Alrighty guys and girls,

I’ve been struggling to find any conclusive information to confirm or refute this. I’ve been toying with the idea of using a black light tube (like those used for parties, posters, laser tag) for my ball python’s enclosure when I get him/her, as he/she will likely be an Ivory or Lucy, and as such might look super awesome fluorescing under a black light. However, I do not want to do anything that will hurt or stress him/her in any way.

The research I have been doing has implied that these black “party” lights (either BL or BLB bulbs) can or might cause some eye damage to humans due to the medium UV wavelengths they put out, and that children in particular are more susceptible to this retinal damage as their lenses have not yellowed at all due to age.

I know that “full-spectrum” UV lights are used for other reptiles who are not nocturnal and do need UV. And that full spectrum, I imagine, would include the medium wavelengths in your average BL/BLB bulb?

So…

Does anyone have experience using a BL/BLB bulb with a reptile/ball python?

Does anyone know more than I do regarding the details of retinal damage to reptiles from these bulbs, or full-spectrum bulbs for that matter?

Any other general info about the BL/BLB bulbs would be appreciated; I’m not finding too much that is scholarly. Thanks!