Lighting for Albino

[ProXimuS]

I've got a couple questions about lighing for Tallie, my albino. I am under the impression that they can't see red light, is this correct? If so, if I were to use a red light on her during the day and then off at night, like a normal light, would she be in the dark(through her eyes at least) all day long?

The reason I'm asking is because I had a regular 40W bulb, and every time she would go to the warm side she would go under the cage carpet. She likes to be on that side alot, and I'm worried it was too bright for her eyes. I have a little shade wall made of cardboard to block some light on her cool side, so she can be out without the light shinging in her eyes. I bought her a red bulb today thinking it would be good if she couldn't see it, but I don't want her to be in the dark all day.

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure what color they can see but they are equipped with cones and rod in the eyes so I don't think it's beyond reason to think they do.
I would believe it's not the full spectrum of color though.
Just my thoughts on the subject.

[ConcinusMan]

Not sure what color they can see but they are equipped with cones and rod in the eyes so I don't think it's beyond reason to think they do.
I would believe it's not the full spectrum of color though.
Just my thoughts on the subject.

Most reptiles have about the same range of vision that we do, only their range is shifted over to the blue/violet end of the spectrum a bit. That makes them unable to see a frequency of red light that we can see, but it also gives them the ability to see violet frequencies that are invisible to us. Red "nocturnal" reptile bulbs take advantage of that. It lets us see them at night but the light cannot be seen by them.

[jarich]

Its difficult to classify the vision of reptiles as a whole, since there is so much variation between the different species. However, a good portion of diurnal reptiles see much better than humans. They have a fourth type of cone (we have three) that actually allows them to see into the ultraviolet spectrum. Like Concinnusman said, there are some that do not see past about 600 nm (which is where the orange to red wavelengths begin) however, this is not true for all reptiles, let alone all snakes.

Snakes seem to have a pretty high degree of variation in vision. For instance, ball pythons have almost no cones, instead they have a huge percentage of short rods for vision. This isnt too surprising when you consider its a nocturnal animal. Thamnophis, however, have no rods whatsoever. That I am aware of there are only a few studies on their vision and both found sirtalis, marcianus and similis to not have any rods at all. Their peak absorption was around 550-600 nm, which means they do see red, just not as well as we humans do.

With albinos, often it is not that they see color any differently, rather that since they do not have any pigment in their irises, light affects them more. Red light is a longer wavelength and so it is possible that with your albino the red light is just more comfortable for it than white light. If you arent using the light for heat, you might actually want to get one of those silver dipped bulbs, a CHE or even those low light LEDs you mentioned. Or just do away with it altogether if there is a window nearby.

[guidofatherof5]

Its difficult to classify the vision of reptiles as a whole, since there is so much variation between the different species. However, a good portion of diurnal reptiles see much better than humans. They have a fourth type of cone (we have three) that actually allows them to see into the ultraviolet spectrum. Like Concinnusman said, there are some that do not see past about 600 nm (which is where the orange to red wavelengths begin) however, this is not true for all reptiles, let alone all snakes.

Snakes seem to have a pretty high degree of variation in vision. For instance, ball pythons have almost no cones, instead they have a huge percentage of short rods for vision. This isnt too surprising when you consider its a nocturnal animal. Thamnophis, however, have no rods whatsoever. That I am aware of there are only a few studies on their vision and both found sirtalis, marcianus and similis to not have any rods at all. Their peak absorption was around 550-600 nm, which means they do see red, just not as well as we humans do.

With albinos, often it is not that they see color any differently, rather that since they do not have any pigment in their irises, light affects them more. Red light is a longer wavelength and so it is possible that with your albino the red light is just more comfortable for it than white light. If you arent using the light for heat, you might actually want to get one of those silver dipped bulbs, a CHE or even those low light LEDs you mentioned. Or just do away with it altogether if there is a window nearby.

You've peaked my interest to read more about this. Would you please site what article, book or paper this information came from. Thanks.

[jarich]

You've peaked my interest to read more about this. Would you please site what article, book or paper this information came from. Thanks.

Hey Steve,

No problem, glad to help. As for the articles I was talking to specifically geared towards Thamnophis species, start with these two:

Jacobs, GH et al (1992) Jrnl Comp Phys A, 170:6, 701-707

Sillman et al (1997) Jrnl Comp Phys A, 181:2, 89-101

Sillman and the rest were the same team that did the study on ball pythons a couple years later I think.

[Steveo]

She probably can't see by the light of a red bulb, which is why many use them for heat at night.

I know they are expensive, but I use a ceramic bulb that only emits heat. Natural light and my normal room lighting make up the difference, which makes for ~12 hours of light year-round.

[ProXimuS]

I was thinking of getting a ceramic heat emitter thing, but my room stays mostly dark, the majority of the day.


Do you guys think I should stick with the regular 40W and let her fend for her own cover if it bothers her eyes(theres plenty of plants, a hide, and the cage carpet she can go under).

[ProXimuS]

Here is her basking in her red light

P1110417.jpg

[d_virginiana]

I may be mistaken, but I don't believe albinos or non-albinos can see red bulbs (at least not well) which is why they're used for so many reptiles as night lights. I don't know about snakes, but I know albino frogs can go blind from full spectrum light (the real danger zone is full spectrum light above 40 watts). Eye problems are even a problem in humans with albinism, so I probably wouldn't risk putting my albino under a bright light.