Colour Change

[benmcalpine]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone would know if u.v lighting would affect the colour change in carpet pythons e.g darwins. I have a 2 year old that is starting to get a little orange with no u.v and was wondering if it could be beneficial? cheers

 

[waruikazi]

In wild Darwin carpets i have seen their colours become less vibrant after being placed in an area that receives no light. So it is conceivable that UV has some affect on a snakes colouring.

 

[Reptilian]

Well alot of ppl will say that that UV for snakes (other than diamonds) is not necessary, although i always use UV with all my animals, I figure that they would all get at least a small percentage in the wild and so therfore it cant hurt...JMO

 

[waruikazi]

Well alot of ppl will say that that UV for snakes (other than diamonds) is not necessary, although i always use UV with all my animals, I figure that they would all get at least a small percentage in the wild and so therfore it cant hurt...JMO

Just because it may have an effect on the animal doesn't mean that it is necessarily a necessity. I think there is some kind of effect but i don't think UV is needed to maintain a healthy snake.

 

[notechistiger]

There are some documented cases of bredli carpet pythons becoming much brigher when subjected to UV lighting. No, it's not a necessity, as evidence suggests- proved by multiple breeders raising, keeping and breeding pythons of all kinds (including diamonds) without any sort of UV without any kind of UV-related problems.

 

[Ramsayi]

There are some documented cases of bredli carpet pythons becoming much brigher when subjected to UV lighting. No, it's not a necessity, as evidence suggests- proved by multiple breeders raising, keeping and breeding pythons of all kinds (including diamonds) without any sort of UV without any kind of UV-related problems.

Any chance of pointing out where I can find these documents?

 

[Reptilian]

I know its not NECESSARY, but my point was more the fact that I use it on ALL my animals...

 

[waruikazi]

I know its not NECESSARY, but my point was more the fact that I use it on ALL my animals...

Whooaa! I suppose i should have used a smiley or something, but i suppose this is APS so i shoulda expected that lol. I was making the point that I think that just because it has an effect does not mean it is required the same as you think it is not required but obviously think it has some kind of effect other wise you wouldn't use it.

 

[notechistiger]

Any chance of pointing out where I can find these documents?

Sure. I'll dig some up when I get home.

 

[Reptilian]

Whooaa! I suppose i should have used a smiley or something, but i suppose this is APS so i shoulda expected that lol. I was making the point that I think that just because it has an effect does not mean it is required the same as you think it is not required but obviously think it has some kind of effect other wise you wouldn't use it.

Lol, I again will try and explain the situation... I know you weren't starting anything and nor was I and was not "flaming" or having a go or such, sorry if you mis interpretted the context it was written in , I guess that is the prob with the net, no emotion in what is said, just a page of words.

And I think me and others MAY think that it has an effect, I think the jury is out on the FACTS of the benefits in snakes and while they can be kept healthy and breeding etc...but i use them more so and purely because there is not going to be any negative effect (that is for sure, wild conditions they get it etc) but I use flouro tubes for lighting anyway and while they are more expensive, I may as well splurge a little on them... Whether they have an effect or not, I dont know, wouldnt even have a clue to be honest, but yeah aint gonna hurt, sooo I figure "what the hell" ...

Regards...
Ash...

 

[Reptilian]

oh and i use em for my lizards anyway, sooo, what the hell i may as well use them on snakes? I figure...

 

[Colin]

I dont know if UV lighting would help make the colours of pythons more vibrant and colourful. But as I use regular fluro twist globes for cage lighting (not UV) I have to say they certainly "look" vibrant under fluro lighting.. and would look the same under UV I imagine. But this is more due to the lighting itself and not due to any effect on the snakes skin in my opinion.

As to whether the UV lighting has an effect on the brightness of the animals dermal layers I don't know.. but would be interested if someone can point to a link etc that has information on this.

 

[waruikazi]

I dont know if UV lighting would help make the colours of pythons more vibrant and colourful. But as I use regular fluro twist globes for cage lighting (not UV) I have to say they certainly "look" vibrant under fluro lighting.. and would look the same under UV I imagine. But this is more due to the lighting itself and not due to any effect on the snakes skin in my opinion.

As to whether the UV lighting has an effect on the brightness of the animals dermal layers I don't know.. but would be interested if someone can point to a link etc that has information on this.

The snake i'm referring to was a WC Darwin around 2.5yrs old and 4ft, i took some pictures of it and then removed it from a golden cane in Darwin city. It was the single brightest and most vibrant darwin i had ever seen and because i was working for the ark animal hospital and was working under their take permit i was going to keep or sell it. I left it in a calico bag and inside a locked cabinet for a couple of days before it was taken to where we were keeping our collection before it went i took some more pictures but noticed that its vibrancy (if that's a word) had disappeared and now looked like a normal darwin. The pictures showed that too.

Not too much later i quit that job and didn't take the pictures with me so unfortunately i can't show the difference that i saw. The access the snake had to light was the major change in that 2 day period so that's what i base that assumption on.

 

[indicus]

Interesting subject Ben; well done.
We don't use any artificial UV in the form of lighting on any of our reptiles;
mostly due to the over all expense.
I do believe however; 'natural sunlight' aids in both the colour and over all
health; and appearance of any animal....
Will we ever really know just how beneficial it is?; probably not.

Over the years; while working with different types of wildlife;
I've noticed regular exposure to natural UV;
does in fact; seem beneficial in enhancing the colour; especially, in birds and reptiles.
It also seems to aid in the recovery of sick and injured animals from what i've experienced.
I'm sure most of you have seen your dog; go and lay out in the sun when it's crook.

Due to overall numbers these days; we don't do it nearly as much as i'd like.
We would often; put most of our juvenile herps into a outside sunning enclosure on a regular basis...
Most notably; we have observed a remarkable increase in the general over all colour of young snakes, and monitors;
that regularly have these 'sunning' sessions; as low as a few hours a week...Bredli, jungles, children's etc; to name a few.
Aside from colour; these juveniles seem to always become better feeders...IMO
The animals also tend to become quieter; probably due to having a set routine; and being handled on more of a regular basis.
A simple 'steel fly wire' type enclosure; complete with a few rocks, branchs, potted plants etc; is all thats needed.
Try; for example; regularly sunning a washed out old jungle; you may be surprised; just how much brighter it may become...

 

[benmcalpine]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all your opinions

 

[Reptilian]

Interesting subject Ben; well done.
We don't use any artificial UV in the form of lighting on any of our reptiles;
mostly due to the over all expense.
I do believe however; 'natural sunlight' aids in both the colour and over all
health; and appearance of any animal....
Will we ever really know just how beneficial it is?; probably not.

Over the years; while working with different types of wildlife;
I've noticed regular exposure to natural UV;
does in fact; seem beneficial in enhancing the colour; especially, in birds and reptiles.
It also seems to aid in the recovery of sick and injured animals from what i've experienced.
I'm sure most of you have seen your dog; go and lay out in the sun when it's crook.

Due to overall numbers these days; we don't do it nearly as much as i'd like.
We would often; put most of our juvenile herps into a outside sunning enclosure on a regular basis...
Most notably; we have observed a remarkable increase in the general over all colour of young snakes, and monitors;
that regularly have these 'sunning' sessions; as low as a few hours a week...Bredli, jungles, children's etc; to name a few.
Aside from colour; these juveniles seem to always become better feeders...IMO
The animals also tend to become quieter; probably due to having a set routine; and being handled on more of a regular basis.
A simple 'steel fly wire' type enclosure; complete with a few rocks, branchs, potted plants etc; is all thats needed.
Try; for example; regularly sunning a washed out old jungle; you may be surprised; just how much brighter it may become...

I think its quite interesting hearing others such as war and indi's opinions...