How often for UVB in winter?

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Hi, I’ve searched and read a lot of posts but none were quite the answer I’m looking for.. if a Hermann’s or Russian lives indoors all year long and were to get sunlight outside 3-4 times a week in the summer, how often should you run a uvb in the enclosure during winter? Every day for 12 hours? Just a few times a week?
p.s. I already know all about the best uv bulbs so you don’t have to tell me about that lol.
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Would depend on the uvb output ur getting from ur bulb which u would need a solar meter to know. It ur getting readings between 3-5 then 3-4 hrs a day would be sufficient
 

wellington

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I would guess that if they only need to be in the sun for 3-4 days a week in summer then the same for winter should apply under a uvb bulb.

P.S. just incase, the mercury vapor bulb is no longer the best bulb.
 
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I would guess that if they only need to be in the sun for 3-4 days a week in summer then the same for winter should apply under a uvb bulb.

P.S. just incase, the mercury vapor bulb is no longer the best bulb.
Thanks! Glad to hear because that’s not what I’m going with ??
 

Tom

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Hi, I’ve searched and read a lot of posts but none were quite the answer I’m looking for.. if a Hermann’s or Russian lives indoors all year long and were to get sunlight outside 3-4 times a week in the summer, how often should you run a uvb in the enclosure during winter? Every day for 12 hours? Just a few times a week?
p.s. I already know all about the best uv bulbs so you don’t have to tell me about that lol.
I would run an HO tube daily in winter for 2-3 hours mid day in your situation.
 

Dandelion_@_

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I would run an HO tube daily in winter for 2-3 hours mid day in your situation.
Tom, I'm in NH where outdoor time is limited until June-Aug. Would you still only recommend 2-3 hours per day indoors during the rest of the year for a 7-yr Hermann male?
 

Alethea111

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We leave ours on all day then shut them off at night! Please let me know if this is ok(-:
 

Tom

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Tom, I'm in NH where outdoor time is limited until June-Aug. Would you still only recommend 2-3 hours per day indoors during the rest of the year for a 7-yr Hermann male?
Yes. There is very little UV in morning or evening sun. Almost none. There is a quickly rising spike mid day and it drops off as quickly as it rises. Using an HO bulb for 2 or 3 hours mid day simulates these higher mid day levels that happen outside daily.
 

Tom

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We leave ours on all day then shut them off at night! Please let me know if this is ok(-:
This depends on the UV levels being emitted by your bulbs in your enclosure. Low levels are okay to run all day, but if the levels are too low, then it might not be doing any good anyway. Higher levels all day, like from a good HO tube with a reflector, could do damage, or cause behavioral changes that are undesirable, like hiding all day.

Without a meter, you are just guessing.
 

Dandelion_@_

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Yes. There is very little UV in morning or evening sun. Almost none. There is a quickly rising spike mid day and it drops off as quickly as it rises. Using an HO bulb for 2 or 3 hours mid day simulates these higher mid day levels that happen outside daily.
Thank you
 

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