When it comes to lighting reptiles I don’t think there has ever been a bigger debate. Everyone says their product is the best. Ultraviolet light is something that is naturally emitted by the suns rays which strike the earth. Almost all reptile species; especially those that eat only insects and or greens in my experience obtain some benefit from absorbing Ultraviolet light if they are a daytime active reptile.
Nocturnal animals do not require Ultraviolet lighting nor do snakes show any physical benefit from absorbing Ultraviolet light. Apparently snakes have digestive systems which enable them to extract the all important Vitamin D3 from their prey items. There are many various products which all claim to give off the best in Ultraviolet light exposure. They all have their pros and cons. For my personal tastes I go with the recommendations found at www.uvguide.co.uk the folks here have done the leg work to research the products in depth and explain in terms everyone can understand. Quite simply it doesn’t get any easier than going to their site and reading up on the reviews, tests, and products. For more on lighting see our Colored Lights & Reptiles piece. There is also another piece related to lighting as well 3 Reasons your Reptiles Won’t Eat!