Monitors - UV Observation

Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Monitors Forum Forums Home Members Area

Monitors Forum

3240 Crocdoc 3240 Sdslancs Krusty Gatorhunter Gatorhunter Nermie Sdslancs Nermie Sdslancs 3240 Nermie Mxracer Nermie

Member

Message

#1725543

3240
View Profile

UV Observation

I realize that there is an endless debate regarding the benefits of UVB in monitor husbandry but I do have an interesting observation.

My croc and lace enclosures have windows facing the East. In the a.m. the enclosures receive signficant UV (natural light) through these windows. Every morning without fail, I find my monitors basking in the areas of the enclosures that receive natural light. These areas are not nearly as warm/hot as the basking areas that I have set up using halogen bulbs yet it’s become obvious that my monitors prefer this natural light over the artifical light of the halogen bulbs.

My guess is that they are attracted to the brighter light of natural sun. This really makes me rethink the lighting that I use in the enclosure.

Has anyone else noticed similar behavior?

05/05/08 01:41am

#1725559

Crocdoc
View Profile

Message To: 3240 In reference to Message Id: 1725543

UV Observation

UV output is reduced by glass, so it would probably the quality of the light rather than the UV content (that’s not to say UV light isn’t beneficial, but that’s a whole different discussion). My monitors do the same thing - they’ll always gravitate toward a patch of carpet, sofa (or even me*) drenched by sun streaming through the window, even if they’d just been let out of an enclosure in which they were basking under artificial lights.

*When one of my monitors was still reasonably small, it learned that when I was standing in the kitchen doing the dishes, it could catch the winter sun coming almost horizontally through the window by climbing up me and sprawling across my chest. It wasn’t after body heat, for it only did this when I was in the kitchen and near enough to the window for the sun to hit me.

05/05/08 02:14am

#1725582

3240
View Profile

Message To: Crocdoc In reference to Message Id: 1725559

UV Observation

That’s exactly what mine will do. They look for that patch of natural light and prefer to bask in it over the warmer halogen lights. In the morning, all three lacies, and both crocs have found their own patch of natural light. I do realize that glass filters UV but am wondering if there is some benefit to light intensisty.

I have 6 pilbara set up in a rather large enclosure. They have two basking sights. One sight is a UV bulb manufactured by Reptile UV, the other is a halogen bulb. Both basking sites are very close to 130-135F yet the Pilbara spend the vast majority of their time basking under the UV light which is much, much brighter.

My croc monitors have three major basking areas up high on branches. Basking areas #1 and #2 are rows of 6 75 watt halogen bulbs producing a temp of 135 - 140F. Basking sight #3, as an experiment, uses two 160 watt Reptile UV bulbs generating a basking temp of about 135F. The crocs spend the vast majority of their basking time under the two UV bulbs which are much, much brighter.

The lace cages have the same two rows of halogen lights and 1 275 watt reptile UV bulb. Temps are very close yet they also prefer the brighter UVB bulb.

I’m wondering if these animals are attracted to intense light and not just a heat source. Any other observations out there?

05/05/08 02:54am

#1725660

Sdslancs
View Profile

Message To: 3240 In reference to Message Id: 1725582

UV Observation

Quote:
I’m wondering if these animals are attracted to intense light and not just a heat source.
Maybe more of the spectrum is visible to them, than humans?

05/05/08 07:31am

#1726051

Krusty
View Profile

Message To: Sdslancs In reference to Message Id: 1725660

UV Observation

Sdslancs - they definitely see a different slice of the EM spectrum then we do. Good point.

Crocdoc - I just wrote essentially the same comments to JME’s(3240’s) post on another forum as what you stated in your first paragraph.

3240 - I agree that intense, crisp, white light is preferred by basking reptiles to dull yellow heat bulbs. This is in more genera than just Varanus. You’re not alone in your observations.

05/05/08 04:51pm

#1726678

Gatorhunter
View Profile

Message To: Krusty In reference to Message Id: 1726051

UV Observation

I have observed my monitor prefering uva light. I actually have plant bulb set up with out any lights around it. I find my croc likes to lay under the plant bulb which doesnt produce any heat vs my halogens which are around 140-145. Has me thinking about new ways to setup basking areas.

05/06/08 12:44am

#1726681

Gatorhunter
View Profile

Message To: Gatorhunter In reference to Message Id: 1726678

UV Observation

opps didn’t mean uva but uvb (not really sure what a plant light actually puts out intensty wise)

05/06/08 12:50am

#1729090

Nermie
View Profile

Message To: Gatorhunter In reference to Message Id: 1726681

UV Observation

my observation is my nile and my tegu do not like full spectrum lights if they bask they bask under the strait old reptile basking light (like reptibask ect) that just produce light and heat.

05/08/08 09:29am

#1729190

Sdslancs
View Profile

Message To: Nermie In reference to Message Id: 1729090

UV Observation

Quote:
my observation is my nile and my tegu do not like full spectrum lights if they bask they bask under the strait old reptile basking light (like reptibask ect) that just produce light and heat.

If you’re using MVBs, it’s no wonder they don’t like them, they’re way too strong for use in smaller cages. Not only do they get very hot, but they can concentrate the uvb levels your reptile receives, when used in close proximity, to levels much higher than recommended.
And, you don’t need reptibask, or any other expensive ’reptile basking bulb’. 40w-60w halogen floods work just as well.

05/08/08 11:03am

#1729203

Nermie
View Profile

Message To: Sdslancs In reference to Message Id: 1729190

UV Observation

yea im gonna switch to those the thing is space she is still in the 125 gallon fish tank so over heating is a issue

05/08/08 11:21am

#1729221

Sdslancs
View Profile

Message To: Nermie In reference to Message Id: 1729203

UV Observation

Overheating shouldn’t be an issue. You’ll be way better off with a halogen flood, than the MVB, as far as getting the desired temp gradient. If you start off with a 40w and increase the wattage if needed, to bring up the ambient temp of your cage. You may need 60-75w for 125gal tank. Hopefully, you have a solid top, with adjustable ventilation? Also, your substrate should be slightly damp below the surface.

05/08/08 11:56am

#1729291

3240
View Profile

Message To: Nermie In reference to Message Id: 1729203

UV Observation

Nermie,

That explains. Your enclosure is too small to provide a proper heat gradient. Very difficult to come to any type of conclusion using your set up. Make sure you don’t turn your set up into an oven.

05/08/08 01:17pm