UVB
Ultraviolet-B light that lets a reptile make vitamin D3 and use calcium for healthy bone and shell.
UVB is the part of sunlight that lets most diurnal reptiles synthesise vitamin D3, without which they cannot absorb dietary calcium, no matter how much you supplement. Too little UVB is the road to metabolic bone disease.
Match the tube strength to the species' Ferguson zone, mount it so the animal can bask within range (and move out of it), and replace fluorescent and HO tubes about every 12 months, the visible light lingers long after the UV output has faded.
Related terms
baskr turns the fundamentals into practice, log temperature, humidity and weight and it scores each animal against species ideal ranges, flagging problems early.
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General husbandry guidance, not veterinary advice. Always confirm details for your species with an up-to-date care sheet, an experienced keeper or an exotics vet.