Question: LED Lighting

[aymeh21]

I have two axolotls, neither of which are GFP's. I am in the process of setting up their new home and for the lighting/cooling I am planning on installing computer fans with blue LED's built in. I know that Axolotls are sensitive to UV Rays (which I recently learned, after I ordered the fans). My concern is if the blue LEDS give off the same wavelengths as a blacklight would.

would these be okay, or should I go for white LED's instead?

 

[Jennewt]

LEDs don't give off enough UV to be concerned about. And the spectrum of UV that you get from a blacklight is the least-harmful wavelengths. And LEDs aren't very powerful, unless there are a lot of bulbs. I don't think you have any reason to worry.

 

[aymeh21]

Great! Thank you very much.

 

[mewsie]

LEDs are safe, the range of wavelengths from them is so narrow, what you see is what you get.

I have been so surprised at how little the axies are bothered by LEDs. They will quite happily sit with their little faces right by them. In fact, Roscoe seems drawn towards them! Put on the fluorescent tube and they panic!

So I'm a fan of LEDs!

 

[Alioth]

I am as well! We bought dioder led kit from ikea ( really cheap, 39,95 euro) and hung it up against the glass at the back of the aquarium with tape(since they're not waterproof and we are still figuring out a way of waterproofing them). Such a set can produce 7 colors of light, among them is dark blue. We use the dark blue stand as a sort of moonlight in the evening... and even thought it's not hanging above the water: it's beautiful! And the axies love it! Lots of natural behavior and indeed, they even swim towards it!
I have pictures of this in the gallery in my topic "Ningyo and Pachua".