BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I heard somewhere here or some place else that if you take your BTS outside every day that they dont need uvb. I want to know if this is true before I spend $40-$50 on a MVB.

Thanks!!

-Cameron (Skinket)

There are a couple of threads regarding basking/UVB lights and possible over-exposure with certain brands that can lead to eye damage.

As for Skinks not needing it at all if they're daily exposed to sunlight? I have no idea, but that doesn't sound very right to me, especially if you live somewhere like the Pacific NW or England where it gets dark very early in the winter, and we may or may not get a summer to begin with!
Have you read the caresheet? that should provide all the information you need. Best advice: Caresheet, Caresheet, Caresheet!!
For food, housing, bedding, etc. Caresheet!

Supposedly the amount of UV gained from an hour of outside time is much more than a bulb can offer.

I'm sure I read that an hours summer sun =a week under lights[DONT QUOTE ME }the thing is MVB lamps are good at what they do, but are hard to incorporate into a smallish set up, they give off a lot of heat so no need for a basking lamp as well, temps would be the hardest thing to control

sorry to be such a noob but what is a MVB

Kristin wrote:sorry to be such a noob but what is a MVB

Mercury Vapour Bulb, a lot more hassle than a normal tube if you ask me,but there are arguements for and against

I have never used one, but I would imagine less hassile. One bulb, heat + UVB.

Leigh wrote:I'm sure I read that an hours summer sun =a week under lights[DONT QUOTE ME }the thing is MVB lamps are good at what they do, but are hard to incorporate into a smallish set up, they give off a lot of heat so no need for a basking lamp as well, temps would be the hardest thing to control

60watt MV from reptileuv.com gives off very little heat. expensive though.

I just checked since its been a while since I bought mine from Reptileuv.com but the self ballasted ones give off heat and are only $40. Mine has lasted two years so its time for a new one but they are great. I think the one I have is the 100 Watt one.

Steve

The thing with some UV lights, like mine which are the 3ft batten type, they only give out UV for about 6 months even though they will give off light for years. And at $65 a pop, it's an expensive business. So I use them primarily for light only, and take mine outside for their UV. Nothing beats natural sunlight.

granted... however I am not a fan of advising new reptile owners to take their animals out and drop them in the outdoors...

also check out the MV bulbs offered by reptileuv.com they have a much lower falloff rate than anything else on the market, backed up by independant tests.

Steve wrote:granted... however I am not a fan of advising new reptile owners to take their animals out and drop them in the outdoors...

Common sense should always prevail. I shudder to think of the day when we live in a society where that needs to be pointed out.

There are many options available in taking your animals outdoors (or to obtain sunlight indoors), from permanent outdoor enclosures to portable containers that can be also be used indoors if placed in front of a doorway or window that has unobstructed access to natural sunlight.

A container such as this costs next to nix,and can easily be taken outside with you onto a lawn or balcony while you read a book or chill or have lunch. I'm not even going to say 'supervised, of course'

Indoors...

To outdoors...

Thank you all for answering. Thank you for for the advice Lisa.

What watt would you recommend for a heat bulb for a 20 gallon cage?

-Cameron (Skinket)

Yup, but I'm also considering a nervous new owner being overbearing and stressing their animal, etc...