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UVB lighting in the terrarium
Which UVB lamps are there and what do I have to consider for my terrarium? Tips for choosing the right UVB lighting for your reptile.
The UVB lighting in the terrarium should mimic the natural UVB radiation of the species in the habitat as closely as possible. Our opinion is that all animals - regardless of their habitat - should have suitable shady retreats in the terrarium. The animal should decide for itself when it wants to go into the shade.
Reptiles Expert recommends solutions based on the following important factors:
- Reptile species – does the animal require more (desert) or less UVB light (rainforest, temperate latitudes)
- The strength of the UVB lamp in watts (depending on the technology and the age of the lamp)
- The distance to the UVB lamp
- The daily average exposure time
- Modern UVB metal vapor lamps with wattages of 35 to 150 watts are ideal - no other UVB lamp has such a high light intensity and color rendering values. This also gives you the best light spectrum available today.
Our recommendation is based on our UVB-MATRIX. Here you will find the right UVB lamps with the ideal distance and irradiation time for the most important reptile species. We think that prolonged, low-intensity irradiation is better for the animals than short, high-power irradiations (exception: controlled medical treatments for diseases).
Reptiles Expert has tested the products in extensive test series. UVB is measured in uW/cm² (microwatts per square centimeter). Broadband spectrometers (Solarmeter 6.2) were used for the measurement. The global maximum values are around 460 µW/cm² in desert regions and 260 µW/cm² in temperate latitudes in summer. However, animals do not sit in the sun all day - especially at noon - they often avoid the maximum values. Therefore, such extreme values are not necessary and, in our opinion, also harmful.
The UVB lamp should be mounted directly above the animal. The reptile's eyes should therefore not be directly irradiated to avoid eye inflammation (snow blindness).