Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I would think the number to use as a benchmark wouldn't be at one's part of the world, but Central Australia.claudiusx":2w49v5cv said:The solarmeter 6.5 measures UVI so if you had one, youd be able to know what level the sun was giving you at your part of the world at whatever time of the day.
I wasn't saying to use the number you get outside your house as the benchmark, I was saying if you have the meter you would know what level you are getting, which can be used as a comparison to the recommended UVI levels. You can't know what your dragon is being exposed to if you're relying on outside sunlight unless you can measure it. Unlike how most owners CAN rely on the UV exposure their dragons are getting when following distance guidelines for common bulbs. That's all I was stating with that suggestion.MrSpectrum":15gk5a0y said:Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I would think the number to use as a benchmark wouldn't be at one's part of the world, but Central Australia.
This is ok, but is not very accurate at all. At least not in my location. Climate never = microclimate. For instance, following the link, the website tells me my area is a very generic 3 right now, however I just went outside and checked, and we are neary a 5 right now. it looks more so like it's just a guess, and not an actual measurement (or at least not an accurate one) which would make sense, as most people don't really care about it lol.MrSpectrum":15gk5a0y said:FWIW, in the US, the National Weather Service tracks & forecasts UVI daily. Just go to https://www.weather.gov/rah/uv and follow the links for your location, zip, or closest major city.
There is no real good comparison here. Like mentioned, you'd need to know the UVI level of your specific area, at the specific times of day that your dragon is outside. And for that you will need either the solarmeter 6.5 or the solarmeter 6.2.KevinsMom33":1zy9n89z said:More than anything I am curious about the ratio of natural sunlight vs artificial light - either by mercury vapor bulbs or UVB bulbs.
Ha ha. Then I did misunderstand, however unlike the left coast, we're still under nearly a foot of snow. I don't see what value the outside value would be in parts of the world where we have weather too cold for a BD 8 months of the year, and overcast days (I know there's still UV on overcast days) 2nd only to Seattle. All that matters here is how much we can get artificially, aside from some of those 4 months when it is warm enough to take the leetle feller out for some fresh air & sunshine (in one of those portable outdoor enclosures--we got lots of raptors here).claudiusx":1b9bw4oi said:I wasn't saying to use the number you get outside your house as the benchmark, I was saying if you have the meter you would know what level you are getting, which can be used as a comparison to the recommended UVI levels.MrSpectrum":1b9bw4oi said:Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I would think the number to use as a benchmark wouldn't be at one's part of the world, but Central Australia.
claudiusx":2qzgrz33 said:KevinsMom33":2qzgrz33 said:More than anything I am curious about the ratio of natural sunlight vs artificial light - either by mercury vapor bulbs or UVB bulbs.
So I'm sorry if this wasn't exactly the answer you were looking for. The reason you haven't' been able to find an answer is because one doesn't exist really.
Truth be told, we don't even know how much time wild dragons spend basking in their natural habitats. Not one study has been done that scientifically answered that question. Only anecdotal "watching" of dragons in nature has been done, as far as i'm aware. Of course it's because meters and trackers would have to be attached to wild dragons, that way we could monitor what level they were exposing themselves to, and for how long. That truly would be an eye opening experiment for everyone. And hopefully it's one that will get done soon.
-Brandon
I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. Here's a link that could get one started to find any if they exist: Pogona vitticepsKevinsMom33":35fruhq2 said:I shouldn't be stunned that no one has ever done any real research on their natural habits
Since I last posted, I came across mention of a study that may (or may not) contain what you're looking for. In Reptiles Magazine, I found this:MrSpectrum":2iwxrcdh said:I'm not sure that's entirely accurate.KevinsMom33":2iwxrcdh said:I shouldn't be stunned that no one has ever done any real research on their natural habits
How Much UVB Does My Reptile Need?
Ideally, we should be relying upon individual studies made in the wild for every species we keep. Until very recently, no practical methods even existed for measuring UV in the microhabitat of wild reptiles. However, in 2010, a team of herpetologists from Texas Christian University, led by Professor Gary Ferguson, published recordings of daily UV exposure of 15 species of reptiles tracked in the wild, using the UV Index (UVI), measured with a Solarmeter 6.5 UV Index meter. This meter is especially useful, as it measures UV irradiance in the wavelengths that enable vitamin D3 synthesis.
The team noticed that the 15 species could easily be allocated into one of four microhabitats or “zones” (which have since been called the Ferguson Zones) according to their daily sun exposure. The team also suggested that zone allocation could be extended much further. Knowledge of the basking/daylight exposure habits of any species might enable a reasonable estimation of likely UV exposures to be made.
The four Zones may be summarized in this way:
Zone 1 = crepuscular or shade dweller, thermal conformer/
Average exposure: UVI 0-0.7; maximum recorded: UVI 0.6-1.4
Zone 2 = partial sun/occasional basker, thermoregulator
Average exposure: UVI 0.7-1.0; maximum recorded: UVI 1.1-3.0
Zone 3 = open or partial sun basker, thermoregulator
Average exposure: UVI 1.0-2.6; maximum recorded: UVI 2.9-7.4
Zone 4 = mid-day sun basker, thermoregulator
Average exposure: UVI 2.6-3.5; maximum recorded: UVI 4.5-9.5
The average (of all the UVI readings for the microhabitats at the time and place the reptiles were found) might be seen as a suitable “mid-background” level of UVB for the species in each zone. The maximum figures might reflect “one-off” exposures — a single reptile found out in mid-day sun — but they give a rough idea of the maximum levels this type of animal might encounter naturally. This suggests an upper acceptable limit for the UVB gradient to be provided in captivity. A gradient is vital; there must be a full range of UV levels from zero (full shade) to the maximum suggested by the Zone assessment (at the closest point possible between the reptile and the lamp).
Found it! BeardieVetMrSpectrum":3j16iaoh said:I'm having trouble locating it now (because I can't recall the name), but there's a YT channel owned by an Australian veterinarian who specializes in BDs.
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