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UVB exposure Dendrobates

45427 Views 166 Replies 26 Participants Last post by  parkanz2, 
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https://aark.portal.isis.org/researchguide/amphibian%20zoo%20studies/amphibian%20uv-b%20and%20vitamin%20d3.pdf


UV-B, Vitamin D3, and amphibian health and behaviour
Dr Robert Browne, Postdoctoral Fellow, [email protected]; and Dr. Francis Vercammen, Veterinary Officer,
Center for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium.
Elfi Verschooren, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Rachael E. Antwis, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
We thank Richard Gibson, Chester Zoo, for his personal contribution on “UV-B boost”.
Browne RK, Verschooren E, Antwis RE, Vercaammen F. 2009. UV-B, Vitamin D3. AArk Science and Research.



For a review of the biology of Vitamin D3 and UV-B metabolism in amphibians see; Antwis RE, Browne RK. 2009.
Ultraviolet radiation and Vitamin D3 in Amphibian Health, Behaviour, Diet and Conservation. Comparative
Biochemistry and Physiology Part A154(2): 184-190.


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This document provides a short summary of the biological issues concerning studies of Vitamin D3 and UV-B metabolism in amphibians. We also present some simple experimental designs. There have been many effects on health of vertebrates in general attributed to poor Vitamin D3 metabolism. However, only two effects have been recorded in amphibians. One is the loss of calcium from the skeleton and skeletal deformaties generically called nutritional metabolic bone disease (NMBD).
The other, being the converse situation, is an overdose of Vitamin D3 and the consequent elevated plasma calcium levels that cause excessive calcification of the skeleton and heart siezure. Generally in captivity a lack of dietary calcium or Vitamin D3 is attributed to the common disorders of hunchback or rubbery legs. Often frogs not showing skeletal deformaties will still have little calcium in their bones, and perhaps reduced circulating calcium necessary for physiological processes.

There have been many effects on health of vertebrates in general attributed to poor Vitamin D3 metabolism. However, only two effects have been recorded in amphibians. One is the loss of calcium from the skeleton and skeletal deformaties generically called nutritional metabolic bone disease (NMBD). The other, being the converse situation, an overdose of Vitamin D3 and consequent elevated plasma calcium levels that causes calcification of the skeleton, increased myocardial excitability and heart seizure. In captivity generally a lack of dietary calcium or Vitamin D3 is attributed to the common disorders of hunchback or rubbery legs. Often frogs not showing skeletal deformaties will still have little calcium in their bones, and perhaps in their plasma. Approximately 20% calcium loss in bones can be detected on
radiographs and a loss of 35% can lead to rubbery legs. A shortage of calcium in amphibian metabolism results in lack of calcification of the bones – called nutritional metabolic bone disease (NMBD), and other health problems including lethargy, poor growth,and possibly poor reproductive success. Both anabolism and catabolism are involved in Vitamin D3 metabolism. Vitamin D3 is required for the transport of calcium from the intestine into the blood stream. Vitamin D3 can be acquired through the diet or by synthesis in the skin under the influence of UV-B. UV radiation is emitted by the sun as wavelengths ranging from 400 nanometres (nm) to 100 nm.

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parkanz2
Have you looked into the transmission of UVB through fiberoptic cable Motydesign? That's a very interesting idea.

Ed, can you possibly PM me some examples of the halogen bulbs you're speaking of? I've heard of this before but haven't seen much info. I'd also be unlikely to actually attempt it without a radiometer.
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motydesign
Max, yes i have looked into the FO and it seems as if it is standard for carrying UV light. the problem is of course output.if the unit is only capable of enough to do one viv then it is not possible to amplify the UV for multiple FO travelers.
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bobrez said:
I belive thats 92% uva and 0% uvb for solacryl so holes are nessary for any transmitence. IDK but thats what it looks like.
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Hi guys,

I haven't posted here in a LONG time but Ed pointed me to this thread. I confess I'm having a hard time following where some of the numbers come from but it looks like there is an impression that Solacryl transmits UVA but not UVB. If that's what people are thinking, it is an error. Back in 2001 I tested a piece of Solacryl on a high precision spectrophotometer and posted the results on frognet. In 2004, I posted the results on DB. (http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/parts-construction/63732-clay-substrate-how-5.html#post559953 )

The upshot is that Solacryl has very high UV transmittance from visiible to UVB and then becomes opaque to UVC. This makes sense because Solacryl is marketed for tanning beds which wouldn't work very well if it were blocking UVB radiation. It als makes it very handy for filtering light from halogen bulbs since I've read that UVC may be emmitted by an unshielded bulb. So if you grind the the glass filter off a halogen bulb, placing a piece of Solacryl between the bulb and animals may be a prudent safeguard to insure you aren't exposing critters to harmful UVC. I believe I still have the original printout from the test if anyone is interested in the actual numbers.
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parkanz2
Thanks for the post Brent. I'm excited because it can also be thermoformed... time to get out my old hot wire and get creative.
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Pumilo
Question for those using Solacryl. How do you get around the problems of bonding it to a glass viv or are you simply using all acrylic vivs?
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parkanz2
Pumilo said:
Question for those using Solacryl. How do you get around the problems of bonding it to a glass viv or are you simply using all acrylic vivs?
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I just plan on using it for the tops and having it clip into the lip on aquariums or in a track. Are you thinking of sealing it so it will hold water as in the front of a tank?
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Pumilo said:
Question for those using Solacryl. How do you get around the problems of bonding it to a glass viv or are you simply using all acrylic vivs?
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You can bond it to the black plastic trim using weldon 16 but I think you can use weld on 40 to bond it to the glass.

Ed
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Pumilo
parkanz2 said:
I just plan on using it for the tops and having it clip into the lip on aquariums or in a track. Are you thinking of sealing it so it will hold water as in the front of a tank?
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My vivs are all custom, with no plastic trims. Some sort of track might work ok but Eds suggestion of Weld On 40 would probably do the trick. A little low on shear strength when used on glass but probably plenty of grab for this use.
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mcaiger53
? for montydesign
I was wondering where you are finding the fiber optic's for transmitting uv? I have been looking into it a bit now and every supplier I have found says that it doesn't transmitt UV, IR, or heat among other things. also that the cladding can be damaged by uv, thus reducing its ability to reflect/refract light through its core. I would be interested in working w it, if its not too expensive. I'm working on designing a diy led powered fiber optic setup for a 180vert.
Thanks, mike
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Pumilo said:
My vivs are all custom, with no plastic trims. Some sort of track might work ok but Eds suggestion of Weld On 40 would probably do the trick. A little low on shear strength when used on glass but probably plenty of grab for this use.
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Just don't pick it up by the top...

Ed
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motydesign
mcaiger53 said:
? for montydesign
I was wondering where you are finding the fiber optic's for transmitting uv? I have been looking into it a bit now and every supplier I have found says that it doesn't transmitt UV, IR, or heat among other things. also that the cladding can be damaged by uv, thus reducing its ability to reflect/refract light through its core. I would be interested in working w it, if its not too expensive. I'm working on designing a diy led powered fiber optic setup for a 180vert.
Thanks, mike
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here is one supplier
Polymicro Technologies > Products and Technologies > Capillary Tubing > Flexible Fused Silica Capillary Tubing, TSP: Standard Polyimide Coating, TSG: High Temperature Polyimide Coating, TSU: UV Transparent Coating

problem comes from the focusing that the FO requires...but that could be over come with higher out put


here is a coupled source
Mightex Systems

what i have been looking to find is a LED in a wide band UVA UVB (295-400nm) (will actually have to be a custom order thing)... then you could install it into a coupled source and then feed to tanks... in theory, not sure if its practical yet?
let me know what else you need.... im if your willing to test im willing to listen :D
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People keep concentrating down to the narrow spectrum.. we should keep in mind that a wider range is better for the frogs.

Ed
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I dug up the old Solacryl test results and scanned them (attached). In the old post I linked to, I was reporting from memory but these are the actual results. About 93% transmission of light from visible through UVA, tapering from ~90% to ~72% through the UVB range, and then rapidly dropping to zero as you cross into UVC.

Using Solacryl can be tricky just like any acrylic glazing. Large panels will warp if exposed to high heat. It doesn't stick well to glass. That combination can be disaster if you don't engineer the top correctly. Just follow the advice of the acrylic experts on the forums. I haven't updated this site in MANY years, but there is a small how-to article on bending Solacryl to make light shields on my old web site: Brock's Vivaria. I'm not saying it is the best way to do it, or even a very good way. But it gives an example of something that worked. For my next round of vivs I plan to use Solacryl mounted in tracks or removable aluminum frames so the panels can be easily replaced when they eventually yellow and check from long term exposure to UVB. Just make sure they are mounted rigidly enough that gaps don't form if the panel tries to warp.

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motydesign
Ed said:
People keep concentrating down to the narrow spectrum.. we should keep in mind that a wider range is better for the frogs.

Ed
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Ed are you saying 295-400 is too narrow??? Or is this comment for others?
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Pumilo
Hey Brent, as someone who has been working with Solacryl for years, what are your thoughts on replacement? I have seen it mentioned a couple of times that it has to be replaced every two years. You mentioned replacement when it turns yellow and checks (tiny cracks). Does this mean it will continue to transmit good amounts of UVB until it begins yellowing? In your experience, how long do you get out of it? Replacement every 2 years is, well, unappealing.
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Pumilo said:
Hey Brent, as someone who has been working with Solacryl for years, what are your thoughts on replacement? I have seen it mentioned a couple of times that it has to be replaced every two years. You mentioned replacement when it turns yellow and checks (tiny cracks). Does this mean it will continue to transmit good amounts of UVB until it begins yellowing? In your experience, how long do you get out of it? Replacement every 2 years is, well, unappealing.
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This is a good question and difficult to answer without data I think. I have always been a little skeptical of the recommendations to replace Solacryl every two years. I think that recommendation comes from the tanning bed industry and probably from people who want to sell Solacryl. I don't replace Solacryl every two years. In fact, I've only replaced it on one viv one time. That sheet had visibly yellowed and checked (after 7 years of use). It's hard for me to imagine that Solacryl would age in a way that would make it opaque to only UV light and not visible. In other words, I think it is the yellowing that reduces performance but that is only conjecture. Unfortunately I no longer have access to a fancy photospectrometer. Before long I hope to purchase a Solarmeter so I can take direct measurements. Without that, I think it is just guesswork.
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bbrock said:
This is a good question and difficult to answer without data I think. I have always been a little skeptical of the recommendations to replace Solacryl every two years. I think that recommendation comes from the tanning bed industry and probably from people who want to sell Solacryl. I don't replace Solacryl every two years. In fact, I've only replaced it on one viv one time. That sheet had visibly yellowed and checked (after 7 years of use). It's hard for me to imagine that Solacryl would age in a way that would make it opaque to only UV light and not visible. In other words, I think it is the yellowing that reduces performance but that is only conjecture. Unfortunately I no longer have access to a fancy photospectrometer. Before long I hope to purchase a Solarmeter so I can take direct measurements. Without that, I think it is just guesswork.
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I can report that I know that more than one institution replaced it after ten years or so...

Ed
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motydesign
Brent,
since youve used a true spectrometer, and were able to see the levels for each nm, maybe you can explain the lesser priced solarmeter which just provideds an index. i feel a TON of information is lost between the two units and may provide a false ok for other hobbiest. Being you have seen what bulbs produce what in your viv and at the different heights, that you are able to only now need to do monthly or so checks for intensities to monitor bulb replacements, but what do you think is the best option for people that are just setting up UV in the vivs?
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E
Check out A comparison of responses by three broadband radiometers to different ultraviolet-B sources - Gehrmann - 2004 - Zoo Biology - Wiley Online Library unfortunately I was unable to track down a free copy. It discusses the issues with some of the broadband meters and how they can provide false readings.

You may also be interested in
http://www.solarmeter.com/pdfs/paper3.pdf
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motydesign
Thank you Ed this validifies my ideas with the whole concept. in order to actually know TRUELY what is going on, we need a calibrated spectrometer... :(
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