Welcome to this month’s Practical Reptile Keeping.

Everyone likes a bargain, but generally, not if there is a chance that it could seriously endanger your health. But the growing interest in reptiles, combined with increasing awareness that they require a source of ultraviolet light, has meant that there is an increasing hazard for the unwary or the novice keeper, when it comes to buying products of this type.

The prices being charged by reputable manufacturers, whose products are stocked in reptile stores up and down the country, are being undercut by unbranded lamps being sold on internet auction sites and elsewhere. It seems these lamps are originating from the Far East, and are not subject to any effective quality control, before being placed on sale within the EU.

We talk about the respective benefits of UVA and UVB - two wavelengths within the UV spectrum, but in reptile-keeping circles, there is little mention of UVC. In fact, this is not present in sunlight when it reaches the earth, having been filtered out by the earth's atmosphere.

It is just as well, because UVC has very serious effects on the body. It interferes with DNA, being described as a mutagen, and causes cancer. You'd rightly expect that lamps that on sale would be safe in this respect, but you'd be wrong. Reputable reptile brands have their lamps tested to ensure safety, yet this is not an official requirement.

Is it not time for the authorities to make testing compulsory and ban the sale of lamps that could cause serious harm to unsuspecting purchasers? In the meantime, the advice is simple - don't endanger your health for the sake of a few pounds. Stick to buying a reputable brand.

David Alderton,
Editor.

David is an acknowledged expert with more than 40 years of experience in this area. He has written and broadcast extensively about the care and biology of these creatures, and also speaks regularly to various herpetological groups..

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