Some new garters

[Cazador]

Great job, Cyrill. If that doesn't get rid of the problem (along with the medications that you already mentioned), nothing will.
Rick

[abcat1993]

Originally Posted by abcat1993

If I have a UV light for my anole, should I be worried about it's eyes or my eyes?

Bump
this is too short, I will make it longer

[Cazador]

The type of UV lights that are used to treat water are much more powerful than the ones you buy at Wal Mart, for example, and they concentrate specific wavelengths of light (240-245nm, as I recall). As a general precaution, though prolonged exposure to any UV light isn't good for your eyes. Use it sparingly.

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by abcat1993

Bump
this is too short, I will make it longer

No, it's not intensive enough. UVB can be harmful to your eyes, but that's something that primarily concerns welders. And if your cage is made of ordinary glass, UVB won't penetrate it anyway.

Cazador, that wavelength would make it UVC.

UVA: 400-315 nm
UVB: 315-280 nm
UVC: <280 nm

[Cazador]

Stefan
That makes sense. I had to double-check, but the UV water purification systems have wavelengths ranging between about 185 & 255 nm. It sounds like you know that the shorter wavelengths don't carry as far, but they're much more intense and have a worse effect on DNA within their range. That's why these systems have to be shielded from line-of-sight exposure.

Abcat,
Like Stefan said, the UV light won't penetrate the glass, but it will penetrate the screen openings on top of your terrarium, so I'd use it sparingly with your snake and not at all on albinos.
Rick

[abcat1993]

So, if I don't change his bulb, he will go blind. Petco sells many types of these UV bulbs. And almost every website I went to said that anoles need UV lights. Should I switch them on and off?

[Stefan-A]

In my opinion, there is no need to worry about the anole's or snake's eyes, as long as the animals aren't albino.

We are talking about a normal UVB light intended specifically for reptiles, right?

[Cazador]

Stefan makes a good point about distinguishing between the various forms of UV light. At first, we were specifically talking about UVC, which is the most dangerous type (but least common) because it has high-energy, short wavelength emissions. It's very effective at killing waterborne microbes but also has deleterious effects on vertebrates.

"Blacklights" emit in the near UVA and slightly into the visible light spectrum. These are different from UVB lights. As far as I've read, Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to UVB, so I'm not sure what the UVA provides (besides heat). Perhaps someone could clarify?

Both UVA and UVB can create thiamine dimers in the DNA (i.e. inappropriate bonding), leading to replication errors and tumors/cancer. UVA and UVB can also stimulate cells to secrete "prostaglandins," which suppress the immune system, lead to premature aging of the skin (wrinkles), and can cause a whole lot of other maladies.

I've attached a link to a World Health Organization website that talks about the effects of UV light on several health-related endpoints. It is very brief but has links that provide more information. One endpoint includes eye diseases as a result of UVA (blacklight) exposure.

Personally, I think it's a cheap and simple matter to use Infrared bulbs to produce heat and supplement a reptile's diet with calcium plus vitamin D instead of using the UV-type bulbs. The UV bulbs are probably fine to use "sparingly," but I wouldn't expose myself to them for several hours at a time, day after day. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk.

Finally, I believe that calcium supplementation is necessary (particularly in the absence of UV light), and most Ca supplements come fortified with vitamin D. Therefore, I don't believe additional vitamin D from UV lighting is prudent. Vitamin D isn't water soluble; it's fat soluble and can accumulate in fatty tissues. It becomes toxic at high concentration. I don't want to imply that UV light cannot or should not be used, it just comes with known risks. Since I've never owned a lizard/anole and know little about their physiology, please don't use my advise toward their well being. Best,
Rick

WHO | Health effects of UV radiation

[abcat1993]

Maybe I won't be getting more of those bulbs. I have always been overly worried for my eyes, so just to be safe, I'll get rid of those soon. Although, I read somewhere that they stop producing UV light after 6-8 months. Does that mean that they slowly produce less? In that case I would just wait until it dies and use florescent bulbs or natural sunlight ones, or maybe even those basking lights

[Cazador]

I don't know why UV lights would stop producing UV light after time, except that they'll probably burn out in about 6-8 months. Fluorescent bulbs put out a lot of light, but not a lot of heat. Depending upon how cool your room gets at night, you might just choose to use a standard soft white light bulb during the day, and turn it off at night. A 5-10F drop in temp at night is perfectly fine. If the temp drops over 10F, then you might consider a heat pad under the tank or an IR bulb. Again, these are just my preferences. There's certainly more than one right way to raise a snake.