Hi ,

 

While browsing the forum , I found good feedbacks about full spectrum lighting . My bird room receives direct sunlight only after 4 p.m. and I would like to support this with artificial lighting .

 

I have had a quick search n the net and pointed the product below for reptiles to supply UV-A and UV-B for Vitamin D3 poductionwich is essential for calcium processing .

 

Before purchasing , I would like to learn your ideas as this product is not dedicated to the budgerigars .

 

 

[/size]Sera Terra UV Special[/size]</H1>6500 Kelvin

 

Sun-warm daylight with an abundance of UV for reptiles

 

Full spectrum daylight with 30% UV-A and 4% UV-B

 

Essential for reptiles and other terrarium animals to synthesize vitamin D3

 

Aids in calcium assimilation to provide healthy skeleton growth and prevent shell-softening

 

Improves the animals' natural colors

 

Color representation~

-index: 95 Ra

-properties: 1A (very good)

 

Energy efficiency class: B

Edited June 5, 200915 yr by KAZ

hey with this do budgies neet direct sunlight of can thay have shade on tham

Hi Shannon ,

 

Thanks for your promnpt response .

 

I hope I understand your question right (Sorry , if I judged it wrong , I can be thick smetimes when communicating in English), the budgies can get direct sunlight for a limited time if they choose to get as there are shade places that they can hide , mainly the end of the breeding cabinets and the aviary . I had not decided yet where to place this additional lightening but , I will keep their option about lightbathing .

okay i am going to do this wan i get my new bird room

Going to add to the questions here with this would it be okay to use inside the house? My study doubles as a bird room and I think my inside birds would benefit from them but would it be okay for me to sit in?

Well , it is hard to say if it suits reptiles , it will suit to us

 

The following info is from Vikipedia .

 

Human health-related effects of UV radiation

 

 

[edit] Beneficial effects

 

 

[edit] Vitamin D

The Earth's atmosphere blocks UV radiation from penetrating through the atmosphere by 98.7%. A positive effect of UVB exposure is that it induces the production of vitamin D in the skin. It has been estimated that tens of thousands of premature deaths occur in the United States annually from a range of cancers due to vitamin D deficiency.^[7] Another effect of vitamin D deficiency is poor absorption of calcium which can lead to bone diseases.

 

Some studies show most people get adequate Vitamin D through food and incidental exposure.^[8]

 

Many countries have fortified certain foods with Vitamin D to prevent deficiency. Eating fortified foods or taking a dietary supplement pill is usually preferred to UVB exposure, due to the increased risk of skin cancer from UV radiation.^[8]

 

 

 

[edit] Aesthetics

Too little UVB radiation leads to a lack of Vitamin D. Too much UVB radiation leads to direct DNA damages and sunburn. An appropriate amount of UVB (which varies according to skin color) leads to a limited amount of direct DNA damage. This is recognized and repaired by the body. Then the melanin production is increased which leads to a long lasting tan. This tan occurs with a 2 day lag phase after irradiation, but it is much less harmful and long lasting than the one obtained from UVA. However some tanning lotions and sprays available in the market don't require UV exposure.

 

 

 

[edit] Medical applications

Ultraviolet radiation has other medical applications, in the treatment of skin conditions such as psoriasis and vitiligo. UVA radiation can be used in conjunction with psoralens (PUVA treatment). UVB radiation is rarely used in conjunction with psoralens. In cases of psoriasis and vitiligo, UV light with wavelength of 311 nm is most effective.^{[citation needed]}

 

 

 

[edit] Harmful effects

An overexposure to UVB radiation can cause sunburn and some forms of skin cancer. In humans, prolonged exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye, and immune system.^[9] However the most deadly form - malignant melanoma - is mostly caused by the indirect DNA damage (free radicals and oxidative stress). This can be seen from the absence of a UV-signature mutation in 92% of all melanoma.^[10]

 

UVC rays are the highest energy, most dangerous type of ultraviolet light. Little attention has been given to UVC rays in the past since they are filtered out by the atmosphere. However, their use in equipment such as pond sterilization units may pose an exposure risk, if the lamp is switched on outside of its enclosed pond sterilization unit.

I recommend ARCADIA lighting which is specifically designed for birds as opposed to other animals.

Hi Renee ,

 

The closest thing in the google search (as Turkish) I get is hotel ARCADIA , I have no access to this locally and no chance to order it internationally and receive it as one piece

 

The UV levels in the Sera product are nearly as twice of the Arcadia , would this be a problem ?

 

 

The Arcadia Bird Lamp has been developed in order to provide an artificial source of ultraviolet (UV) light, which is essential to captive birds denied exposure to direct sunlight.

The use of a light source that mimics the natural UV content of sunlight has recognised health benefits, and provides birds with a more natural view their surroundings, encouraging natural behaviour and in many cases improved breeding results.

 

Unlike normal fluorescent lamps, the Arcadia Bird Lamp uses special UV emitting phosphors to replicate the spectral pattern of sunlight with 12% of the total light output emitted as UV-A and 2.4% UV-B.

Edited June 4, 200915 yr by cem

I'd just like to add that UV lamps stop producing sufficient UV after about six months, so you need to replace the bulbs every six months.

Edited June 5, 200915 yr by Chrysocome

Budgerigars as do all animals need Vitamin D3. The best way to get this is via the UV-B rays from the sun. UV-B can not pass through Glass or Clear plastic so need to be in direct view.

 

There are other ways, not as good, to get vitamin D3. One is with the fluorescent fittings noted above. One is with Suppliments.

 

The best way is direct sunlight.

 

Below is a link I wa given by Don Burke. It is a very good read and I suggest that you all do so.

 

Don Burke's Vitamin D Sick Bird Break Through.

A very usefull article , thanks a lot Daz .

 

"I installed reptile versions of full spectrum lights which had a fair amount of UVB emissions (timed to come on when I was absent)."

 

 

now I am more comfortable to use what I can purchase easly , was not aware clear glass was blocking UV-B rays , never the less I can not get rid of the windows , will support my bird room with UV-A and UV-B emitting reptile type 2*36 Watts flourecent bulbs .

Edited June 5, 200915 yr by cem

I have had a contact with Sera (a company from Germany , manufacturing mostly aquarium products) as I plan to install their uv bulb for reptiles . My main question was how to install , they recommended not exceeding 1 meter distence between the cage and the bulb to let the birds benefit from the rays and the best vaule would be 40-50 cm .

 

This has to change my birdroom layout as currently I have a distance of two meters at least (the bulbs are placed on the side wall), I may have to re-consider about the windows .

Edited June 17, 200915 yr by cem

Going to add to the questions here with this would it be okay to use inside the house? My study doubles as a bird room and I think my inside birds would benefit from them but would it be okay for me to sit in?

 

one thing for sure av you would be tanned i got a uv black light just for my room turns all the white violet

but its the type they use at a solurium not the same i dont think

but i should find out as when i get board with it the birds may benifit .../?will look into that thanks for the idea .. :rofl:

Depending on how far away you are from the light, it is doubtful you would be affected by the light at all. The amount of light detected using a UV-B monitor decreases exponentially as you move away from the light - which is why it is recommended that the animals the light is used for is a minimum of x distance from the birds (depending on the brand of bulb and the animal in question). The small amount of research I have done also suggests that it is important to select a bulb that emits light above 295nm, as ones that emit lower frequencies have been associated with photo-kerato-conjunctivitis in birds and reptiles. There are also reports of budgerigars becoming quite distressed when housed in close proximity to fluorescent bulbs (although this person may have been using a research type UV-B blacklight). This information was found here: http://www.aavac.com.au/birdmed/avian_lighting.pdf (a discussion between animal health professionals from AAVAC).

 

Basically I wouldnt go putting any old UV-B emitting light in a cage with birds unless you know other people have done it with that particular brand and model of bulb with success and without harm to the birds in question. The Arcadia bulbs have been used by members here with success (so I understand?). While Don Burke uses the Sylvania Reptistar tubes, we must remember he has a very large aviary, and the birds are able to move away from it as they wish - might not be quite so practical for a smaller cage or room.

Depending on how far away you are from the light, it is doubtful you would be affected by the light at all. The amount of light detected using a UV-B monitor decreases exponentially as you move away from the light - which is why it is recommended that the animals the light is used for is a minimum of x distance from the birds (depending on the brand of bulb and the animal in question). The small amount of research I have done also suggests that it is important to select a bulb that emits light above 295nm, as ones that emit lower frequencies have been associated with photo-kerato-conjunctivitis in birds and reptiles. There are also reports of budgerigars becoming quite distressed when housed in close proximity to fluorescent bulbs (although this person may have been using a research type UV-B blacklight). This information was found here: http://www.aavac.com.au/birdmed/avian_lighting.pdf (a discussion between animal health professionals from AAVAC).

 

Basically I wouldnt go putting any old UV-B emitting light in a cage with birds unless you know other people have done it with that particular brand and model of bulb with success and without harm to the birds in question. The Arcadia bulbs have been used by members here with success (so I understand?). While Don Burke uses the Sylvania Reptistar tubes, we must remember he has a very large aviary, and the birds are able to move away from it as they wish - might not be quite so practical for a smaller cage or room.

Thank you for your informative post!

Renee, I take it you use the Arcadia lamp? Do you use the compact version or the tube version? Are you finding an improvement in your budgies? Lessening of disease?

Renee, I take it you use the Arcadia lamp? Do you use the compact version or the tube version? Are you finding an improvement in your budgies? Lessening of disease?

 

Since June last year I have used Arcadia fluoro tubes. Apart from some under-performing top pairs I had a brilliant breeding season last year! The budgies are far more active and chirpier - ie. happier.

Great! I am thinking of getting the compact bulb as an overhead lamp for my birds. How many hours a day do you give them with the light on Renee?

Great! I am thinking of getting the compact bulb as an overhead lamp for my birds. How many hours a day do you give them with the light on Renee?

I run the lights on a timer - lights on at 7am, lights off at 8pm. I also run a 24hr bug zapper that emits black light when the lights go off and it provides enough light for the hens to feed at night.