Any reason not to use a blacklight?

[tlich]

Im working on a custom enclosure for my bp, and considering to use a fluorescent blacklight 24/7 to keep good ambient temps is there any reason I shouldn't use this? Could it cause health issues? Is it visible to bp's?

[RestlessRobie]

I don't know if a black light will cause any problems or not. What I used for mine was a reptile basics 40w Radiant Heat Panel and I love it works like a champ. Keeps my ambient perfectly when used with a T-Stat. I don not thank you can regulate a Flourescent bulb to do that would be my only concern.

[KMG]

The light will not cause any problems. Many think that some snaks can benefit from uv lights even though they are not needed. Doing research on gtp'sI found some believe it can help things like moodiness. Though there doesn't seem to be anything concrete to back it up.

I have a uv light on my tank but I don't think it gives of enough heat to use it like you want to. I would go with a rhp for heat and just use a regular uv light for viewing light,especially if you are going to have plants. That's the main reason I have mine.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Backlights only Emit UVA light which is completely harmless, UVB and Mainly UVC light is what causes problems. So you should be fine using them in your cages.

[1nstinct]

The black light will not hurt your snake at all, i have a 6 year old uv light on one of my bps cage. The uv light will not give off enough heat to increase the temp with in the cage. Try RHP like everyone else suggested, you could use a small one and it will increase the temp just enough to heat up the cage for a proper gradient.

[The Serpent Merchant]

The black light will not hurt your snake at all, i have a 6 year old uv light on one of my bps cage. The uv light will not give off enough heat to increase the temp with in the cage. Try RHP like everyone else suggested, you could use a small one and it will increase the temp just enough to heat up the cage for a proper gradient.

If the bulb is actually inside the cage it will increase the air temperature a few degrees. In my cages I see a 3 degree difference between when the 18" fluorescent tubes are on and off.

[BWyant]

Aaron, are you critters able to touch those lights?

I've got a blacklight that I might like to put in my cage (right now it's on the outside). I just don't want fried snake for dinner.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Aaron, are you critters able to touch those lights?

I've got a blacklight that I might like to put in my cage (right now it's on the outside). I just don't want fried snake for dinner.

Not the tubes directly, they get too hot. the fixtures that I use have plastic diffusers that cover the bulbs: