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UVB dangerous for humans?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:55 am
by BlueSas
Hi,

I just got my new baby blue tongue skink and we are about to buy a UVB light for her. I've read online that the light can be dangerous for humans. I'm a little worried about this because my blue tongues enclosure is in my bed room.
Is it true that it can be dangerous for humans and come through the glass?
And does the UVB light need to be 'UVB 5'?

Thanks in advance,

Re: UVB dangerous for humans?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 8:34 am
by Laceflower
I think the danger you've heard about is quite overexaggerated. I keep my bluey in my room, UVB and all, and everything has always gone swimmingly. It shouldn't affect you, seeing as it will be pointed toward the floor of your enclosure and not at any of your own living space. As for it being able to come through glass, I'm going to call bull on that one as well- it's actually a fact that UV rays are incapable of passing through glass.

To answer the latter portion of your question, the bulb wattage and type you use will depend on your light fixture and that fixture's distance from your basking spot. I use a UV 10.0 tube inside a Zoo Med Deep Dome fixture 9-10" from my basking spot for my UVB.

Re: UVB dangerous for humans?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 10:17 am
by NickBrahz
UV rays get filtered through glass the only thing that will go through is light, unless your sitting and staring at the globes from 5cm away i don't see how you would be harmed in anyway other then maybe a minor burn if you touch it, i kept 3 enclosures in my room just fine.

I also use a 10 not a 5.

Re: UVB dangerous for humans?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:45 pm
by BlueSas
Ahhhhh okay, thank you!
I just have one more question.

Does it need to be toughened glass in the enclosure which limits UV from getting out (i.e. a commercially made enclosure) because I bought a homemade enclosure from the man that sold me my Blue Tongue, and I'm pretty sure the glass he put in the enclose is just a regular thin un-toughened glass?

Re: UVB dangerous for humans?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 5:40 pm
by Laceflower
I think you're fine with the enclosure he gave you; as long as it's big enough, it can be made of wood, melamine, or glass with no problems for you or the animal.