UV GUIDE UK

Advances in Reptile Lighting

A resource for all reptile keepers

what's all this about?
find out about UV light
the vitamin D story..
the meters we are using in our tests
all about sunlight
the UV requirements of different species
UV transmission tests
UV lighting for reptiles
Introduction to the 2005 Lighting Survey
fluorescent tubes on test
compact fluorescents on test
mercury vapours on test
merc vapours for large enclosures
more info soon..
further reading
related websites
meet the team

 


 

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UV Guide.co.uk - Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles

Welcome
to the website of a small team of reptile keepers
researching the use of ultraviolet light in reptile husbandry

 

Important News: 23 January 2010

ReptileUV issue statement on
recall of certain MegaRay mercury vapour lamps

Please read this message on the ReptileUV website if you purchased a ReptileUV MegaRay lamp from mid-October 2009 and have noted any problems at all, or a negative change in your reptile's behaviour.

ReptileUV are requesting that you contact them by email if you have any concerns. If you are in the USA, please use the contact form here: www.ReptileUV.com. If you are in Europe please visit www.megaray.co.uk and use this contact form instead.

The problem was first reported to ReptileUV by members of a bearded dragon forum and there is further very useful information posted on a thread on this forum, here.

 

Read our introduction to find out why many reptiles need ultraviolet light

The UV Guide Lighting Survey
We are now testing all lamps sold worldwide for use with reptiles

Sunlight and Natural UV
Find out about UV light in nature
Collecting Data with the UVB Meter
The best way to use your Meter

Mercury Vapour Lamps on test.
Here are the results of the Survey

Fluorescent tubes
The results of our tests on all UK brands, and the effect of reflectors
Ultraviolet Light through Reptile Skin Shed
We investigate the way your reptile's skin is adapted to cope with the UV in its native habitat.

 

 

Special Report : Eye problems with some high UVB fluorescent compact lamps and tubes

Please read our report first published in 2007, but still relevant, concerning hazardous UVB output from several brands of high-output "desert" type UVB fluorescent lamps. This can cause eye problems (photo-kerato-conjunctivitis) and ill health in some pet reptiles.
If your reptile has recently had a new lamp fitted, and now seems unwilling to open its eyes then this information could be vital - some "problem" lamps may still be out there..

December 2007 - range of lamps in UK and Europe also identified as having similar hazardous output:
FERPLAST Desert Lamp T8 UVB 10% series

 

Do you have a Namiba Terra Replux Light Unit ?
Does yours have a plastic cover ?

If so please read this.
The plastic cover may not be letting any UVB through.

 

 

Latest News :

  • We are beginning a major update of the website.
  • It is four and a half years since we first launched UV Guide UK. We never expected it to be so popular - since our launch we have had over 108,000 visitors, and now we get over 100 a day, from an astonishing 103 countries worldwide!
  • Since 2005, however, there have been some fascinating advances in our knowledge and we have tested many new lamps.
  • We also have important new information about the UV Index and how using a UV Index meter can help identify lamps which may have a UVB output not as "sunlike" as those we've been used to..
  • A full update of all our test results is now essential.
  • It will take a while to complete the update, page by page. Please bear with us if things are a bit chaotic while the work takes place....

 

 

Disclaimer

We wish to make it clear that it is not our intention to promote or "recommend" any of the products that we have tested.

Nor do we intend to compare any of the products we have tested, one with another. We do not, and will not, recommend any one product over another, nor will we declare any product "the best". We are merely reporting the results of our tests, so that you, the reptile keeper, may learn more about the wide range of products now available.

Although we have done our best to research, and report upon, the UV requirements of different species we are not able to make specific recommendations about which type or brand of lamp would be most suitable for a particular set-up. We hope that you will find our reports useful in deciding for yourself which product seems most suitable for your reptile and your vivarium.

All the recordings reported here were made by the authors themselves unless specified otherwise. We would encourage UVB meter owners to repeat our tests on their own lamps and confirm our results.

Please understand that we are hobbyists. We are NOT experts. We present our information in good faith; our conclusions are based upon our own observations and our understanding of the work of others. Like everyone else, we do make mistakes. Although our information is correct to the best of our knowledge, we would be grateful to have your feedback if you believe any details on our website to be incorrect or misleading.

 

Copyright details

All the text, graphics, photographs, graphs and charts on this website are the property of the authors, and are fully copyrighted.
All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1956, no part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or be transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without our prior written permission as copyright owners.

You are welcome to link to this site. Please contact us with details of your website link.

If you wish to copy and upload any material from this site onto another website, or print it in any format (ie., a magazine, journal or handout) you must contact us and obtain written permission. Copyright infringement is a criminal offence; but asking for permission isn't terribly difficult and we'll most likely say "yes"...

 

 

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