Do animals need UVA?

The idea of Faunalux TrueChroma was born out of seeing huge brands selling LED lamps that weren't designed specifically for animals.

We set outwith a dream of making a light source that was plug and play, single-source chip (no outdated Surface Mount Diodes), efficient, and truly white to animals.

That's something nobody else has done.

[Click the parts in bold to see the actual factories!]

Because your animals deserve more than a repackaged grow light.

Too many so-called “reptile” or “animal” LED lamps on the market today are nothing more than generic plant-growth lights. They're mass-produced and then sold at a premium – with a logo stamped on and a picture of a lizard slapped on the box. There’s no consideration for how animals actually see. It’s just off-the-shelf components and low Colour Rendering Index (CRI) scores – certainly not white to most animals.

Faunalux is different. We’ve worked with global experts in animal vision, welfare, and lighting to develop something completely unique: ReptileVision™ Technology. It's our custom spectrum, in a unique single-chip, built from the ground up specifically for animals.

This isn’t just another lamp. It’s a purpose-built lighting solution that mimics natural visible light and UVA1 far more effectively than generic LEDs ever could - offering broader spectral output that actually aligns with the way your animals see the world.

Honestly? Because most major brands are focused on profits, not progress. Their priority is buying cheap and selling high - and that mindset doesn’t leave much room for real innovation. That’s why we’re seeing flashy, app-controlled LED lamps on the market that actually perform worse than their predecessors. In many cases, the Colour Rendering Index (CRI) has dropped with newer models, meaning the spectrum is quite simply a lower quality. They're drifting further from what animals truly need.

At Faunalux, we're different. We're not chasing mass-market shortcuts or off-the-shelf solutions. Our mission is simple: to make a living by creating genuinely high-quality products that improve animal welfare. That journey begins with our TrueChroma Spot LEDs, which are designed from the ground up by animal welfare scientists and lighting specialists to deliver better light for the animals who rely on it.

It depends on your definition of "need".

If you want your animal to have an enriched visual perception, with high measurable welfare, then the answer is YES.

In order to fully participate in their world, animals need access to the full terrestrial spectrum. There are some fantastic products on the market that produce UVB and UVA2, and some amazing incandescent lamps that produce infrared. But, until now, there's been no dedicated plug and play source of proportional animal-centric "visible light", including UVA1.

You could use a standard LED to add human-focused light, or you can use a Faunalux TrueChroma LED to give your animal the additional benefits of UVA1.

For higher welfare, animals need UVA1.

The truth is, the only real optimal spectrum is natural sunlight - specifically, the levels and types of light an animal would choose to bask in out in the wild. You'll see a lot of reptile and bird lighting brands claiming their lamps deliver an "optimal spectrum", but that's honestly a stretch. They're not even optimal to animal vision!

Even our TrueChroma lamps don’t claim to do it all alone. They’re designed to work in harmony with dedicated UVB and infrared sources to more closely replicate the full spectrum of sunlight.

That said, when comparing TrueChroma’s output to other major reptile or bird lamps, we’ve yet to see another single-chip LED come this close to delivering such a natural, sun-like spectrum. It’s the most complete and colour-true spectrum we’ve found from any one light source.

Not directly, no. This is because the TrueChroma Spot LEDs don't produce any UVB or UVA2 - the wavelengths responsible for Vitamin D processes.

However, TrueChroma Spot LEDs will entice your animal to bask, thanks to the bright (and truly white) light they emit, which utilises ReptileVision™ technology. By placing your TrueChroma Spot LED nearby to your UVB source and blending their beams, you'll entice your animal to bask and be exposed to UVB.

No. The TrueChroma Spot LED is plug and play. Just screw it in, and off you go.

Be sure to read all the instructions before use.

In truth, every wattage is suitable for pretty much every species.

We provide options so that you can meet your animal lighting requirements whilst also being conscious of energy consumption and physical space.

If you email us we can try our best to advise. Just be sure to tell us what species you're keeping and provide us with details of your enclosure.

Yes!

TrueChroma lamps are suitable for all species, all taxa, and all plants.

Just make sure you follow the instructions on installing the lamp, and you'll be improving the welfare of your animals in a few small steps.

You can easily and securely place an order through our web store here.

We're also firm believers in the hard-working pet shops that people rely on to keep their animals happy and healthy. That's why we offer trade pricing, so your favourite store can stock our products and you can still support them by purchasing directly from them, in person.

Ask them to apply on our website and we'll get it sorted in a jiffy.

Our system automatically generates an option for free shipping on qualifying orders.

You’ll be able to see your options at the checkout on your order if it qualifies.

Please be sure to check out our Store Policy on this.