Basking spot and UVB

[Hugsplox]

UVA and UVB are different--not sure which one you mean when you say "UV." UVB is the one that mimics natural sunlight and is completely different from UVA. If you give only UVA to a species that needs UVB to metabolize vitamin D, like some lizards, they will get metabolic bone disease.

UVB will appear different to a snake than UVA. They will be able to see the UVB as a basking opportunity and distinguish it from regular light. Otherwise, they would bask under just any lights, and they don't.

I think I saw a video Lori Torrini did where she said her ball pythons did bask (I'm pretty sure she uses UVB) but did say they do it less frequently even when compared to other pythons specifically, so, it's up to you if you want to add it. It can be done and it does allow your snake to do more enriching behaviors; it's your choice if you think your snake "deserves" it or not.

I want to be very careful how I word this because I don't want to argue and I'm not trying to guess at the meaning behind some of your statements, so please take this as what it is, an attempt at open dialogue.

If you're thinking that the only basking behavior is basking under UVB sources that just isn't accurate. My snakes will bask under heat sources, as do my lizards. I've put UVB and LEDs side by side on hognose enclosures and saw no behavioral difference between the two snakes. A light was a light to them, they just looked for the heat. Not claiming that UVB did them any harm, but I didn't notice any benefit either.

I don't think anyone took your follow up post as an argument but coming back with it being up to us to determine if our animals "deserve" something I do take a little issue with. Typically, when I see that with users here and on other forums its coming from someone who stated an opinion, is disagreed with, and uses it to try to imply that other keepers are being negligent. Again, not putting words in your mouth, that's just how it comes off, and considering you yourself talk as if you don't currently have UVBs on your enclosure, it's kind of odd for you to use that language.

To each their own, and if OP can afford to outfit his enclosure with whatever he wants, then more power to him. What I don't want to do is make a bunch of newer keepers think they're doing something wrong by not keeping their animals the way you think they need to be kept.

I have how many snakes compared to you? 14 - 2, I believe. Have you priced a Zoo Med T5 bulb? A two pack on Amazon is $50 at the moment. So let's say I had one for every snake. I would need seven packs which is $350 before tax. You don't think that could hurt some folks? Could I pay it? Sure. But why? If my collection is not going to really prosper with it the value is simply not there in my opinion.

I am certainly all for doing what is needed for my snakes and don't mind spending money.....but I am not into wasting it. I have the UV light I have because my Ball's tank does not get enough sun to provide what the live plants need that are within. That is it.

KMG says it best here, pro-spending money to give our animals the best life we can, but anti-wasting money on equipment that offers no clear benefit. I assure you that my animals and I'm sure KMGs animals are all well taken care of and will live long comfortable lives.

A good example, I spent a little extra on a UV sterilizer for my tropical fish tank about a month ago, maybe more now. After running it for several weeks I saw absolutely no benefit to it. It was just an extra piece of equipment in my tank providing no noticeable benefit, just generating extra heat and noise, so I removed it. What started as something with rave reviews online, turns out that me doing regular maintenance was just as good as running it 24/7. That doesn’t mean I’m being negligent with my fish, or that they don’t deserve it, I just did a cost-benefit analysis and found it wasn’t worth it to me or the fish.