The UVA/UVB Debate (again...)

So I've taken two BP rescues to my local trusted herp vet. She handles my own snakes as well as wild snakes/reptiles with the Wildlife Organization I volunteer with. She is pretty adamant on the whole UVB lighting thing. I was sure to mention that I've heard ad nauseum that UVB/UVA/Broad Spectrum lighting is unnecessary for BPs, and she actually said the same. While agreeing that she also has heard this, she mentioned that she can't help but think in the natural environment of the BP, they are getting at least some sunlight coming in through the branches of trees and whatnot.

With that being said, I know many of you say that there are lots of things in the wild that BPs aren't exposed to in captivity so we don't need to replicate their environments perfectly... But being that this vet is intelligent when it comes to snakes, I'm inclined to maybe give UVB a shot. As far as I know this particular type of light aids in calcium absorption, and maybe other things. Thoughts?

Ask yourself the following:

1) Just how much sunlight does a nocturnal snake that spends it's days in termite mounds actually get filtering through the branches of trees and whatnot.

2) We've been keeping this species in captivity for many decades now, and the lack of UVB has never been a problem to my knowledge.


Do I think UVB exposure will hurt your BP? I have no proof or data that it will, but on the other paw, we have no data that says it will be beneficial either.

Good points... I did read a study done on the calcium absorption and rates in one group of BPs versus another group with differing exposures to UVB, but it was so science-y I couldn't make sense of it. I wonder if maybe it improves mood the way the sun tends to with many mammals, but again, how do you measure that? *sigh*

Multiple generations of BP's have spent their entire lives in dark racks, and they still appear healthy.
Could a little bit more vigour come from applied UV (and what ever other radiation is in actual sunshine)?
...I don't know.

Most morphs are based on a lack of one or more protective pigments - my speculation is that we would be seeing problems if this practice were the standard for captive care.

That said, I try to get my snakes out for brief periods in warm weather. The corn is a plasma, and very pale. Mostly I let him climb shadey fig tree, and the plants and furniture on our roofed front porch, because I don't want him to burn.

...So, you folks who keep albino lizards that need UV: any reports of skin cancers or eye problems?

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Originally Posted by distaff

...So, you folks who keep albino lizards that need UV: any reports of skin cancers or eye problems?

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Thanks for your input as well, and good question!

If you do go the uvb route use a long strip kind as opposed to the "coil" or "prong" shaped screw in uvb. These types of bulbs can burn the eyes of reptiles. UVB absorption is more necessary in creatures who eat plans and leafy greens as the uvb from the sun aids in in their production of calcium . animals like snakes who eat things like mice who eat things like grass are getting the uvb from the mouse or similar type creature. Who got it from the sun and grass.

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One of the main reasons I like keeping balls is that I can put them in a tub and not have to screw with lighting. I have exactly one lizard and I hate having to deal with his lights not to mention my nephew almost set the house on fire because he decided he needed to play with it and put the light hood on the bed still on.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

One of the main reasons I like keeping balls is that I can put them in a tub and not have to screw with lighting. I have exactly one lizard and I hate having to deal with his lights not to mention my nephew almost set the house on fire because he decided he needed to play with it and put the light hood on the bed still on.

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LOL--Hey, I rested the heat lamp from one of my first snakes' tanks on my dresser and burned a big charred circle into it. We all make mistakes ;)

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in the natural environment of the BP, they are getting at least some sunlight coming in through the branches of trees and whatnot.

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She might want to do some researched on BP and natural habitat.

They don't live in trees they live underground in termites mounts.


I would recommend her that book http://vpi.com/

Both you and the vet are technically right. Snakes don't need UV to live healthy lives. They get all the necessary vitamins, including vitamin D3, from whole prey. But since they're crepuscular, wild ball pythons would be exposed to low level UV at dusk and dawn (plus there's the odd field report that finds them out basking at their den entrances during the day..!) Also, UV light is part of the visible spectrum for ball pythons, and we only have theories about how they use it and how it affects their behavior. There are a good number of keepers out there who choose to provide it for those reasons, with seemingly positive results. I don't myself, but would be curious to try it in the future.

Anecdotes from people who provide it for their snakes suggest that it may have a positive effect on feeding response. People have also reported improved coloration on their snakes, a noticeable difference in activity patterns, basking behavior etc. I follow a few experienced keepers who work with difficult/delicate species and find their animals are much more likely to thrive when offered UV and consider it essential in acclimating wild-caught imports.

If you do end up given it a try, I'd suggest choosing a low-percentage bulb and offering a lot of cover so that the snake can regulate their exposure.

I found one (and only one I guess) study about this, probably the one that O'Mathghamhna found:

The effects of UV light on calcium metabolism in ball pythongs (Python regius)
Vet Rec. October 2013;173(14):345.

J Hedley¹; K Eatwell

Article Abstract

Despite the popularity of keeping snakes in captivity, there has been limited investigation into the effects of UV radiation on vitamin D levels in snakes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of UV-b radiation on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations in ball pythons (Python regius). Blood samples were taken from 14 ball pythons, which had never been exposed to UV-b light, to obtain baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations. Blood samples were then taken again from the same snakes 70 days later after one group (Group 1, n=6 females) were exposed to UV-b radiation daily, and the other group (Group 2, n=5 males and 3 females) were exposed to no UV-b radiation. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels on day 0 in Group 1 were 197±35 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 203.5±13.8 nmol/l. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in Group 2 on day 0 were 77.7±41.5 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 83.0±41.9 nmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.84±0.05 mmol/l for Group 1, and on day 70 were 1.78±0.07 mmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.79±0.07 mmol/l for Group 2, and on day 70 were 1.81±0.05 mmol/l. No association was demonstrated between exposure to UV-b radiation and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and ionised calcium concentrations. These results may provide baseline parameters for future studies in this and other snake species to determine ability to utilise UV-b light for vitamin D production.

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I poked through the full article and it seems like a generally underresearched topic, and I couldn't find any other articles talking about whether or not it helps them. The study made use of only a few animals (14 total for both the control and experimental groups) but it seems like it does no real harm to them in terms of Vitamin D3 and calcium absorptions. For what it's worth, the bulb they used is ReptiSun 5.0 UV-b Fluorescent bulb by ZooMed. Anecdotally, I guess they seem to do well with the light, so your vet perhaps recommends it for that reason.

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Originally Posted by jylesa

I found one (and only one I guess) study about this, probably the one that O'Mathghamhna found:

The effects of UV light on calcium metabolism in ball pythongs (Python regius)
Vet Rec. October 2013;173(14):345.

J Hedley¹; K Eatwell

Article Abstract

Despite the popularity of keeping snakes in captivity, there has been limited investigation into the effects of UV radiation on vitamin D levels in snakes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of UV-b radiation on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations in ball pythons (Python regius). Blood samples were taken from 14 ball pythons, which had never been exposed to UV-b light, to obtain baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations. Blood samples were then taken again from the same snakes 70 days later after one group (Group 1, n=6 females) were exposed to UV-b radiation daily, and the other group (Group 2, n=5 males and 3 females) were exposed to no UV-b radiation. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels on day 0 in Group 1 were 197±35 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 203.5±13.8 nmol/l. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in Group 2 on day 0 were 77.7±41.5 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 83.0±41.9 nmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.84±0.05 mmol/l for Group 1, and on day 70 were 1.78±0.07 mmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.79±0.07 mmol/l for Group 2, and on day 70 were 1.81±0.05 mmol/l. No association was demonstrated between exposure to UV-b radiation and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and ionised calcium concentrations. These results may provide baseline parameters for future studies in this and other snake species to determine ability to utilise UV-b light for vitamin D production.

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I poked through the full article and it seems like a generally underresearched topic, and I couldn't find any other articles talking about whether or not it helps them. The study made use of only a few animals (14 total for both the control and experimental groups) but it seems like it does no real harm to them in terms of Vitamin D3 and calcium absorptions. For what it's worth, the bulb they used is ReptiSun 5.0 UV-b Fluorescent bulb by ZooMed. Anecdotally, I guess they seem to do well with the light, so your vet perhaps recommends it for that reason.

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Thank you!! This is the article. I just wanted to understand it a little better than just the bolded part... I may try using the bulb I have on my rescue going through lots of med treatments. I'll put it on a timer and see if that maybe helps at all, although I'm not sure how I could even measure that. ?

I'm late to this discussion. Better late than never, though. :)

One possibility is that the UV bulb used in the study did not produce sufficient light of the proper wave lengths to affect the snakes blood vitamin levels. A stronger light or longer exposure might. Have to check that paper and see how strong the artificial light is compared to sunlight.

It would be nice to get the blood levels from snakes in the wild. Who knows how the levels differ between wild snakes and captives.

A natural way to supplement the snakes' vitamin D intake would be to expose live or freshly killed rodents to raw sunlight before feeding them to the snakes. We know that rodents use sunlight to produce D3.

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

Good points... I did read a study done on the calcium absorption and rates in one group of BPs versus another group with differing exposures to UVB, but it was so science-y I couldn't make sense of it. I wonder if maybe it improves mood the way the sun tends to with many mammals, but again, how do you measure that? *sigh*

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Never mind, I see the article.

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Originally Posted by paulh

I'm late to this discussion. Better late than never, though. :)

One possibility is that the UV bulb used in the study did not produce sufficient light of the proper wave lengths to affect the snakes blood vitamin levels. A stronger light or longer exposure might. Have to check that paper and see how strong the artificial light is compared to sunlight.

It would be nice to get the blood levels from snakes in the wild. Who knows how the levels differ between wild snakes and captives.

A natural way to supplement the snakes' vitamin D intake would be to expose live or freshly killed rodents to raw sunlight before feeding them to the snakes. We know that rodents use sunlight to produce D3.

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I am admittedly ignorant on the subject, but I wonder how an "appropriate" or "proper" level? Does that make sense? What happens when the levels are too low? Too high? Are there health ramifications or does it affect mood? So many questions!

While it's probably not going to hurt them, Ball Pythons do not require UVB lighting. The only thing that may hurt is your wallet, depending on how much lighting you provide for your snakes. As mentioned above, these guys are not arboreal (tree dwellers). These guys are found in termite mounds, etc. At no point in my career has any herp vet I've worked with has ever been adamant about UVB and BP. The only lighting provided to my collection is whatever sunlight enters the room through windows covered with Venetian blinds and whatever overhead in the room when lights are on during late night feedings).

Personally, I'd be very skeptical of any vet who's pushing UVB on anything that's not a diurnal species.


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