Uv lighting

[greenwood09]

Do salamanders/newts need UV light to stay healthy?

 

[Blackbun]

Hello Greenwood seems a good question. There's a whole stack of scientific research done on this if you do the G scholar thing.
E.g.: LARVAL SALAMANDER RESPONSE TO UV RADIATION AND PREDATION RISK: COLOR CHANGE AND MICROHABITAT USE - Garcia - 2004 - Ecological Applications - Wiley Online Library

For me, uv only concerns me via the moss and fern growth in my enclosures. I keep salamandra only and they, generally, tend to come out after dark thus avoiding me and uv. Having said that I I have seen orientalis and gigliolli in sunny patches in the early morning and late afternoon when sunlight is not so intense. Dunno! I'll have to read up a bit more. I know uv and vitamin D synthesis and I know uv as a steriliser killing microorganisms.

 

[FriendlyIbis]

Recently had a conversation about this with my veterinarian!

She said yes, and for salamanders UVB specifically is what's recommended now. It can be 2-8 hours of light, so it seems like even a small amount of unfiltered light (not filtered through the window, etc.) will be beneficial.

 

[FriendlyIbis]

She said yes, and for salamanders UVB specifically is what's recommended now. It can be 2-8 hours of light, so it seems like even a small amount of unfiltered light (not filtered through the window, etc.) will be beneficial.

Looking at some resources here, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians in 2015 suggests that a UV light is necessary with at least 2-8 hours of light for amphibians generally, but "it is important to provide options to get out of the light and still be in preferred locations," since UV burns have also been documented. They recommend 2-5% UVB as a component of that light.

The same resource from 2008 pointed out that while UVB wasn't proven to be necessary at the time, it was prudent to include it for the sake of erring on the side of caution, especially when treating sick animals.

I can't include links since these articles are printed, and I couldn't find a public portal to access them.