# Can anyone discern what type of UV light this bulb emits?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 12, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594 "2009-10-12T22:14:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594/1 "2009-10-12T22:14:37Z")
I am endeavoring to construct a reptile habitat to house a small snake, and one of the features I am considering is an ultraviolet lamp. While they are evidently not considered essential to the health of most snakes, many people recommend them highly for purposes of warmth and vitamin metabolism.
As it happens, I have a pile of [GE black light party bulbs]([http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=25905&BreadCrumbValues=Specialty\_Colored](http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=25905&BreadCrumbValues=Specialty_Colored) ,\_ Party Lights\_Blacklight\_,0&ModelSelectionFilter=FT0010:Specialty\_Colored & Party Lights\_Blacklight) lying around from an earlier project. Unfortunately they do not appear to list what variety of UV light they emit. As I understand it, UV light is categorized into general categories of relative harmfulness and eye-destructiveness. These bulbs do not feature any kind of warning along the lines of: “may burn out your retinas,” so I am guessing that they are the fairly benign variety, but I am unable to locate any documentation to this effect.
It would be a real monetary savings if I could substitute these bulbs for the more costly fluorescent pet store variety. On the other hand I would rather not destroy my vision if I can help it, to say nothing of the snake’s.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594/2 "2009-10-12T22:30:48Z")
the bulb is an incandescent bulb with an envelope that filters all but purple for glowing inks.
it does not give off UV that you want.
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### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594/3 "2009-10-12T22:44:20Z")
Well, doggone it. So much for that idea. No wonder they cost less!
Thanks for the info, **johnpost**. The snake extends its appreciation.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-discern-what-type-of-uv-light-this-bulb-emits/513594/4 "2009-10-12T22:50:30Z")
> [@Terrifel](#):
>
> [GE black light party bulbs]([http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=25905&BreadCrumbValues=Specialty\_Colored](http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=25905&BreadCrumbValues=Specialty_Colored) ,\_ Party Lights\_Blacklight\_,0&ModelSelectionFilter=FT0010:Specialty\_Colored & Party Lights\_Blacklight)
They probably have [Wood’s glass](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood%27s_glass) envelopes.
Not much intensity there from an incandescent bulb, and a lot of heat, but if you have enough of them…