UVB or D3?

[bella3]

I am curious, what do you guys use, D3, UVB or both?
I want to hear everyone's opinions on this!
Also what type of UVB bulbs are most energy efficient?
Thanks

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

All of that is discussed here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19327&hilit=UVB

A quote from Jeff:
"I don't want to get into another UVB debate, but I will do my best to convey the results of a fairly long term study done by one extremely respected person in the BTS community.

This breeder kept one group of skinks (#1) away from any UVB exposure and supplemented their diet with calcium that included D3.

Another group (#2) was kept with UVB lighting, but given calcium that did not include vitamin D3.

The third group (#3) was given both UVB lighting and calcium that included D3.

The results were as follows:

Group #1 - No health issues at all. Extremely healthy skinks that bred very well.

Group #2 - Some of these skinks seemed normal, and others began developing the first signs of MBD. The breeding rates were much lower. Even the skinks that appeared healthy had smaller litters, and the babies were not as hardy.

Group #3 - These skinks were all healthy and showed no signs of any health issues. They bred well with large healthy litters.

This evidence is of course not ultimately conclusive, but it does support the theory that artificial UVB lighting may not be totally effective for the calcium needs of BTS. It is important to note that this study was done a number of years ago, before mercury vapor bulbs were available. The best bulbs available at the time were used, but they were not MVB.

I don't know if that is very useful to you or not, but personally, I would supplement with a calcium that included D3 regardless of whether or not you provide UVB lighting."

(Jeff)

[bella3]

Thanks ML!

[WanderingChai]

I like D3 more!

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

I like D3 more!

Why?

[Richard.C]

also in regards to more effecient its 6 of 1,half a dozen of the other,uv flouros tubes are cheaper,and lower wattage,but need to be used with basking lights to,as they dont give off much heat,the newer uvb bulbs supply uv and a basking bulb in one,they are pricey,and high wattage,but supply both in one so much the same to run cost wise

its often said that tiliqua may not absorb much,if any goodness from uv lights,being reflective in scales,plus uv light sources are no substitute for natural sunlight,and i think supplementing with calcium/d3 supplements is more important,and multivitamin supplements

i personally dont use uv on my skinks,but theres no harm in using them either,but just remember diet and supplementation is most important for indoor kept bluetongues

[WanderingChai]

I like D3 more!

Why?

Sorry- I meant to write more but blanked out.

I like D3 more because it's one less thing to hook up each day, and it's cheaper than electricity bills. Plus, in the summer, you can just bring your skink outside!

[Katrina]

I offer both, but I rely more on the D3. I supplement with Calcium + D3 regularly, probably 2 out of 5 feedings. 1-2 of those feedings I supplement plain calcium and sometimes I don't supplement. Natural sunlight is great, but being so far North I don't get a lot of days where it is warm enough to bring them out each year and I have lots so it is tough to get them all outside in a day (I don't have pens or anything, so supervision is required).

I think most people use a fluorescent light of some sort and don't just rely on the basking lamp to light the entire enclosure (at least I do), so I guess I figure they may as well be UVB lights if I have an extra light in there anyway. But I'm not always on top of changing them every 6 months which is why I said I rely on D3 more!!

[SFBlueTongue81]

I use both, but I only have one BTS.
I read somewhere on here that 1hour of regular sunlight= a week worth of UVB so I try to get my BTS out on any sunny days we have.
I'm using a 4 compact Flo-bulb fixture in my 36" tank 10.0 desert rating at 18" which is what the bulb website recommended for BTS