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.

[ptownrider]

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

the light i have is 15 wats, is that okay? therea two of them in there

[John]

That's probably a fluorescent bulb then. What's the temperature like when they've been on for a while?

[ptownrider]

That's probably a fluorescent bulb then. What's the temperature like when they've been on for a while?

its about like 75

[John]

As long as it doesn't get much warmer than that it should be alright.

[ptownrider]

As long as it doesn't get much warmer than that it should be alright.

okay. cool. now the color wont mess with the toad right? and now im thinkin if i shoud just leave one light in. but then would it be too dark?

[John]

The colour itself shouldn't matter much. Whether you remove a light or not really depends on how warm they make the terrarium.

[ptownrider]

The colour itself shouldn't matter much. Whether you remove a light or not really depends on how warm they make the terrarium.

okay. thank you. ytouve been a huge help for me

[John]

Glad to be of help.

[ptownrider]

if the temperature is between like 68-70, well room temp, its okay right? i have no lights on and my tank is close to a window for the light.

[Kurt]

What kind of frog are we talking about? I think a temperate zone species would be ok with that. A tropical species you're going to want it warmer.

[ptownrider]

What kind of frog are we talking about? I think a temperate zone species would be ok with that. A tropical species you're going to want it warmer.

fire bellies

[John]

They'll be ok with that but I would keep fire-bellied toads (the Oriental kind, at least) a little warmer.