Most beneficial UVA/UVB percentages

[Dayna]

What is the most beneficial UVA/UVB percentages to give your finches. Out of these 3 examples (lowest to highest percentages) what would you say is the best combination:

Example 1:
30% UVA
5% UVB


Example 2:
33% UVA
8% UVB


Example 3:
33% UVA
10% UVB

Should there be a higher UVB percentage in this combination or is UVB not as essential as UVA?

[kathmcm]

It's UVB exposure that produces vitamin D in the body. I think that what lamp you choose then depends on wattage, light spread (bulb or tube with or without reflector), where the birds spend most of their time, and the length of time you have the lamp on, so that they get just enough but not too much UVB. I don't know of any health benefits from UVA.

I have been thinking of getting mine started on a combined calcium vitamin D supplement (calcium is needed for Vit D absorption). After all UV is hazardous as well as beneficial.

[finchmix22]

My bulbs are the following, from Zoo Med:
UVB ReptiSun 5.0 and 10.0 compact flourescent bulbs and ReptBasking Spot Lampr for the UVA/Heat and Powersun UV, which provides heat, UVA/UVB, but if you don't need the heat, you can use the DAylight Blue bulbs, which are just UVA. I'm not sure of the percent, but these are for reptiles and other tropical animals.

[Dayna]

My bulbs are the following, from Zoo Med:
UVB ReptiSun 5.0 and 10.0 compact flourescent bulbs and ReptBasking Spot Lampr for the UVA/Heat and Powersun UV, which provides heat, UVA/UVB, but if you don't need the heat, you can use the DAylight Blue bulbs, which are just UVA. I'm not sure of the percent, but these are for reptiles and other tropical animals.

The ones I have been looking at are exoterra which are also for reptiles and I'm pretty sure they have the same percentages as the zoo med. I might grab an extra UVB only bulb for extra UVB or I could just supplement with Calcium Plus too.

[Sally]

My lights don't really tell what percentages of UVA/UVB they emit. I started out using the daylight bulbs from Lowe's, then switched to sunshine bulbs when those came out. I am in the process of changing out my fixtures. I use 48" and 24" T12 fluorescent bulbs, and I am switching over to T8 bulbs, as they are supposed to be cooler and more efficient. In each shop light, I place one Exo-terra Repti-Glo 2.0 bulb and one GE sunshine bulb. On the Hagen home page, the Repti-Glo 2.0 is listed as good for reptiles, amphibians, and birds, whereas the 5.0 and 10.0 are not listed for birds. It will take time to tell if this combination is working for me.

Every cage has lights on it, and my lights in my breeding room are set for 15 hours right now.

[debbie276]

From the Ge website:
http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_l ... health.htm
5. Do Sunshine bulbs give off UV like the sun?
No. UVA and UVB output of fluorescent lamps, specifically Sunshine bulbs are minimal and comparable to other standard fluorescent lamps that you would find in places such as office buildings.


6. What is the ultraviolet (UV) output of GE lamps?
The only full spectrum lamps GE manufactures are in the visible light range. They do not incorporate the ultraviolet (non-visible) output found in natural sunlight.
Full spectrum lamps in the visible range are designed to simulate the color range of sunlight. These include the sunshine, Chroma 50, and Chroma 75 fluorescent lamps. Visible light is found in the wavelength range of 400-700 nanometers and emits some UV, but the amounts are well below those found in daylight and sunlight, even when filtered through a window. These are not considered harmful. This is where normal, everyday use lamps (incandescent and fluorescent) fall.