When setting up your reptile’s enclosure, providing proper UVB lighting is vital to their health and wellbeing. It is much more than just about providing a light for you to be able to see your reptile better or simply making the enclosure look more attractive. UVB plays an essential role in the animal’s physiology, immunity, behaviour, calcium absorption and growth/development. Let’s dive deeper into understanding exactly what UVB is, how it affects our reptiles and how we can provide it correctly to ensure good health and quality of life.
What Is UVB and Why Do Reptiles Need It?
In the wild, reptiles are generally exposed to sunlight on a regular basis, providing them with both heat and also ultraviolet light (UV). Ultraviolet B (UVB) is a type of ultraviolet radiation found naturally in sunlight. Although it is invisible to the human eye, it has important biological effects on many animals, including reptiles.
Unlike heat, UVB is unable to pass through plastic or glass therefore simply putting your terrarium next to a window does not substitute the need for a UVB lamp. The degree of exposure varies between species’ habitats, geographical locations, time of day and also season. These differences are important because not all reptiles require the same level of UVB exposure. Understanding a species' natural history is the first step towards recreating suitable conditions in captivity.
UVB enables the synthesis of Vitamin D3 in reptiles. Amongst its several functions throughout the body, its most important function is enabling calcium absorption through the gastrointestinal system. Calcium is crucial for bones and nerves to develop and function properly. Other functions include supporting immunity, renal and digestive function, growth and reproduction.
Inadequate UVB and Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles
Unfortunately reptiles being kept with improper or even without UVB is a common occurrence in clinical cases. The main disease seen because of this is referred to as MBD - Metabolic Bone Disease. This disorder can manifest as any of the following:
Soft or weak bones, fractures or spinal deformities
Abnormally shaped limbs or “rubber” jaw
Tremors or muscle twitching
Difficulty walking, climbing or gripping surfaces
Poor growth, reproductive failure and even life threatening complications
How to Choose UVB Lighting for Your Reptile
When it comes to choosing what kind of UVB to provide to your reptile, it best to always research care sheets to understand better what your reptile needs. In general, desert species such as Bearded Dragons and Uromastyx, come from habitats with open spaces exposed to plenty of sunlight and therefore high UVB exposure. Forest and tropical dwelling reptiles such as Crested geckos, generally require a lower amount of UVB as trees in their natural habitat tend to filter out the sunlight.
When coming across UVB bulbs in a store, you will see that the boxes generally show the following numbers; 5.0 or 5% and 10.0 or 10%. These numbers refer to the UVB output of the bulb meaning, for example, 10.0 means that 10% of the bulb’s total output is UVB and the rest is UVA and visible light. Normally 5% bulbs are utilised for tropical species whereas 10% bulbs are used for desert species. It is important however to take into account the specific enclosure being used as height will affect the amount of UVB reaching your reptile. Always check the chart on the back of the box when buying your bulb.
Compact Bulbs vs Linear Tubes
There is a lot of debate surrounding this topic. Compact coil bulbs have been the most popular form of UVB bulb for reptiles for a long while due to their affordability, easy installation and, being compact, they don’t require much space. Due to their compact size however, they only provide UVB in a short, narrow beam therefore only the area directly under the bulb is receiving UVB. Linear UVB tubes, specifically T5, are able to provide strong UVB over a larger area. This means that the reptile is able to move around the enclosure and still be exposed to UVB. Another benefit of linear UVB is that they tend to last longer and are more energy-efficient.
My tip would be to use compact bulbs for small enclosures of low UVB requiring species and use linear tubes for larger enclosures and species with higher UVB requirements!
How Often Should You Replace a Reptile UVB Bulb?
Unlike basking bulbs which need to be changed only when they burn out, UVB bulbs generally last longer physically however they need to be changed every 6-12 months as the output decreases over time. They can also be checked with a UV monitor if you have one available. This is worth investing in if you have a large collection.
UVB Lighting at Tat-Targa Pet Shop
Looking for UVB lighting for your reptile? Explore our range of UVB bulbs and reptile lighting at Tat-Targa Pet Shop. Whether you are setting up a new enclosure or replacing an existing bulb, choose lighting suited to your reptile’s species and enclosure. If you are unsure which option is appropriate, our veterinary team can advise on your reptile’s individual requirements.
Book a Reptile Consultation
Unsure whether your reptile’s UVB lighting is suitable? Contact Tat-Targa Vet Clinic in Naxxar, Malta, for advice tailored to your reptile’s species and enclosure.