QUESTION &ANSWERS
Lighting concerns
John Courtney-Smith , MRSB, Arcadia Reptile
DO YOU NEED A HELPING HAND OR ADVICE?
Email your queries to practicalreptilekeeping@gmail.com. A selection of submitted questions will appear here every month. Regrettably, replies can only be given through this column, and if you are worried about the health of your animal, seek veterinary advice without delay.
Q & A
Please put my mind at rest. Is it safe to use UV lighting with albino reptiles, and those which have red eyes?
The first thing to say is that reptiles, like birds, see different wavelengths of light to ourselves, with their vision being described as tetrachromatic. The two UV components of significance are UVA, which acts as a true “light” for reptiles, and UVB, which has significant metabolic effects.
The effects of UVB on albino animals
All reptiles are sensitive to UVB, with those which become active at dusk tending to have thinner skins. There have been studies to show that even the house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) which is practically nocturnal can produce massive amounts of vitamin D₃ in a very short time under low light conditions. This is because of its thinner and more translucent skin. The lack of melanin pigment has a similar effect in the case of albino reptiles.