diamonds.
If you do use uv tube its not nessesary to use a thermostat if you use a flourescent type (virtually nil heat output) with other types you would be well advised to seek info about how much heat they emitt.
You could put either types on a timer so you dont have to turn on and off yourself, that way your
snakes gets a regular photoperiod (ajust by season). Sorry, i dont know what the herp trader carries. cheers inny

[Pyror]

You can buy timers that are day (light) sensitive. They switch on with the sun rising and off with the sun setting. These would provide a fairly suitable photoperiod for your diamond. Although they are a bit more expensive than the regular electronic timers.

[africancichlidau]

The ones from the Herp Shop do the job. That said no artificial UV source will provide as much benefit as regularly taking the snake out into natural sunlight, In the long run one of the herp shop mesh enclosures will work out cheaper than replacing UV lamps every few months. Better still do both.

[soulweaver]

with timers for <>'s we have them set to timers that turn on at 7am and go off at 7pm..........screw buying fancy timers that are light sensitive, unless you got the money of co****.............but a penny saved is a penny closer to the next herp

[africancichlidau]

You can wire a P.E. cell into the main circuit and that can be used to control ALL your standard timers. I'm with the weaver though and don't think they are necessary.

[soulweaver]

what's the world comming too? someone agreeing with me?

[africancichlidau]

Don't let it go to your head mate

[soulweaver]

no problem, won't let it old man...........how old you turn again in a few days? sorry i keep forgetting not enough toes and fingers too count lol

[africancichlidau]

Give me experience over youthful exuberance any day mate Eh Girls????

[Switch]

i use a plug in timer that has small digital screen and you can set progammes on it if you want, not expensive, can get them at Kmart i think, and as winter comes on i just change the seetings slightly each week or so till a short day lenght is reached and adjust back to longer days slowly when spring arrives