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 Posted - 11/03/2009 : 20:44:25
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Hi all,
Just wondered if Corn snakes, or any snakes for that matter can get sun burnt? The reason i ask is that while trying to find the maximum surface temperature of an energy saver lamp (not hot enough to physically burn by the way) i found an oddity, we all know that these lamps put out UV light but what i didn't know was that when a person is within a foot the light is the equivilent to the UV of the mid day sun in summer. There have been people who have gone to bed with an energy saver lamp as a bed side lamp only to wake up severly sunburnt. Since the lamp in my viv is about a foot in height i just hope i don't end up with a bronzed flourescent orange :)
Micahel |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Posted - 13/03/2009 : 13:07:59
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| Oh dear was this a stupid question or has nobody heard of this? |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Posted - 13/03/2009 : 13:20:56
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| never heard of this happening,and uv lights sold are highly unlikley to give you a sun tan of any effect unless held very close for an amount of time, tho the heat will proberly get to you first before the uv makes u have "sun burn" |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2009 : 16:19:02
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| Not a stupid question, but I havent got a clue. |
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Tizzy
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1202 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2009 : 18:11:17
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| er???? I did use to get special suntan lotion for my white cat coz her nose and ears got fried in the summer no idea about snakes though. |
3.2.0 corns 0.3.1 Leopard Geckos, 0.1.0 Mad Staffys 1.0.0 Moggie. 1.2.0. Devils in training.
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Posted - 13/03/2009 : 18:16:27
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| lol im gunna lie under the lamp tonite n c if im bronze tomora |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2009 : 21:53:17
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That was a good question actually, i've never thought of that.
Research time tomorrow I think. Questions like these are good, because it stumps us, and makes us think.  |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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Posted - 13/03/2009 : 22:34:12
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Hi good not a stupid question then and matk, you miss understand 'i think' these are not intended as uv lamps simply the everyday energy saver lamps with the exposed tubes, and you are right you do need to be close to them for a long time say overnight by mistake to burn a human. But my viv height is 'close' to the snake, within a couple of feet at best and on a timer for 8 ish hours a day.
Michael |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Kazerella
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
3093 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2009 : 15:49:01
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I read the other day that sun lotion on humans can cause snakes to get a skin irritation. That's why it's advised not to handle your snakes when you've been wearing it.
Doubt snakes will have their own. |
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Posted - 15/03/2009 : 18:37:45
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| Hi Kazarella, the suntan lotion comment was a bit of a joke but the question about the UV output still stands if humans can get burns from them would snakes? |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Posted - 16/03/2009 : 00:12:59
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light bulbs emit next to no UV rays at all, that's why herps buy special reptile UV lights for lizards and turtles etc. Even then, the UV is a fraction of what is emitted from the sun. I think you could hold an energy saver bulb to your face for days and not have to worry, they also emit little heat in comparison to ordinary bulbs.
I'd say your original source was wrong tbh.
Next time your in a reptile shop, have a look at the box a UV tube, or bulb is in, they are quiet informative with statistical info on UV output. The tube/bulb's UV output fades over time as well, so if you use one for a reptile it should be replaced every 6 months. |
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Posted - 16/03/2009 : 13:05:07
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Hi amimus, just wondering on what information you based the statement light bulbs emit next to no uv, the health protection agency have issued a warning stating that the single skin energy saver lamps emit very high levels of UV A, B and C and must not be used where people can maintain a distance of less than 30cm, so if you are saying the health protaction agency are wrong i'd be interested in reading the information from you source. By the way there have been confirmed cases where people have been 'sun burnt' by these lamps working under a desk lamp and like said before falling asleep next to a bed side lamp.
Michael |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Posted - 17/03/2009 : 03:31:28
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firstly how can a bulb possibly emit as much UV radiation as the sun (this is my comparison of next to know UV output), surely that's just common sense? Secondly, I'd imagine that prolonged exposure to a UV radiation source is likely to lead to problems, yes. But sitting next to a lamp for 30 mins isn't going to do any harm. If it's one of those sun bed type one's sure, but an ordinary energy saving light bulb? no. Thirdly if you read on the side of the box the reptile UV tube and bulbs come in it gives you nice graphs etc so you can see for yourself the amount of UV that is produced.
In relation to snakes, they aren't beneficial to snakes that is known, IE no need to produce the D3 vitamin. So the only reason then would be for viewing pleasure, if your worried about possible UV effects on your snake then get an LED one which emits very little heat etc. But my common sense won't allow me to believe that someone could get sunburnt falling asleep next to an energy saving light bulb, unless their face was right under it or something, in which case they would deserve it, though our skon is entirely different to snakes at any rate.
In fact after searching for an Arcadia D3 reptile lamp, it says these lights produce 5% UV(b) or a new one which is 7%. Satisfied? |
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Posted - 17/03/2009 : 07:52:23
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Some nice information especially the last section, not surprising the manufacturers are denying the uv output especially the particularly harmful UV C, the thing that bugs me, and i am thinking about changing my lamp is that we aren't talking about 30 mins exposure but a possible 8 hours a day or what ever your cycle is 360 days a year for possibly 20 odd years at a very close proximity. Clearly a lamp will not produce the same levels of radiation as the sun but my lamp is a just a tad closer and without a tidy little ozone layer to filter out the vast majority and all the bad UV, the point i guess is that this is information that is not generally advertised with the normal energy saving lamps hence raising the concern. By the way is UV harmful to snakes? this could all be academic:)
Michael |
1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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Posted - 17/03/2009 : 19:56:40
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| I'd doubt anyone could answer that question as I don't think any real studies have been done with this in mind. I think, scientifically very little is known about snakes, at least in relation to human terms (from what I've read in books, internet, forums etc). But as I said before, if you are worried then get one of the LED ones, they do ones for fish tanks which normally suit. Or they now have ones designed for reptiles which are supposed to replicate the moon for evening viewing, also if this is to view you snake during the day I can't see it's necessary as unless you have a very dark room day light should be enough. If your using an energy saver to provide heat then it won't be enough as they don't produce enough heat for the snake. |
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Posted - 17/03/2009 : 20:31:40
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Na the light is purely aesthetic as i have the heat controlled in other ways, its funny the room isn't that dark but the viv faces away from the window making it quite dark inside. Not sure about the LED lighting, can be quite harsh probably go for one of the UV filtered energy saver lights, its funny with incandescent lamps getting banned they 'the health authorities' are trying to ban the single skin energy saver lamps for the reasons we've talked about
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1.0.0 Tom a 10 month old Flourescent orange Corn 29 inches and growing fast
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