Quote Originally Posted by adamanteus View Post
There are several schools of thought on lighting for captive Garters. Some advocate broad-spectrum lighting, including UV, as you would use for diurnal lizards. Some think supplementary lighting of any kind is unnecessary. Personally I think any lighting of sufficient intensity to provide a distinct photo-period (daytime/nighttime) is good. As long as the lights don't raise the viv temperatures too much.
I don't know if it's the UV or the sunlight, but either the garter's colours appear better to your eye or their colours appear to improve when kept in sunlight.