Is it okay to use an ultraviolet bulb for indoor lighting?

Question

It's a compact fluorescent bulb that emits UVA and UVB. I need it for a large cactus and a reptile that both won't have acces to direct sunlight. I'd like to use it as a general purpose light also for efficiency.

Answer 1

I would advise against it, unless you use it in addition to your "normal" indoor light (which screws the efficiency bit....)
All living things require the full spectrum of the sunlight to feel well, physically and mentally. The reason why an aquarium or terrarium often has an ultraviolet lamp is because "normal" light bulbs don't emit enough of it. Quite too often, however, ultraviolet is only used because the colouring of the pets (especially fish and coral) comes out much more dramatic with ultra violet.
Also consider, those fluorescent bulbs (or "grow bulbs for plants") to not emit pure ultraviolet, but only "somewhat more than a standard bulb". I still don't see what makes them more efficient than standard fluorescent tubes?