#102508

 Flourescet equals=UV??

well.... from what I have been reading, it almost seems as though regular flourescent lights can be used as UV lights? is this true? if so, what wattage do you need? or what wattage UV light? can yuo buy these little buggers at Wal Mart? i need a UV light, right now its got 2 regular 60 watta bulbs, one directly shining down, one providing a small it of light...

 #102694

 Flourescet equals=UV??

Buy a real reptile light, ’bout $20. Don’t settle for less, you’ll get into some prblems with that.

 #102700

 Flourescet equals=UV??

okee dokee

 #102918

 Flourescet equals=UV??

I think that they are the same thing. But just to be sure, buy a black light. UV and black light are definetly the same thing.

 #103037

 Flourescet equals=UV??

UV and blacklight are not the same thing. UV (which stands for ultra violet) is a non-spectrum, invisible light (meaning it has nothing to do with spectrum colors found in light -- plant lights have strong red and blue spectrum colors, which are the colors plants use, while full-spectrum lights are white, including the red and blue, and is more like true sunlight, great for reading, but without the UV). Black light is violet light, but it is not UV light (those old black-light lights we used to use on our psychedelic posters never gave anyone a tan (and, yes, I just dated myself terribly) UV is what burns your skin, but it’s also necessary for the absorption of certain vitamins (D, mainly). Reptiles need UV light to absorb the same vitamins. A UV bulb will contain UV light, along with full or partial spectrum colors. Pet stores sell reptile-friendly UV light bulbs; these are your best bet. If your lizard is getting real sunlight during the day, unfiltered, this is unnecessary. Gordon

 #103817

 Flourescet equals=UV??

but there’s Vitamin D in reptivite...

 #103821

 Flourescet equals=UV??

Yes, and there’s Vitamin D added to our milk, too. But in order for us to absorb it fully, we need (some) UV light. Reptiles need lots -- they don’t have skin cancer problems -- and the UV light allows their bodies to use the Vitamin D fully. So it’s good that the Reptivite has necessary vitamins, like D, in it, but the animal still has to be able to utilize it. Best, Gordon