Читать книгу Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Reptile and Amphibian - Javier G. Nevarez - Страница 34

There has been a long‐standing debate about the effectiveness and even potential harmful effects of artificial UVB lights. Like the application of any treatment or therapeutic, the use of UVB lights must be in accordance with certain parameters for it to be effective and safe. Nowadays there are high‐quality bulbs in the market that provide adequate UVB while also being safe when used appropriately. UVB bulbs can be further divided into linear fluorescent, compact fluorescents, and mercury vapor. In the future, commercial LED UVB lights may also become available. Fluorescent UVB bulbs provide light in the required wavelength for D3 synthesis but no heat. Mercury vapor bulbs provide both heat and UVB.

There are six main aspects to consider when selecting a UVB bulb:

1 Size/type of the enclosure.

2 Type of material between the bulb and the reptile.

3 Type of bulb.

4 Effective distance of the bulb.

5 Bulb longevity.

6 Species of reptile.

Another consideration is the type of fixture used for the bulb. There are a number of reptile‐specific fixtures that offer the advantage of having reflective materials to increase light reflection and decrease scattered light emission (radiation). Some also have a ceramic base and are more tolerant of higher temperatures produced by mercury vapor bulbs. Reptile‐specific light fixtures or those that reflect light away from the bulb and towards the animal are preferred over plastic fixtures or those without reflective properties.