I had posted this in health. But here would of been a better choice I think. Has anyone used uv leds? They would save on cost, easy, and fun to DIY. And they don't put out much heat. http://shop.stevesleds.com/Ultra-Violet-365nm-UVA-3W-LED-65493138131.htm
Uv led
- Thread starter Knap_123
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Generally, when speaking of UV and reptiles, it's meant to reference UVB for D3 production. That LED doesn't emit UVB. The LEDs that emit the right wavelengths in the UVB range are much more expensive, as in hundreds of dollars per LED, and you would need many.
There are different sub types of UV
A, B, C and other more complicated ones.
Wikipedia has a good table showing the differences in wavelength, etc
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet
It's the B subtype that you need for your tort.
Vitamin D3 production is a very specific range in the uv spectrum. It happens only with uv at a few nm within 295 nm. So it's only light between 290 - 300 nm that will allow D3 production in the skin If the light does not produce light in the 295 nm range, it won't fit that need.
I will add that I am finding UVA in this spectrum, is very beneficial in improving overall health, vigor, appetite and breeding activity with chelonians. These lights state they emit 365 nm uv. That is just under the wavelength humans can see but very visable and useful for turtles and tortoises. Since chelonians have four cones vs the three cone we have in our eyes, they utilize a much broader spectrum of light and need that in interpreting their world. In many experiments with hatchling turtles, I have found that exposure to UV light dramatically improves fast starting the hatchlings with them much more active and gaining better weight. I also believe they use uv light they see to judge basking times and locations more so than simply temperatures. So although these lights do nothing for D3 production, I do believe they could offer value in providing a broader spectrum for a tortoise enclosure and limit the amount of time a UVB producing bulb would need to be on
Just some thoughts...
Just some thoughts...
Yes. I use a t5 ho bulb for uvb in my enclosure as well as a double fixture next to it with 6500k 'standard' bulbs. I then have my UVB on for 4 hours a day mid-day, and the double fixture and basking flood bulbs (for basking heat) on 14.5 hours. That saves on the UVB bulb life but provides good lighting. I would actually consider adding some of these led to that combo as it would broaden the light spectrum and make it that much more like natural sunlight. Sounds like a good idea.
I spoke with Jeff at Steve's leds. And there using these diodes exclusively on there Amazon tortoise. Said they experimented with lots of other reptiles as well. But used for a year and have great results. He got into detail about them and the spectrum as well. I can't remember all he said.
R
Rzm7810
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Not to bad a price lol
JeffRedFoot
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Hey Knap! Also to others, I'm not promoting any company or product here, just stating info based on some testing I've done with the UVA LEDs with 2X yellow bellied slider turtles, 1x amazon yellow foot tortoise, and 14 species of snakes over the course of the last 14 months. Granted snakes do not required any UV light to process vitamins - there are some other positive health effects in comparative studies we have done on a few snake species. The tests we performed were not "basement" experiments, instead, they were based off the standard scientific method and principles, while under keen observation and strict environmental controls.
Regarding the requirement of UVB light pertaining to those reptiles that require it to process vitamin D3, I am NOT refuting this fact (that UVB can allow the animal to produce D3). I am however providing some impartial insight based on some successful experimentation on alternative light spectrums, to suffice as a replacement for the expensive and consumable nature of current UVB bulbs, without using the UVB spectrum.
Before I spend too much time sharing my findings, I first want to make sure I am welcome to post here, without breaking forum rules/regulations/etc. All too many times I make a good effort to share some interesting information, only for a moderator to delete my efforts.
If you are interested in what I found, just let me know, I'm glad to share. Reptiles and LEDs have been my hobbies for more than 14 years.
Thanks!
Jeff
Regarding the requirement of UVB light pertaining to those reptiles that require it to process vitamin D3, I am NOT refuting this fact (that UVB can allow the animal to produce D3). I am however providing some impartial insight based on some successful experimentation on alternative light spectrums, to suffice as a replacement for the expensive and consumable nature of current UVB bulbs, without using the UVB spectrum.
I'd like to see evidence that other wavelengths synthesize D3.
I'd like to see evidence that other wavelengths synthesize D3.
@JeffRedFoot Hi Jeff:
I think your insight and experiment finding are very welcome on the Forum, however, you should start your own thread, perhaps under either 'health' or 'lighting.'
That site gave me: "Oooops site not found.
