Authors : K.R. Kroenlein, K.L. Zimmerman, G. Saunders and S.D. Holladay
Abstract: Vitamin D, synthesized in the skin secondary to UV-B radiation exposure is essential for bone formation and calcium metabolism in terrestrial vertebrates. Animals housed artificially indoors may be at risk for osteomalacia (older animals) or rickets (young animals) due to hyperparathyroidism from lack of natural sunlight, the usual source of UV-B radiation. The hypothesis of this study was that inland bearded dragon lizards, Pogona vitticeps, a commonly kept reptile pet, housed in enclosures with various artificial UV-B radiation sources would demonstrate increased bony changes and decreased overall health with decreasing amounts of UV-B radiation. About 25 captive-bred juvenile bearded dragons were housed in groups of 5 for 11 weeks with varying UV-B exposure levels provided by the following treatments: mercury vapor, full spectrum compact fluorescent, hard-quartz fluorescent tube, incandescent and natural sunlight. Contrary to the hypothesis, no significant differences were observed in weight, length or number of crickets consumed among the treatment groups. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the full spectrum compact fluorescent treatment which corresponded to the lowest UV-B radiation provided. All treatments demonstrated some degree of osteodystrophic changes upon bone histopathology, suggesting that none of the studied exposures may be adequate for optimal lizard health.
K.R. Kroenlein, K.L. Zimmerman, G. Saunders and S.D. Holladay, 2011. Serum Vitamin D Levels and Skeletal and General Development of Young Bearded Dragon Lizards (Pogona vitticeps), under Different Conditions of UV-B Radiation Exposure. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 229-234.