Diamonds & UV lighting

[JungleRob]

How important is it for diamonds to have UV lighting?

What happens to diamonds that don't receive sufficient UV?

Thanks,
JUNGLEROB

[dentech]

they need to have uva,b, if they dont they have a vit d issue and i think it has an effect on calcium absorbtion or something, but i know its very important jungle

[the_brad]

diamonds are more dificult to keep then most think! they need a photo period that matches there wild habit which includes winter cooling and not to be over fed, i dont think you can say yes they "must" have UV as there is no hard proof (that i no of anyway). but if you are able to provide it you defently should.
its all fair and well to say ive kept them this way ect ect but realy you could keep them on a heat mat 24/7 for years before they degrade. ive only kept diamonds for about 6 or 7 years, they are in an aviory and i only feed for 4 or 5months of the year, people say they need to be cooled to very low temps so people leave them in aviorys with only a hiding box!! just because they are a "cold" weather snake dosnt mean you can not provide them with cover/good shelter. in the wild they find somewhere warm like a decaying tree holow or somewhere exposed to the sun which holds the heat like a much or logs covered in mulch or grass.
sorry for ramblihg but theres alot of other things that help keep them healthy and happy

[GEARJAMMER]

Thank you......brad fianally some worthwhile info on these magnificant animals

[dazza74]

fantastic information

[JungleRob]

Thanks 'the_brad' that certainly helps. There's a lot of similar information on a few US sites, good to hear it from someone local.

I'm in Brisbane, would you think they'd do ok in an outdoor setup throughout the year here? Temps don't get much lower than than 5deg too often. They'd get some natural heat during the day and could setup a couple heat mats for really cold nights if needed.

Thanks again for your help.

[grimbeny]

I would think that cold nights r definatly not an issue. They woul have much colder times in their actual climate, u might even find its too warm in summer.

[Dan19]

In normal enclosures how do u get UV for the snakes?

[JungleRob]

You can use fluorescent tubes like 'Repti-Sun', otherwise URS also do a screw in type. Have a look on their site.

[JungleRob]

Originally Posted by grimbeny

I would think that cold nights r definatly not an issue. They woul have much colder times in their actual climate, u might even find its too warm in summer.

That's right, have heard that some people in Brisbane actually keep them indoors through the peak of summer because it gets too hot.

[The Devil]

(What happens to diamonds that don't receive sufficient UV?)

Well I guess that providing you feed them they just keep growing.

A year or 3 ago there was a lot of talk that diamonds need UV and if it's not provided they end up with D. P.S. (diamond python syndrome) From what I have experienced and seen that thought has been disproved. It is a bit like the story that diamonds need extra calcium to prevent D.P.S. again not true.
I have kept diamonds indoors without any problems and Simon Stone has kept and breed diamonds indoor for many years. They are kept in the coldest part of his house and at very low temps.

Temperature especially in the warmer areas is critical, they like it COLD, so the ideal position for an outside cage would be somewhere they would only get a few hours sun in winter and no sun in summer. On the other hand summer heat can be detrimental hence the bit about no sun in summer.
A friend of mine has kept them this way for about 10 years, he get frosts where he lives and the diamonds seem to thrive.
In some ways they seem to be stupid snakes, I've been to his places on a wet winters day and the diamonds instead of being in a dry hide box are out laying in the rain and wind.

[mungus]

Basically, dont overfeed, overheat and cool them every year if possible weather breeding or not.
As for u/v - not required.

[the_brad]

well if you in brisbane i dont think you would worry about heat mats thru winter but you would want to give them somewhere good to hibernate. putting straw about a metre high in sections of an avirory with hollow logs which they can squeeze into help them to hold the heat, thats what i do but i also hang plastic sheets on the wall to retain the heat and in summer i have vine that shades the hole aviory and i hose it on hot days, the vine works great! shades it in summer and loose its leaves so the sun can get in during winter

[jay76]

I keep diamonds inside in brisbane just dont have any heat on them all year

[Logan & Allana]

Our diamonds are kept outside in a avairy and were in brisbane. I've had them out there in summer to but were there located only gets about 3hrs of the morning sun then nothing. I think it's very true they love the cold conditions because in summer they spend more time hiding and in winter there more active (or so I've found). One night here a few months back it got to minus 2 deg there was really bad frosts and yet I woke to find one of our diamonds sitting in her water bowl the mad thing, she was fine. A lot of breeders have told me to bred diamonds here they need to be outside (not sure on the truth of this but I've followed there advice) and to date havn't had any issues.

Allana