Do russian torts need UVA
- Thread starter fitz23505
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??? They need UVA and UVB. UVA comes from most lights, and you don't need a special bulb to get it. UVB is the one people forget or don't know about, because you DO need a special bulb for that. An MVB or a flourescent UVB bulb are the two types that people on this forum generally go with.
Tortoises, like most animals, need balanced light- the visible spectrum for vision (and many behaviors are based on seeing things under balanced light, and UV light. UVA helps regulate several behaviors and probably affects some deep brain glands. UVB, actually a tiny bit of UVB that is almost UVC, helps the body create vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is hard to get in diet and is absolutely necessary for proper bone development as well as building nerves, etc. UVB also seems to stimulate some glands in the brain that help regulate day/night function, seasonal functions, and reproduction.
The BEST source of balanced light is the sun. If that is not available to you, you should try to provide a good mix of typical lighting and UVB lighting.
Please note, however, that while almost all UVB bulbs emit plenty of UVA radiation, most plain light bulbs do not emit hardly any UVA or UVB. (Old fashioned thick white fluorescent bulbs do emit some, but not the newer, thinner white bulbs.)
The BEST source of balanced light is the sun. If that is not available to you, you should try to provide a good mix of typical lighting and UVB lighting.
Please note, however, that while almost all UVB bulbs emit plenty of UVA radiation, most plain light bulbs do not emit hardly any UVA or UVB. (Old fashioned thick white fluorescent bulbs do emit some, but not the newer, thinner white bulbs.)
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