Thank you so much!

I agree that the card’s only real purpose is to check whether the UVB bulb is still emitting or not. But I see it as a much cheaper alternative to a UVB meter — at least for someone who knows what they're doing. As you rightly pointed out, you can’t just use any UVB intensity with any terrarium size or snake species. It’s more about avoiding the need to replace the bulb after a year if it’s actually still working.


Since the consensus around UVB use for ball pythons seems to be slowly evolving — with more experience and some breeders starting to add a bit of UVB — it could be helpful for someone who just wants to make sure their setup is still functioning properly.


Personally, when I bought my snake, I asked the seller whether I should add a UVB tube. He said it wasn’t necessary, but that if I wanted to, I should go with low intensity — 6% for a 90 cm high terrarium, with a mesh top and at least 35 cm between the mesh and the snake’s highest perch. And honestly, I have a pretty active animal. He sometimes comes out during the day, has vibrant colors, loves to climb, and eats really well — basically the opposite of what most French forums say about ball pythons (terrestrial, poor feeders, strictly nocturnal, no need for any light beyond the room’s ambient light, and not a good beginner species).


Of course, I know this is just one experience with one animal, and I may have just been lucky — but considering the price and lifespan of a UVB tube (especially since the shop offers free testing to see if it’s still effective before replacing it), if it might offer the animal something beneficial and isn’t harmful, then why not?