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I'm starting to roll out light panels that combine current UVB light technology with LEDs, since a lot of animals in the "glass box" hobbies need UV for the health of the animals.  LEDs that emit a usable amount of UVB are still a ways off, but I am working with a Chinese manufacturer to try to get a viable product to market.  UVB emitting LEDs exist now but they are prohibitively expensive and just do not emit enough UVB for the needs of our hobby.So currently there are two options for usable UVB light, T5 or T8 florescent tubes,...

The Seattle Metro Reptile Expo is in Monroe, WA this Mother's Day weekend.  What better present for your Mum, who's got ophidiophobia*, than a brand new Ball Python! All seriousness aside, I'll be displaying a new light design at this show, as well as showing and selling all the designs that are now becoming quite popular around the country in the "glass box" hobby. All reptiles can do with some UVB light, but some can live OK without it.  But for others it's essential or they'll end up dead.  Either way, this new light panel takes the best of the...

There are several types of unusually shaped aquariums that make really nice vivariums (half moons, pentagons, hexagons, etc.) but finding lighting that looks like it was made for these tanks (that grows plants even "ok") is a big challenge.  That's where custom made light panels come into their own. Here's some examples that show how challenging a good lighting solution can be: To fit this tank with a top that includes vents, misters and then effective lighting can challenge any vivarium designer.  So a very unique lighting layout was just designed for this type of aquarium which looks like this ...

UVB light (in the 280 to 315 nm range) is critical for the health of many reptiles.  For many dart frogs, it's optional, but if you want them to be colored up and as red as possible, you need to add a source of UVB. Finding a good UVB source and getting it into your display so it can be effectively adsorbed has been a problem in the dart frog hobby for some time.  A UV source will often run too hot.  It can't pass through glass, so it has to pass through a screen.  A UV light that is...

There's a fairly obvious need for custom designed lighting for the biggest, often custom, glass boxes.  When the tank is tall, which I classify as anything over 24", there's a need for a light that has a lot of penetration power.  That need is usually filled best by some type of spotlight or high wattage unit.Here's some images of a lighting project for a 36" (wide) x 24" (depth) x 48" (tall) custom vivarium.  There are 3 separate panels here because of the placement of a vent and mistking nozzles on the top of this display.  You will also notice...