UV

[Meatball]

Through the winter it is going to get pretty cold for my pixie to be comfortable. I have a heating pad attached to the side of the tank, and a plexiglass top (with a few holes drilled in the top for air) to keep in moisture and heat. However, i dont think that it will be enough. Is having a UV bulb above the tank a good idea? Or can the rays be harmful to my pixie?

I have a night bulb that I use for my bearded dragons (its a purple bulb, 75 watts) and was wondering if it would be ok to put above my pixie's tank. The tank is a 20g long and I would only have the light at one end of the tank (the area where he doesn't usually sit).

[Julia]

Are you referring to UVA or UVB?

UVB puts out very little heat. I doubt it would damage your frog in any way...might actually be good for him as long as you don't use one as strong as a 10.0!

UVA found in regular incandescent light bulbs again is not harmful but will produce a lot of heat. This could be a problem if it dries out your substrate.

If you must use a nightlight then black/purple are best because frogs can see the red lights.

Honestly I think heat pads attached to the side of the tank are the safest form of heating a frog enclosure...maybe add a second one for additional heat?

[Meatball]

Well it must be a UVA that I have because it gets very hot (I wasn't sure because I threw out the package). But Ive had it over the end of my pixies tank where I have his large dish for about 3 hours now, and honestly he looks very happy. Its been getting colder in my apartment the past few days and he was more buried and looked less active (if thats possible for a frog lol). After having this over his tank for only a few hours he looks wide awake and really healthy. And I tend to mist and throw some water on the substrate daily if I see it drying out so I dont think that should be much of a problem, if it is I can always turn it off for a few hours.

[1beataway]

I have had UVA light bulbs on tanks before (and still have them on a couple), and I have never had a problem with it getting too hot or the soil drying out. I think you'll be fine, and your frog will be happy.

[Meatball]

Well there is one problem, i put the lamp on top of the plexiglass and it got warped ... hmm

[1beataway]

Oh no!

I totally didn't think of the plexi glass. I'm sorry.

[Julia]

Yikes! You could try getting a small screen or metal top for the half the tank that holds the light.

[Meatball]

Its alright lol. I would like to fix this plexi glass first... maybe ill heat it up with the lamp then put something heavy on it to try and correct it. Or that might make it worse...


EDIT: nope it worked

And I guess with this plexi glass top i dont really have a choice but to put another heatpad on the side... I dont want to make half the top of it a screen, like you suggested Julia, because it will let out too much moisture..

[Deku]

In my honest opinion I really don't think UVB/UVA would harm your amphibian-nor any amphibian for that matter. They soak up the rays in nature by which they live in an area where they get lots of it. So I strongly doubt itd harm it. I see my toads bask whenever I turn a basking light on. Honestly though get informed on types of lights because UVB/UVA lights shouldnt produce heat at all more than maybe a little bit. IF you are talking about "Basking" lights which produce no more uv rays than a normal house light would(40lux) is going to have any effect on your frog. It only produces heat. The light that hits the earth is atleast 1,000,000 lux(wavelength), in areas where its thick with trees and shrubs they STILL get some of that radiation. You may not want to over do it, but you want some good uv rays to be soaked up by the amphibian(if said amphibian is diurnal). In any case it wont do any harm. Just make sure you are giving it both UV rays(b and a). When you feed crickets that are dusted with calcium Id make sure it has D3. Because that is what is used to fortify their bone structure(which all reptiles and amphibians get SOMEHOW). You dont want to overdose them with calcium powder though. Just once a week feed a few insects with it. Same with vitamin powders. Though if you use vitamin powder and calcium powder make sure only ONE contains the D3. SO if the vitamins contain D3 do not end up giving calcium with D3. You know?

Also you dont have to go buying storebrand lights because people suggest they contain more UV rays. Like incandescent bulbs do not produce much UV rays more than a normal house light. People get confused about this little thing because there is another type of light called the Vapor bulb THOSE DO indeed produce the UV rays as much as a full spectrum tube and last twice as long. But down side is they dont cover the whole tank and they cost an arm and a leg. Normal full spectrum lights should be replaced every 6months after wards its not strong enough. Vapor bulbs Id say once 8-10months? You can buy the UV lights in a normal hardware store. Just read the readings on the carton and get more informed. Like some will give you the exact information. You decide if its good or not, go and do some google search on the lightspectrums and wave length. Get informed on that and you will probably understand what you need about lighting.

[Kevin1]

So the night bulb produces u.v.? LOL what kind of night bulb is that...or are we talking about two lights?
U.V. shouldn't harm your pyxie. These frogs are diurnal and the african sun can get hot.
I wouldn't recommend a mercury vapor bulb for any amphibian, those produce A LOT of U.V.B.
If your worried about excessive heat or u.v. give your frog a shady area to retreat to.
Also if you don't already have one get yourself a thermometer or temperature gun.

[Julia]

With all that said and explained about UV lighting...none of the UV rays will go through the plexi glass! Lol!

[Deku]

With all that said and explained about UV lighting...none of the UV rays will go through the plexi glass! Lol!

Of course. Its why its recommended for all reptile to use lids with wires rather than glass. Also make sure its not mesh. Because very fine mesh(small small small holes) will block out the rays by half(or so this site stated which I believe because this place is rated top notch)

I found my source of uv lighting statement at "tortoisetrust.org". Because yes its a site dedicated for tortoises. But the same article can apply to different reptiles and amphibians.

As for mercury vapor I think they should be alright as long as their placed say.... 11-12inches away from the receipient animal. It also produces heat. Though for amphibians I prefer full spectrum lighting. As for reptiles that require maximum uvb/uva lighting Id say thats what the mercury vapor lighting is for. Though this is entirely out of speculations based on what I had read. So its an opinion I guess.