Lighting please help

[ptownrider]

okay so the original lights in my tank went out. so i bought new ones. they are blue. will this hurt my fire belly in any way?

[John]

It shouldn't but blue lights are designed to heat and provide UVA light for reptiles, not really for amphibians - your fire-bellied toads don't need the UVA light and there is some evidence that UV light isn't beneficial to most frogs and toads and may in fact be harmful to some.

[ptownrider]

so should i take them out? and put in clear ones? and the lights have a plastic cover around them. would that put less uv? i know that sounds dumb, i new to frogs. i also read an article that they like dark places so i thought that itd be fine. but if itll put out rays that may harm them then i should take them out.

[Kurt]

I am assuming we are talking about incadescent bulbs. Just to let you know that these type of bulb do produce heat. The greater the wattage, the greater the heat. So watch your tempertures. My fire-bellies are under ambient room light.

[John]

Personally I'd get a day-type bulb that isn't sold for UVA or heating. They will give off some heat but not enough to be of concern if you have any ventilation.

[Kurt]

In other words a fluorescent or a very low wattage incadescent.