Light is the most important factor for plants to grow and flower in the vivarium. Plants cannot grow when they receive a light-intensity of less then 1000 lux.
Light-intensity
Light-intensity decreases quadratic with distance. The intensity of a fluorescent lamp with a distance of 40 cm to the plants is already less than 1000 lux. Therefore, fluorescent lamps are only suitable for standard aquariums with limited height. Usually a vivarium has a far greater height. Different lamps with a higher light-intensity will have to be used to enable successful plant growth. Plants absorb only a few colours of the complete spectrum, mainly in the blue and red area. A good lamp has to contain a high intensity of these colours. A normal light bulb has its intensity in the yellow area and is useless.
Vivaria has a few lamps that meet these criteria. For small vivariums to 40 cm width we have a 24 Watt Dulux L measuring 35 cm and for high and narrow vivariums a 36 Watt Dulux F lamp measuring 25 cm. For wider vivariums, we use the standard 36-Watt Dulux L measuring 45 cm. These lamps are suitable for heights to 120 cm.
Suited for very high vivariums till 180 cm high we use the 80 Watt Dulux L. For this lamp you need a electronic ballast in which case you don’t need starters. It has a very high intensity and a colour spectrum as close as possible to normal daylight. The 80 Watt Dulux L gives still 5000 lux at a level of 100 cm from the top.
For lighting, we use this fixed rule: one lamp for each 50 cm in length and 20 cm in depth. Using this rule, a vivarium measuring 100 cm by 40 cm will have four lamps to assure a high light intensity and an even spreading of light. Dulux lamps last a long time (on average 2½ years with 16 hours of light a day). We advise to change the lamps after 1½ years, because by then their output will have decreased by 70%. For the 80 Watt Dulux L lamp including the electronic ballast replacement should be done after 2½ years.
In their natural habitat frogs and lizards, spend time in the sun. Research has shown that the ultra violet spectrum of sunlight is of utmost importance for animals to produce their own vitamins. (vit A-D) Among other things, these vitamins contribute to a good calcium balance. Calcium is important for bone structure and the functioning of nerves. Too little calcium causes calcium deficiency symptoms like leg failure (rachitis) or even epileptic seizures after sudden panic reactions The good news is that we have found a lamp that specifically emits ultra violet light in low and steady amounts, preventing overexposure to harmful doses of ultra violet light.
In most vivariums a glass plate separates the lamps and the vivarium itself. Ultra violet light cannot pass through glass, so it is necessary to replace the glass plate with a material that allows ultra violet light to pass. We have found a transparent material, which is up to this task. Our UV-plates let pass 99% of the ultra violet light and is heat-resistant for the heat generated by the lamps.
Young Epidobates tricolorseparated in two groups of ten specimens. Group 1 receives ultra violet light; group 2 does not receive ultra violet light. After three months group 1 is noticeably redder than group 2.
A group of Phyllobates vittatus suffers from epileptic seizures, even after capturing them in a jar. After two months under ultra violet light, the frogs are less stressful. Most of them do not suffer from seizures anymore after we shake them in a jar.
A seven year old, green Dendrobates pumilio is almost coloured brown due to old age, hardly active and often fails to catch fruit flies. After placing under ultra violet light for two weeks, he becomes more active. After each peeling, his colour slowly turns from brown to green. Three peelings later, he is green again
