Quote Originally Posted by kibakiba View Post
UV lights are for simulating sunlight. But, garters do not need them at all. Most lizards and such need some sort of UV I believe, though.
No, they're not for simulating sunlight exactly. They're for vitamin D3 (needed for absorption of calcium) synthesis. Reptiles, and even people, can synthesize D3 in their skin but UV exposure is needed to accomplish that.

People and snakes can get all the D3 they need from their food and so UV exposure isn't absolutely necessary as long as there is enough D3 in their food. The reason for UV output bulbs is that many lizards, especially desert species, can only get D3 by sythesizing it in their skin. For those species, without UV exposure they cannot get the D3 they need, so they can't absorb calcium, and so they end up with soft bones and other health problems, and ultimately, they'll die.

You can simulate natural daylight for garters without the UV output by using common white or "daylight" florescent bulbs. I would recommend that you use one of those, even if you use and incandescent bulb for heat.

Personally I think it's safer if you use a florescent for light and an undertank heater. I never did see how people could put hot bulbs directly in an enclosure. Every time I've tried that, snakes inevitably get burned, water spashes the bulb and breaks it, and numerous other hassles.