![]() Naked UVB bulbs are effective UVB bulbs!īecause ball pythons are reptiles, they are cold-blooded, and that means they rely on their environment for the heat needed to regulate their metabolism. UVB rays are blocked by glass and plastic, rendering that bulb you just spent so much money on completely useless. Note: If you use UVB, make sure that the fixture doesn’t have a piece of glass or plastic to “protect” the bulb.Even if it’s still producing visible light, UVB output decreases over time, so the bulb becomes less beneficial to your snake with age. In addition, plan on changing your UVB bulb every 12 months. Optimal use distance is likely to be more variable if you use something different. You will need to mount your UVB bulb in a Vivarium Electronics T5 HO or Arcadia ProT5 fixture. (Here’s a product review I did for one by Custom Reptile Habitats in 2022!) If you need more distance between your snake and the UVB in the basking area than your enclosure’s setup will allow, I recommend using a UVB Riser to strategically increase the distance for your snake’s safety. For more details on adjusting basking distance based on mesh obstruction, see the Facebook group Reptile Lighting > Guides > Guide 1: Using T5-HO lamps above a Mesh Screen. It is strongly recommended to use a Solarmeter 6.5 to determine the best placement. The above distance recommendations assume a ~35% mesh block. Arcadia ShadeDweller MAX - 6-8″ / 15-20cm.Arcadia ShadeDweller MAX - 4-6″ / 10-15cm.Lamp mounted above mesh (recommended for safety): To achieve a UVI of 2.0-3.0 in the basking area (closest location to the UVB lamp), you will need a specific distance between the UVB bulb and the snake’s back when basking: I recommend sticking with the Zoo Med or Arcadia brand, as others are not reliable enough to be used without a Solarmeter 6.5 in hand. To provide UVB for ball pythons in a 4x2x2 enclosure, use a 22″ long, low-intensity T5 HO fluorescent tube (not coil). Recent studies indicate that UVB can be beneficial for snakes’ long-term physical and mental health. UVB does more for a reptile than help them synthesize vitamin D3 for example, did you know that ball pythons can see ultraviolet light? While this reasoning may seem sound, it oversimplifies the issue. It is commonly believed that nocturnal snakes do not “need” UVB, therefore it would be a waste of money to provide it. The best way to provide low-level illumination for your ball python is with a low-strength UVB fluorescent as your light source. If you want to get more specific with your light cycle, you can leave the lights on for 12.5 hours during summer and 11.75 hours during winter. Because of their equatorial origin, ReptiFiles recommends a day/night cycle of 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Because ball pythons are crepuscular, additional light beyond what illuminates the reptile room is not widely considered “necessary.” However, it is best practice to keep a light on to mimic nature’s day/night cycle.
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