UVA and UVB for snakes

[Darkon]

hey just wanting to know if snakes need UVA and UVB? are their needs very different to lizards?

thanks sam

[junglepython2]

General consensus is that it's not required except for diamond pythons which seem to need UVB.

Snakes are usually nocturnal and their diet consists of a lot of calcium so they do differ from lizards in their UV requirments.

[Darkon]

ok thanks

[becsta]

this may seem like a really stupid question....
but is there any way of supplimenting vitamin D into a snakes diet or even breeding mice/rats that have had vitamin d supplements???
just a thought

[timthevet]

All reptiles require UV in the range from 285-315nm. In addition to this, they also require a blue-green light. UV is required to convert Vitamin D to its active form. All Vitamin D supplements are in the INactive form and require UV. Failure to provide UV light can lead to bone disease including fractures and paralysis.

[Darkon]

what do u mean a blue green light?

[timthevet]

Blue-green lights are full spectrum lights which includes UV and are necessary for normal activity and feeding behaviour. An example is the 'Truelight'.

[Darkon]

oh ok i ve heard of them, thanks for that

[Easybob]

My understanding is that all reptiles benifet from UV but the only ones that need it to stay healthy are diaurnal speices, usually beeing certin lizerds. I could be mis led.

[JasonL]

I keep over 100 Lizards (inc. two sp. of dragons), turles and frogs without any UV lighting or access to natural unfiltered sunlight and have not had a problem. Understanding heating and food requirements is the key.

[whiteyluvsrum]

UV light source. Most lizards and almost all turtles and tortoises need ultraviolet light to produce vitamin D3, which stimulates their bodies to produce calcium so they don't get metabolic bone disease. Snakes generally don't need UV light because they get D3 from eating whole-bodied animals, like mice and rats.

[Camo]

All my snakes are not on any form of UVB or UVA. They are going great guns. I dont have diamond pythons but. From what i understand diamonds are the only python that require UVB.

Cameron

[dugadugabowbow]

Originally Posted by timthevet

All reptiles require UV in the range from 285-315nm. In addition to this, they also require a blue-green light. UV is required to convert Vitamin D to its active form. All Vitamin D supplements are in the INactive form and require UV. Failure to provide UV light can lead to bone disease including fractures and paralysis.

What a load of rubbish!

Most pythons and monitors don't need UV light to lead a long heathly life, Dragons for example need UV light and it seems diamond pythons do benefit from it.


Your not a real vet are you?

[darkangel]

i'm only a newbie (got my first snake today!) but from wat i have been told from talking to breeders is that they don't need any uv lighting etc as they often live in caves or hide away during the day and come out of a night. i could be wrong as i said i'm only a newbie.

[junglepython2]

Spot on Darkangel. If lizards are fed food coated with calcium supplements they can get away without UV as well.