LED vs. florescent

[kueluck]

Are the LED lights safe for reptiles? I’ve searched for info on this but have come up empty handed on this. I know lots of people use florescent lights but are they safe for the snakes. Back in the day I know fluorescents were not good for humans, and I’m guessing this has changed over the years, but what about our legless friends? Is the new technology of LED lighting safe for them? I’m just not sure which way to go with lighting on the new cage. FYI the lighting has nothing to do with the heating aspect of this cage, that’s taken care of.

[guidofatherof5]

I installed fluorescent lights in all my enclosures as I built them.
I would have loved to used LED lights but they are very costly compared to fluorescent.
If I can find them at a good price I will slowly switch over. Fluorescent lights are cheap to run but I think LED are even cheaper and last longer.

[kueluck]

Under Cabinet LED Light & LED Kitchen Lighting - ElementalLED.com (http://www.elementalled.com/shop-by-project/kitchen-cabinet.html) this site seems to have some amazing prices, but since I only have 3 snakes $$ isn't an issue, health and wellbeing are my concerns.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

They are much more compact than flourescent but give out as much or more light.They are cheaper long term because they use hardly any energy and last for ages

On the second page of this thread Chris and Stefan talk about LED systems they use in their terrariums.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/11548-halogen-bulbs-suitable-garters-2.html ( I don't know if you have Ikea in America though)

[kueluck]

Thanks Wm, I'll have to check the IKEA (love this place) pricing compared to this place on-line I found.

[kueluck]

Like I said before though, it's about the health of the snakes, and are there studies about long term effects of LED lighting?

[Stefan-A]

Are the LED lights safe for reptiles? I’ve searched for info on this but have come up empty handed on this. I know lots of people use florescent lights but are they safe for the snakes. Back in the day I know fluorescents were not good for humans, and I’m guessing this has changed over the years, but what about our legless friends? Is the new technology of LED lighting safe for them? I’m just not sure which way to go with lighting on the new cage. FYI the lighting has nothing to do with the heating aspect of this cage, that’s taken care of.
Depends on the wattage and type of LED. The SLED-type LEDs used in the Ikea lights, for example, should pose absolutely no threat even at close range. I have a study somewhere about the risks associated with different types of high power LEDs, but the harmful ones were of a different type that's not normally used in lighting and I'm too lazy to look it up.

Have been using LEDs since 2010, haven't noticed any problems.

And if you're worried about the brightness, you can always put something semi-transparent in front of the lamp to diffuse the light coming from the LEDs.

[Invisible Snake]

Hey do florescent lights give off UVB rays?

[twgrosmick]

Hey do florescent lights give off UVB rays?

No standard fluorescent lighting does not give off UVB rays or else saltwater coral tanks would not be so expensive :P

[kueluck]

Stefan, thanks for the info.

[chris-uk]

I'm a huge proponent of LED. I've not been using them as long as Stefan but I've not had any problems over the last year.