Blacklight Question

[Ringo]

Is a regular blacklight ( like one used for halloween ) safe to use at night for my ball python and leopard gecko or do I have to use a reptile moonlight bulb. My bulb just burned out and have some regular blacklights but am not sure if they are safe to use.

[2kdime]

Not sure. I know some reptile specific bulbs have like an uva or uvb ray output. I can't say yes or no. But why not just go get a reptile specific one. And play it safe? That's what I'd do. They're pretty cheap. Like 5 bucks.

I'm sure someone wil chime in that will be able to give you a better answer.

[Dusty]

before having switched over to underbelly heat i used the black party lights that you are talking about, without any problems from my snakes.
ball pythons dont need the uv rays like some other animals.
***i dont know anything about the keeping of geckos so i can not answer to that.***
my only advise to you if you do choose to use them to look them over very well to make sure there are no small little white spots on the bulb that will let white light through... as this can cause undue stress.
i would also add that same advise if you buy "reptile bulbs" because there is always that chance that the bulb may have that one little flaw so tiny that we would not see it with the bare eye.
and that slightest amount of white light will be enough to stress your animals over time as it would be the same to them as having sun 24-7 to you or me.

just my

[NickP]

before having switched over to underbelly heat i used the black party lights that you are talking about, without any problems from my snakes.
ball pythons dont need the uv rays like some other animals.
***i dont know anything about the keeping of geckos so i can not answer to that.***
my only advise to you if you do choose to use them to look them over very well to make sure there are no small little white spots on the bulb that will let white light through... as this can cause undue stress.
i would also add that same advise if you buy "reptile bulbs" because there is always that chance that the bulb may have that one little flaw so tiny that we would not see it with the bare eye.
and that slightest amount of white light will be enough to stress your animals over time as it would be the same to them as having sun 24-7 to you or me.

just my

Really? My lamp is on 24/7 on one side of the tank. I had a red light bulb, but few days ago switched to the regular ones. It turns off every now and then to let the tank cool a bit. Would that cause stress? I've had this way for 3-4 months now and the snake seems to be fine.

[ama1997]

I herd somewhere a few years ago I think. That the blacklight ( like one used for halloween ) the tube ones anyways are bad for the eyes. Not sure why I know they make black lights for reptiles. Im not talking about those just the tube ones. Im not 100% sure on this it just something I was told a few years ago on some forum. They said long time exposed to those lights can go blind. So I have never used them so I cant say if there bad or not.

[Hotshot]

I've used one for year's I dont any more tho.