UV Lighting

[NutmegsMommy]

Hi,

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend of mine who has a squirrel she is over-wintering. She lives in a cold climate up North and for the winter months would like to do the UV Light deal. I don't know anything about it since I live in sunny FL - does anyone know about UV Lighting and if so, what does she need to buy, where to put it, how often to use it, etc....

Thanks All:thankyou

[TigerRoni]

I'm not an expert. I can just tell you what my vet has told to me. I bought a UVB 5.0 light with kit for my squirrel. She said it has to be UVB. Not UV. It must be a tube light. You can get it at a local pet store. It runs about $60 dollars. It must be placed above or next to the cage. I moved my squirrel's hammock down about 9 to 10 inches below the light. If it is too close to your pet it can and will burn them. They are made for reptiles. Vet said 8 to 10 hours of use. My squirrel sleeps in a tee-pee on the bottom a lot so he isn't in it full all day. I think that is very important. And I tend to leave it on the lesser of the two times. About 8 hours. I also don't leave his on every day. About every few days. I kinda go with the flow. If he acts like he wants to stay under it. I'll turn it on. Sorry I'm not much help. I've only had my light about 4 months. My squirrel is also 5 yrs old. Good Luck!

[pappy1264]

That light is good, put it on a timer, and follow the outside light pattern. So in winter it will about 8 hours of light. As you come into spring, you will up it to follow the lighting outside.

[CritterMom]

Go here: http://www.petmountain.com/category/286/1/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs.html?Brand=2&gclid=CNjdh_P-k6UCFQ915Qod71i_QA

You want the repti-sun 10.0. the 5.0 and 10.0 represent how far below the bulb the UV reaches - ten inches is the best you can buy, and this place has the best prices - you would indeed pay about $60 for these at a local pet sotre, this place has them in the $20 range.

They are T-8 fluorescents. If you buy the 48" ones, you can buy a T-8 fluorescent shop light fixture at Lowes or Home Depot with a plug type end that doesn't require hard wiring for about $15-$20.

[pappy1264]

Thank you, CM, for that link! I need new bulbs for all my tanks...you just saved me A TON!!!!! lol Will get the 48" for the squirrels, too, since they will be in a bigger cage.

ok, I typed in the initials for your name, crittermom....and I got dancing christmas smilies....lol

[CritterMom]

Thank you, CM, for that link! I need new bulbs for all my tanks...you just saved me A TON!!!!! lol Will get the 48" for the squirrels, too, since they will be in a bigger cage.

ok, I typed in the initials for your name, crittermom....and I got dancing christmas smilies....lol


I'm like Madonna without the pointy bra - I have backup dancers:D

This is the absolute BEST price I have seen on these bulbs - nobody else even comes close. I got rid of my salt water reef tank years ago so I didn't bother to see if they had actinic or anything, but I was just amazed at these...

[TigerRoni]

Thanks Pappy and CritterMom. What a great idea and good information. I couldn't believe how much the light costs. Now I have another, much cheaper source. Thanks so much!!!

[pappy1264]

I'm like Madonna without the pointy bra - I have backup dancers

I almost fell out of my chair laughing, Crittermom! lol

[NutmegsMommy]

Thanks everyone for your help :)

Critter Mom - any chance you could post pics of how you set the light up at the cage or PM the pics so I can pass them along to make sure the light gets set up right to avoid blindness, burns and chews to the cord, since I won't be at the house to help her out. Thanks :)

[Scooterzmom]

Thanks everyone for your help :)

Critter Mom - any chance you could post pics of how you set the light up at the cage or PM the pics so I can pass them along to make sure the light gets set up right to avoid blindness, burns and chews to the cord, since I won't be at the house to help her out. Thanks :)


Ditto! I too would love to see the pics so I can set it up best for Hami.

[NutmegsMommy]

Ummmmm....pictures of the light set up???? Anyone????? Anyone???? Want to make sure the squirrel's cage gets set up right and there's no chance of blindness or cord chewing.

Critter Mom????????

[Pierre]

Just in case anyone doesn't go the UV light route, below is from my post yesterday on a similar thread. Vitamin D can be given in diet and supplements without a lamp.

[indoor cats don't sit under a lamp--they get their vitamin D from their diet.]

Vitamin d3 [cholecalciferol] is formed in the skin by the reaction when 7-dehydrocholesterol is irradiation by UVB [only certain wavelengths].

It then needs two more hydroxylations to be active: In basic steps, it is then converted in the liver to 25- [OH] cholecalciferol [aka calcidiol].

From there, it is further changed in the kidneys to 1, 25- dihydroxycholecalciferol [aka calcitriol].

One can also get vitamin d3 orally via some foods and also supplements.

There is evidence that our furry and feathered friends get theirs orally as well--the oils in the skin migrate onto their fur or feathers, form vitamin d3, and is ingested during grooming.

Vitamin D toxicity is not well documented in terms of what the exact toxic amount is. Standards are changing about the human recommended daily amount [currently between 400 IU and 2000 IU's with this recommendation going up] and toxicity occurs only with very high levels over a long period of time. I don't know what that level in squirrels is, but evidence has been gathered to support a tolerable upper limit of 10,000 IU per day for humans with toxic levels being 5 times this, or 50,000 over a long period of time.

Food [haha] for thought. I also am very comfortable with the amt of vitamin D in the FV, HHB's, and rodent blocks and would have no problem giving oral supplementation if ever necessary, and I would not go the route of UV lights. JMHO.

[Jackie in Tampa]

I do not use lights:peace
used to...

[NutmegsMommy]

Thanks Pierre. She's already got the squirrel on rat blocks and healthy veggies loaded with vitamin D. I will copy and paste your post in an email to her and let her know. I don't use lights at all - I rely on diet and sunshine for my babies :) and they are perfectly healthy. Then again, I live in sunny Florida - not up North where it gets sooooooooooooo cold Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!