Along with a bright light source and heat, such as incandescent lights, most reptiles require broad spectrum UVA/UVB lighting. Providing the proper amount of UV to your reptiles is vital to their health. In their natural environment, lizards spend a lot of time basking, which provides them with these essential rays of light, but in captivity it is essential that we provide them.
The difference between UVA and UVB light
UVA is a long-range ultraviolet light. UVA light stimulates your reptile to perform normal daytime activities and is important in establishing day/night routines. Reptiles that receive sufficient UVA rays are more active, eat more, reproduce more easily, and display a general sense of well-being.
UVB is a short-range ultraviolet light that is essential to the reptile’s digestive process. Exposure to UVB rays produces vitamin D3 in the reptile’s skin.
The importance of ultraviolet lighting
Reptiles need a day/night cycle for optimal health and temperament. Without a consistent day and night cycle, your reptile will become stressed and may display symptoms such as loss of appetite or a bad temper. This is where the UVA comes into play. UVA rays tell the reptile that it is daytime and stimulate the animal to perform normal daytime activities such as feeding, bathing, and exploring.
Vitamin D3 is necessary for your reptiles to absorb and use calcium. D3 is produced within the reptile’s skin as it basks in the sun and absorbs UVB rays. In captivity, exposure to natural sunlight is limited, and materials such as glass, fiberglass, plexiglass, and screens filter UVB rays, so we must provide an alternate source of UVB rays.
Many health problems can occur if your reptile is not getting enough UVB due to a lack of vitamin D3. Symptoms can range from decreased digestion, loss of appetite, and mouth or stomach rot, to more serious problems such as blindness, paralysis, and even death. UVB deficiency also causes metabolic bone disease (MBD) in reptiles.
With MBD, the bones do not grow properly, or even in an adult lizard they become misshapen, brittle, and break easily.
Reptiles that do not need UVA/UVB
If providing artificial UV for your reptile is not a feasible option, you may want to consider a reptile that does not require UV. There are some varieties of lizards that are nocturnal (awake at night) and therefore have adapted to living without the UV rays that the sun provides. Geckos are a great example of this. Some of the most popular geckos are Leopard Geckos and Crested Geckos. Frogs are also another great option if you can’t provide UV. Frogs are amphibians and do not need UV rays to digest food, absorb calcium and stay healthy.
Thoroughly research the UVA/UVB requirements of any reptile or amphibian species you plan to keep as a pet. UV bulbs are expensive and need to be replaced every six months, even if they are still lighting up.