From: pmb2@ellis.uchicago.edu (Peter Bell)
Subject: Re: UV light subsistitutes (help)
Reply-To: pmb2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 12:26:21 GMT

In article <bzandrew.01pn@bbs1984.chi.il.us> bzandrew@bbs1984.chi.il.us (Bill Zandrew) writes:
>In article <16849CE41.S863508@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU>, KAREN@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU writes:
>>I have a large iguana that needed proper lighting so I contacted the
>>St. Louis Zoo. I was told to use a blacklight white. I was able to
>>purchase the light and fixture at a lighting store for about $25.00.
>>Vitalites are not as good as a blacklight white.
>Does anyone confirm this??!!

I have an article in front of me, "Reccomendations for the Care of Amphibians
and Reptiles in Academic Institutions" by F. Harvey Pough;  it is from the 
ILAR news, fall 1991.  

"We do not know exactly what wavelengths of light are required for vitamin D3
synthesis by amphibians reptiles, nor do we know whether teh ratio of middle-
wavelength (290-315 nm)to long-wavelength (315-400 nm) ultraviolet light (UVA) 
is important.  Gehrmann (1987) presented information about the spectra of 
several bulbs used in animal husbandry.  Broad spectrum bulbs such as the Vita-
Lite (duro test) and Chroma 50 (general electric) may be effective (Regal,
1980), although these lights, especially the Chroma 50, emit little energy in
the mid-wavelength UV portion of the spectrum....  Fluorescent BL  (black 
light) bulbs provide long-wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA).  Bulbs designated
BLB have a filter that passes only UV wavelengths;  they are more expensive  
than BL bulbs, but no more effective for animal husbandry.  Neither a twelve 
hour daily exposure to VitaLite nor a half hour exposure to a sylvania BL
bulb was sufficient for normal calcification of young chickens (Bernard et al.
1989), and the authors reccommend that these bulbs not be used for captive 
animals.

"Middle wavelength uv light (UVB) is provided by fluorescent sunlamp bulbs of
the sort sometimes used in treating psoriasis.  In addition to the familiar 
tubular fluorescent sunlamps, self-ballasted reflector mushroom-type mercury
lamps emit UVA and UVB.  They are manufactured in 160 and 250 watt sizes by 
Phillips Lighting Company and Iwasaki Electric Company.  National Biological
Corporation (1532 Enterprise Parkway, Twinsburg OH  44087) is a source of 
UVA and UVB bulbs.  *******MIDDLE WAVELENGTH UV LIGHT CAN INJURE THE EYES
OF ANIMALS AND CARETAKERS**** (my emphasis, in case you hadn't guessed), and
care should be taken to limit exposure.  Species of reptiles differ substan-
tially in the UV exposure they require (Townsend and Cole, 1985;  Gehrmann, 
1987) and a conservative approach is advised.  Exposure periods of 30-45
minutes per day at a distance of 50 cm from a UVB lamp may be satisfactory 
for reptiles from open habitats (Moyle, 1989)....

"Snakes may normally satisfy their vitamin D3 requirement from their diet of
whole animals (Ford, in press).  Reptiles from forests, and amphibians in 
general, are probably more sensitive to UV light than are desert reptiles, 
and UVB bulbs are probably not appropriate for these animals.  Early signs of
UVB toxicity include failure to eat, lethargy, diminished activity, and
a grey or smokey skin color that turns progressively darker.  All of these 
symptoms appear to be reversible when exposure ceases.  ****Considering the 
potential risk posed by UVB bulbs to reptiles and their caretakers, a 
combination of broadspectrum fluorescent bulbs and long wavelenght (UVA, ie
black light) bulbs is probably the most practical starting point.....*****
(Townsend and Cole, 1985).  If symptoms of D3 deficiency are observed, 
it may be wise to consider providing UVB.

--other highlights:

keep bulbs within 20 cm of the animals

wire mesh and *some* plastics do not attenuate short wavelenght UV;  glass 
does and should not be between the animal and its light (Gehrmann, 1987)

References:


bernard, watkins and ullrey, 1989.  Manifestations of vitamin D deficiency in
chicks reared under different artificial lighting regimes.  Zoo Biol. 8:349-
355.

Ford, n. b., in press.  Captive care and handling of snakes.  In, Teh Care and
Use of Amphibians, Reptiles and Fish in Research, D. O. Schaeffer and J.T. 
Bieletzki, eds.  Bethesda, MD:  Scientists Center for Animal Welfare.

Gehrmann, 1987.  UV irradiances of various lamps used in animal husbandry.  
Zoo Biol. 6:  117-127.  (n.b.:  a paper with him as coauthor in Zoo Biology
from 91 (v. 10:  p 409-416)looks worth looking at.  Takers, anyone?  "Is 
Vitamin D3 or UVB necessary"--study animal here is the Western Fence Lizard,
a better model than the chick, for reptiles!)

Moyle, M.  1989.  Vitamin D and UV radiation:  guidelines for the herpetocul-
turist.  Pp 61-70 in Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on 
Captive Propogation and Husbandry, MJ Uricheck, ed., Western Connecticut State
University.

Regal, PJ, 1980.  Temperature and Light Requirements of captive reptiles.  
pp79-91 in Reproductive biology and diseases of captive reptiles, JB Murphy 
and JT Collins, eds.  Society for the study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
(Available from SSAR, Robert D Aldredge, publications secretary, department
of zoology, St. Louis University, 3507 Laclede, St Louis, MO  63103.)

Townsend and Cole, 1985.  Additional Notes on requirements of captive whiptail
lizards, with emphasis on UV radiation.  Zoo Biol. 4:49-55

Well, that is all the energy I have to type just now, but it does sound
like blacklights will work as a first approximation for many animals, 
and that snakes may not need UV supplementation but lizards generally
do.  

Peter
pmb2@midway.uchicago.edu


Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp