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| PET GAZETTE | REPTILE
REPTILES AND LIGHT
THERAPY
Light therapy - what it is and how to use it within remedial therapy for
historically underprovided captive reptiles
R
eptiles, being ectothermic,
are totally reliant upon an
external source of energy to
be able to function at a base
level. It is the energy contained
within each photon (package/parcel of
energy within light) of light that is assimilated,
interacts with and is used to maintain the core
processes of life in this group. This is energy
pure and simple and it allows an animal to
continue to function. By function I refer to the
normal continuation of the processes and
interactions of the vital organs and having
available energy to move, feed and carry
out the usual everyday bodily processes.
This is quite the reverse for humans who rely
upon the ingestion, digestion, assimilation,
storage and use of food in order to obtain
the energy needed to function. Likewise,
humans also require regular exposure to the
energy provided by the sun for some similar
processes and interactions including the
natural D3 cycle.
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The source of the energy contained within
these photons of light, of which all life has
developed over a vast period of time to utilise
is the sun. The sun’s fi ltration via the layers of
the atmosphere provides our planet with an
energy fi lled full spectrum of light that interacts
and provides for all life in some way. We
term the light that enters the layer in which all
known life resides is as being terrestrial full
spectrum daylight. Full spectrum terrestrial
daylight is energy, it provides for our world in
every way possible. The sun is not simply a
source of light within the visible wavelengths
that allow us to see, but is rather the apex
provider, providing us with heat via the
projection of terrestrial infrared, visible light,
terrestrial UV, gravitational stability and - in
a roundabout way - the air that we breathe.
As such, every species on earth has changed
and adapted over this vast period of life and
its ever-continuing development to make as
best use of every source of energy available
as possible.
The projections of the sun in the usual
quantities have become the base need of each
and every species in every ecosystem and
microhabitat. This level of energy is the level
that an animal’s natural development is altering
constantly to use and is therefore the ‘need’.
This need is unwavering and applies no matter
how far removed from the wild ancestor that
an animal has become and regardless of its
captive propagation or colour form. In reality,
the manipulation of genes to select for colour
does not change base level of need, but rather
may alter the way an animal obtains the energy
it requires and/or the level of dermal protection
against such energy. Within this we fi nd
limitations to the inherent need to be exposed
to light within red eyed albino type animals.
These individuals have the same level of need,
but do not have the same wild-developed
dermal protection against the solar source
and indeed may have ultra-sensitive eyes.
Within this nature still seems to fi nd a way, with
animals basking less whilst exposing the body
October 2018