UVB Lighting

[KC Cameron]

OK, here is a stupid question. What about these?


This is 5000K CRI 82. I have it throughout the house, and to me, it makes a mental difference.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-60W ... qII32RDuJA

These 5500K 93+ CRI are much more expensive, but still cheap to the bird lights I have seen.
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/ve ... _short.htm

[Passerine]

OK, here is a stupid question. What about these?


This is 5000K CRI 82. I have it throughout the house, and to me, it makes a mental difference.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-60W ... qII32RDuJA

These 5500K 93+ CRI are much more expensive, but still cheap to the bird lights I have seen.

The CRI on the first one is too low for birds (not bad for birds, but too low to make the most of their visual range). They are a great choice for humans (since our lighting needs are easily met compared to birds) and better than incandescent lighting for birds.

The second ones look like they fit the recommended specs for avian lighting. Over 90 CRI and in the right Kelvin range.

As I understand it, it's best not to assume that lights marketed for birds are necessarily appropriate (check the Kelvin, the CRI and the UVB output) since some may be repackaged reptile lights and some may be over-priced). Alternately, lights not marketed for birds may be better lights and be a better value.

Not an expert, but learning a lot on the subject the more I dig into it!

[Pajarita]

And the 'avian' lights could also be sort of fake. There was a brand made specifically for birds which boasted an almost perfect spectral distribution (this is as important as the CRI and the Ktemp but the manufacturers never offer it as part of the specifications), it was expensive but people bought it thinking it was best for their birds... a few months later, they realized that these lights were, apparently, regular full spectrum and they had only stuck a strip of orangey-red paper to the middle so it had a higher yellow/red range - and they realized it because the little strip peeled off!

You need to take into consideration that this is a completely unregulated industry so the manufacturers can pretty much claim anything, not deliver, and still get away with it...

[lifesazoo33]

Thank you Passerine! That was a lot of very helpful information! I did not realize UVB could cause cataracts. I have my reptiles terrarium beside my birds cage (far enough that he can't reach it without really stretching to reach the corner, but they do have UVB on them. I am assuming that the distance of their UVB light will not cause my parrot any issues. Did you happen to come across a distance that was considered safe? If you did, I would love to know what it is. Thank you again for your comments. Definitely useful since I have not yet gotten a set up for lighting specific for him

[Passerine]

Thank you Passerine! That was a lot of very helpful information! I did not realize UVB could cause cataracts. I have my reptiles terrarium beside my birds cage (far enough that he can't reach it without really stretching to reach the corner, but they do have UVB on them. I am assuming that the distance of their UVB light will not cause my parrot any issues. Did you happen to come across a distance that was considered safe? If you did, I would love to know what it is. Thank you again for your comments. Definitely useful since I have not yet gotten a set up for lighting specific for him

A bird has to be pretty close to the light for the UVB to cause harm, so you are probably fine. (usually something like 12-18") You also want to make sure the bird is not forced to look into a light (so it should be somewhat overhead of where the bird is). Hope that helps!

[lifesazoo33]

It does help. Thank you