Читать книгу Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Reptile and Amphibian - Javier G. Nevarez - Страница 41

There is a common trend toward make recommendations of bulbs based on the species with which it will be used. The principle behind this makes sense but in practice it is flawed. The thought is that tropical, desert or diurnal species require higher UVB exposure and therefore a stronger UVB bulb, while more temperate, or forest species require a lower UVB exposure and therefore a weaker bulb. These principles would hold true in open‐topped enclosures without a lid or when the bulb is placed inside the enclosure. However as mentioned previously, when the bulb is placed atop a screen, it can block a significant portion of the UVB reaching the animal. Therefore the author recommends selecting a bulb not simply based on the species but rather a combination of the species and the specific enclosure set‐up for the particular animal. There have been some cases in which animals where overexposed to UVB due to manufacturing errors in some UVB bulbs. As a consequence, some people believe that 10.0 bulbs are too strong and harmful for reptiles. This is not the case. In fact, it is difficult to replicate the natural UVB exposure from the sun and most bulbs cannot replace natural sunlight. It is rather the erroneous use of UVB bulbs that can lead to problems. Even a 2.0 bulb could cause problems if the reptile is allowed to come in direct contact with the bulb, as this is not the intended use. Buying a UVB bulb from a reputable manufacturer that provides clear guidance as to how to use the bulbs is the first step in the safe use of UVB bulbs. The second aspect is ensuring that the owners and caretakers are indeed using the bulbs in the safest, most efficient manner for the particular species.