Reptiles - Lighting and Calcium - time for a change

As the weather becomes cold and dark, we all tend to miss the sun, and this will effect our behaviour. Sun deprivation and its adverse reaction has been studied extensively in humans, but don't forget that your reptiles are effected as well. And DON'T count on your tired, old, fluorescent 2.0 or 5.0 bulb to do the trick.

All reptiles need some sort of sunshine (well, actually it's the UVB they need the most) to properly assimilate Vitamin D and calcium. And without this synthesis, major problems including premature death, can and will happen.

After the untimely death of Sundance, who we found out too late had a metabolical dysfunction, we were informed of new evidence regarding the usual thoughts on calcium and Vitamin D supplements and absorbtion. In light (no pun intended) of our new research and amazing changes on our surviving lizards' behaviour, this month's article is a brief account of simple environment changes that effect the lives of reptiles.

New research (as verbally explained to me by the vet clinic handling Sundance and verified verbally by two local Reptile stores)¹ indicates that using a higher UVB bulb eliminates the need for supplements of calcium and Vitamin D. Well, Sundance had a disorder, and supplements along with prolonged exposure to the sun sure didn't help her; so for the investment in new higher rated bulbs, we decided to see the actual effect, if any.

As most of our reptiles are Desert (the turtles being the only exception for now), we went with the 8.0 - which means 8% UVB - the highest and conveniently recommended for desert reptiles. We really didn't expect to see a difference for awhile, maybe just healthier babies, better egg shells, better breeding. We were wrong.

Almost immediately (and I mean immediately) the lizards came out to bask. Within ONE DAY they were more active, alert and brighter. I don't know if it was coincidence, but within two months the youngest laid eggs, beautifully shaped, good shell, and fertilized (yes, we candle). Please understand, she was only 8 months old at the time.

Even our Uromastyx (African or Mali) have become less skitterish - spending more time out of their caves than before, and being more curious when out of their enclosure. And yes, we have stopped the supplements - as suggested again by the vets and reptile stores. This is a precaution, to ensure we don't go too far the other way - too much calcium and Vitamin D can be just as deadly as too little, maybe more so. So we are keeping a watchful eye on our lizards.

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