Confused about lighting

[trex]

I have only kept leopard geckos before and because they are nocturnal animals they did not require any type of lighting (UV or otherwise).

I am planning on buying a baby northern BTS sometime soon and I want to make sure I get the lighting issue down. I am confused as to what to do.

I read that BTS do, in fact, benefit from UVB lighting. Since they are ectotherms they also need external heat. I have an undertank heat pad that I plan on installing under my melamine cage. I also plan on buying a lamp and a UVB bulb to place on TOP of the cage. It would shine for 9 hours a day and turn off at night to resume the next day. Is that too much/little?

Do I have all I need? I thought that UVB lights also generate heat which would make it so that I do not need to buy an extra heat lamp.

Help is appreciated

[Dakota]

Actually, do neither benefit or hurt the skink with/without UVB. I personally think it is just a waste of money buying since it has been proven not needed, but that's me. Make sure you supplement Ca+D3

9 hours is fine, but 12 hour cycles are best.

Just buy a cheap dollar store bulb, experiment with the watts, and which ever reaches around 100 is perfect!

I think people just over think things, when it comes to lighting issues.

ETA: YOUR FROM EARTH?? TELL ME HOW IT IS LIKE TO LIVE ON EARTH??

[UroFreak13]

Haha i do supliment with uv but i keep the light to provide lightin after the blub is no lengrt emmiting uv. As long as you're supplimenting with calcium d3 there is no issue. The heating and uv combination only is fine as long as it reaches 100 f over the baskin spot. If not u may want to add.

[Logancrook]

My skink's viv just has a heat lamp and she seems to be doing fine. I do take her outside and give her supplements though.

[Chris.J]

Got to say that I would think that full spectrum lighting, while most likely not needed for the reasons mentioned, doesn't mean that it doesn't have any benefits.

You can supplement a human and they would never have to see the sun either, but study after study has shown just being exposed to full spectrum lighting has positive effects on mood. Why can't the same be true for BTS?

Their environment should be made to be as similar to what they experience in the wild whenever possible.

[trex]

If UVB is not needed, then I really would rather not have it. I have fear that heat lamps will catch fire. I just feel safer using an under tank heater.

If i can make sure that there is a hot spot of 100 degrees F on one side of the cage with the UTH, is lighting even needed?

The reason i brought uvb was because this site seems to really recommend it:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

It looks like it is the main website of this forum. Not sure though.

[Chris.J]

If UVB is not needed, then I really would rather not have it. I have fear that heat lamps will catch fire. I just feel safer using an under tank heater.

If i can make sure that there is a hot spot of 100 degrees F on one side of the cage with the UTH, is lighting even needed?

The reason i brought uvb was because this site seems to really recommend it:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

It looks like it is the main website of this forum. Not sure though.

Heat Lights and Full Spectrum lighting (UVB lighting) can be and are most of the time are separate. I was more talking about Fluorescent lights which really do not generate much heat but still emit a full spectrum. Thats why it is able to recommend both a Fluorescent Light and a Heat Lite on the BTS.Net care sheet.

[Richard.C]

uv lights don't compare to anywhere near what natural sunlight provides,uv light may provide added benefits inbehaviour,how they see things ect ect,but isn't needed

the prob with uv lights is folk believe they are miracle lights and they will offer all what reptiles need in regards to calcium absorption,d3 ect ect,by them selvesthey are useless in that regard which studies have showed

the most important thing with calcium intake,d3 ect is supplementing there diets,whether you use uv or not,dietry intake being the most important thing

theres always debate about using or not using uv light,often based on personal choice or whats written in care guides or a vet has recommended,you can do great what ever side of the fence you sit on but end of the day diet and dietry intake is of way more importance,uv alone wont prevent mbd

[Chris.J]

uv lights don't compare to anywhere near what natural sunlight provides,uv light may provide added benefits inbehaviour,how they see things ect ect,but isn't needed

Thanks Richard. I can understand that with supplementation UV would not be needed

Also I agree with what you said in that it may add benefits and if it doesn't throw off the temps I just don't see negatives to adding it and it could very well be a positive for them. I mean from my own tinted glasses (human mammal point of view) seeing and interacting in full spectrum lighting has an effect. I don't think it has the same effect as the being able to walk in the sun everyday, but if the only light I saw all day was a regular lightbulb it would be hard for this mammal - why not a reptile?

[trex]

Ok.

Thanks, so can you guys please tell me if what i have is all i need?

Heat pad
Fluorescent heat lamp
UV (optional)

Is the above what i need?

[Dakota]

Depending where on Earth you live, a heating pad would be optional.

[trex]

I'm in the southern US, summer temps can get pretty hot, but the winter can cool the outside to round 40-50. I'm guessing the only time i need the heat pad is during the winter.

I am a little confused about flurourescent lighting. These are the bulbs taht help bring full spectrum benefits to the lizard right? Do they als oemit heat? Or do i need to buy a separate bulb for that?

[Dakota]

Sorry-- no comment on that, I just use incandescent light bulbs. No UV in my house-hold.

[El Lobo]

Ok.

Thanks, so can you guys please tell me if what i have is all i need?

Heat pad
Fluorescent heat lamp
UV (optional)

Is the above what i need?

BTS' need an overhead heat source such as a lamp or CHE to thermally regulate, i.e. a basking spot. An under tank heat pad cannot provide that requirement, nor will it enable a sufficient heat gradient over the whole of the enclosure.

A fluorescent heat lamp is a contradiction in terms. Fluorescent lamps operate at a 'cool' temperature, not emitting enough heat to warm a reptile enclosure.

[trex]

Alright then lol.

Lemme try again.

I need a ceramic heat emitter or a heat lamp to provide a basking spot for my skink. Which out of those two are safer in terms of mitigating fire risk? UV and heat pads are optional.

I plan on using the heat pad at night tho so he won't be so cold.

[Lea]

Hi there. El lobo is right, skinks need an overhead heat source to bask. An under tank heater can be used if your house is really that cold, but usually enough heat is maintained within four walls that it's use is somewhat obsolete. When your ambient temperatures are high, you will still find that they require a little additional spot heating, even as low as a 20w bulb, just to allow them to raise their body temperatures enough.

Heat mats, rocks, pads and cords are inadvisable for blue tongues and often cause burns, this is because their thermoreceptors are found mainly on the top side of their bodies. They may not detect a source of heat being too hot before it's too late. Also, skinks will burrow into substrate, so often find themselves in contact with the bottom of the tank or enclosure, where the greatest heat will be.

Blue tongues also benefit from a cooling period. This allows their bodies to rest and assists with immune support and cell repair etc. Being poikilothermic, they won't mind the cold, so don't fret about having to keep them warm at night.

[Richard.C]

there are some people whom use predominitly heatmats,cords,pads ect and have good results with that,ideally though its best to simulate sun shining down on them,main thing is providing required hot spot and thermal gradient,thats way moreimportant than what u use to heat them

some folk use a mix of heat mat,tape,cord ect and a basking bulb

[trex]

Ok, so the general consensus is the heat lamp is the best heat source to use, bar none.

With that being said, how safe are they for long term use? I am a little nervous about leaving a heat lamp on for 12 hours unattended. Are fire hazards decreased if I were to use a cermaic heat emitter because there is no bulb and filament?

[Lea]

If you use an ordinary light bulb, that you would put for a house light, the fire hazard is no greater than leaving a light on in your house all day. There is obviously an increase in the ambient heat around the bulb which could up the fire hazard, but probably no more than a ceramic heat emitter. A bulb will blow it's filament if it overheats, whereas a CHE will give off intense heat, capable of melting plastic fittings, so come with safety clamps for special fitting to the enclosure.

If you use a surge protected power board for all your electrical cords, you will have a reduced risk of fire from electrical defaults. If you have a glass enclosure, the bulb will burn out fast once blown, depleting the heat as opposed to a CHE, which will continue to supply residual heat for a longer time.

There are hazards to both, so you have to weigh up what is right for you. I prefer the light bulb, as I can see when it fails much easier than a CHE, but both are great for providing basking spot heat. From what I remember when using a CHE, it will increase the ambient temperature more than a normal light globe, so for heating larger spaces, it may be more cost effective.

Obviously, make sure the area is free from flammable materials, curtains, blankets etc and ensure the fixture can't be knocked or fall over and all that common sense stuff

[El Lobo]

Provided you use a fitting designed for the application I can't see what the concern is for leaving a light unattended. I would think all here would have lamps running when they are not at home. The main problem caused by lights overheating and perhaps causing fire is due to not matching lamps to fittings, e.g. using a 100W lamp in a fitting rated to a maximum of 50W. Ceramic fittings cannot catch fire and/or melt but a plastic fitting can.

Additionally, timer switches and thermostats can be incorporated into a setup to maintain correct temperatures. An earth leak detector could also be connected to ensure electrics are switched off in the case of any short circuit.

Ceramic emitters have a wider dispersion pattern than a spot lamp so need a higher rating for the same heating effect, meaning they consume a lot more electricity.