Snakes don't need UVB but if you want to use one, a 5.0 is fine. You do know though that plastic covers will block out 100% of the UVB and using screen between the bulb and animal will block out around 50% of it. I only use UVB on my beardie and she gets a 10.0 T5 HO Reptisun. A regular compact fluorescent bulb is fine, pretty much any bulb as long as the snake cant come into contact with it and burn themselves.