im using infra-red light for my iguana, is it ok?

Question

i couldn't find any ultraviole light, and i have to use infrared light...

Answer 1

i had to use one for a while because i couldn't find a uv light. my iguanas seemed to be getting sick and wouldn't eat after a while... so i had to hurry and get a uv. they dont' do as well with infa red lights

Answer 2

I've done my research on the plant lighting as recommended below. Plant lights are Wide spectrum (that means they encompass all visible wavelengths of light) You need UVB. Infrared(IR) is on the opposite end of the spectrum from ultraviolet(UV) IR produces heat at night. UV is a specific wavelength of light that provides vitamin D3 and is NEEDED to utilize calcium.

If you do not provide a UVB light your iguana and most other reptiles WILL get MBD (metabolic bone disease) causing skeletal deformation, weak bones, and will eventually cause death.

By the time you can see the visible symptoms of MBD, it is too late. The bone damage is done. There is no fix for it. So avoid it and get your iguana a UVB light. I order mine online for $25 US. They last one year.

Get on google. Search for the cheapest place to by a reptisun UVB reptile light, order it, install it so that your iguana can hang out under this light for 12 hours a day.

There is no way around a UV light. I have looked. I am still curious as to whether a combination of a blacklight and a plant light provide lighting needs, but I can never find a reliable source of information regarding the strength of UVB that blacklights produce. I finally decided that if I am going to own reptiles...it was a fact of life that I was going to have to order lighting that my reptiles needed. It's once a year and I consider it a christmas present to them. (I live in a small town where ordering online is the only way to get some things)

Answer 3

Infra red and UVB light perform different functions. IR produces heat (and a dim red light) only. If you are using this only as a heat source, that would be okay.

UVB lighting produces an invisible radiation (what makes our skin tan, among other things) along with visible light. It also lets animals (humans & your iguana included) produce vitamin D. This vitamin is important in our being able to metabolize calcium from our diet to build bone and to conduct nervous system impulses. Without it, your iguana will lose calcium from it's bones (to be used by the nervous system), leading to a variety of problems down the road - bone deformities (similar to osteoporosis in people) are one of the common problems (see article & photo: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dmetabolic%2Bbone%2Bdisease%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26b%3D61&w=285&h=204&imgurl=www.greenigsociety.org%2Fjpg%2FQuasi.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenigsociety.org%2Fmbd.htm&size=23.9kB&name=Quasi.jpg&p=metabolic+bone+disease&type=jpeg&no=65&tt=367&oid=7245bc8d3a74c718&ei=UTF-8).

So, the answer to your question is yes, you do need to get a UVB light. See more info on iguanas & metabolic bone disease, UVB, etc.: http://www.anapsid.org/

Answer 4

you need a UVB light. so many issues will be caused from lack of uv light. and putting him by the window wont help. they dont penetrate glass. search everywhere for some bulbs. you'll probably need a hood too. how long have you had this guy? if you just got it you should have gotten everything first. uvb/uva is a must with iguanas
flukers.com

Answer 5

You can order UV lights from hundreds of places online and most petstores carry them as well. Iguanas need UV or they will get sick and die.