Willow_Redfoot
Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2016
- Messages
- 60
There are horticultural glasses that allow UV to pass through, however don't get mixed up between UVA UVB and UVC when reading up, they often refer to it as just UV and it confuses everyone. This is lame man terms as how I understand it.View attachment 191502 Hello all! Recently got a new enclosure for my 7 month old red foot. Was wondering if she will still get benefits from the UVB even when it's on top of plexi glass, I've seen some contradictions just wondering what you guys thought here here's a pic of the enclosure
Agreed, when you read into it it's an absolute minefield. The danger is when you only read a tad, the tad of info can give false information. This I think is where a lot of people think that UV passes through materials for the torts benefit, when in actual fact if you research further in depth it's UVB that's important and won't pass through solid materials.And there are different wavelengths in the UVB range, not all of which are beneficial to tortoises for the purposes of preventing MBD.
With such a complexity of both which are the useful UVB wavelengths and which plexiglass will let those particular wavelengths through... I think the basic assertion I made to OP at the the start that plexiglass obstructs UVB is simpler and safer.
Not everyone has studied physics! (I have)
From an ordinary incandescent bulb none. From an ordinary fluorescent bulb a tiny amount of the wrong wavelengths, so effectively none.This whole UV-whatever thing is so complicated to me. But I understand that the important UV for tortoise health is UVB.
Now I want to know - how much if any UVB would be in a 60 Watt incandescent bulb? And in a fluroscent lamp bulb? The pet stores here don't even sell "Repti-Sun" or anything even close! It's for my interest I ask because some days in Jamaica, especially in the mountains where I live, are cold and foggy with no chance of natural sunlight, so my tortoises have to be inside all day.
What does OP stand for? Sorry, I never took physics.And there are different wavelengths in the UVB range, not all of which are beneficial to tortoises for the purposes of preventing MBD.
With such a complexity of both which are the useful UVB wavelengths and which plexiglass will let those particular wavelengths through... I think the basic assertion I made to OP at the the start that plexiglass obstructs UVB is simpler and safer.
Not everyone has studied physics! (I have)
What does OP stand for? Sorry, I never took physics.
Thank you. So now I know that using an incandescent bulb or a fluroscent bulb will provide heat and light, but no UVB.From an ordinary incandescent bulb none. From an ordinary fluorescent bulb a tiny amount of the wrong wavelengths, so effectively none.
UVB passes through cloud. So there is every chance of getting UVB outdoors where you are.
Have you tried shopping online for a reptile UVB bulb? Amazon perhaps?
I live in the UK and don't use a UVB as my Greek lives outdoors 24/7 in between his winter hibernations.
I have an incandescent reflector bulb in a dog kennel that my tortoise can bask under on cool and cloudy days.
See this thread:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-accommodation-in-a-colder-uk-climate.140866/