I use a blue lightbulb in my desk lamp, they dont mind at all!

After reading this thread, I went out and bought a couple red "party" bulbs. They take a bit of getting used to for me, but the gliders seem to be quite happy during play time.

They seemed to really perk up once I switched to the red bulbs.

I agree, I went out and got red bulbs right away when I got my gliders hearing about this. They are more than happy to come out and night and play when the lights are on. I too wonder what my neighbors think of my red light room lol! I wonder though, if I have the red lights and try to use a red laser light.. Will they see it? sounds interesting that they could chase it like a cat and maybe get a little more exercise

I'm new and about to get gliders myself; I hadn't heard that gliders are very sensitive to light (although it does make alot of sense). but does what your saying mean that they wont be comfortable in a room with normal lights? or if in the day time we roll up the blinds in the room? (only indirect sunlight of corse) I now know i need a red light for night thanks!!

we also got a red light. two out of three of our gliders do not mind a little light but one would not come out unless all the lights were off. big difference with the red light! almost as soon as we turn it on he comes zipping out! I also wonder what my neighbors must think we have a blue light outside for autism awareness, and a red light on inside for the gliders!!

I also read the thread about red lights. I figured with as much money as I spend on my babies whats 20.00 I dont know if its just a coincidence or not. They came out earlier for 3 nights now, They play more,and seen to have better appetites. I'm going to keep track.

That's interesting, I will be following your updates on this.

Gliders need natural light during the day, to know when it's bedtime, just as we use natural darkness to let us know when to go to sleep. Make their room dark all the time and it'll throw off their body's natural rhythm.

Well my Gliders are DEFINITELY LOVING the red party lights. They are still playing more and eating better, which I'm guessing is because they are burning more energy playing. My one cage sits right next to my couch where I sit and my other cage is only a few feet from me. I would sit with my light on low(its a 3 way). Now there is just there red lights. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!! I learn something new everyday, Thank You All

This is a great topic! On my own I would have never thought of it! I learn so much here!

Most nocturnal animals have retinas composed mostly of rods. Rods are relatively insensitive to long-wavelength light (the red end of the visible spectrum), but are more light sensitive (mid and higher wavelengths). That's why nocturnal animals have predominantly more rods than cones - they are sensitive to light. Their large eyes gather what little light exists at night and the predominance of rods helps them see in the low light. The anatomy of the human eye lets us see in red light, but gliders are insensitive to it.

This is an interesting thread.

I wonder how it affects people though. Does it hurt one's eyes?

I have one question to add to this thread. Why are they able to see the red light from a laser pointer?

I believe they see the laser pointers red light because they CAN see red light. The light just isn't as harsh on their eyes as the room lights are.
Speaking of laser pointers, I need new batteries for mine. We play with our laser a lot with the gliders.

I used to do theater all the time and we used red taped lights backstage so we could see but red didn't bleed so the audience didn't notice it. I think it may have to do with the length of the red light spectrum...you know what I mean...it doesn't carry so it's less stimulating to the eye. I don't know if that means anything, but it doesn't seem to be intense enough to disturb people or animals in dark settings.

We emptied out the bedroom bathroom,block off sinks and shower.And use it to do Bathroom Time with our little ones until we can get a tent. We tried putting a red light in their tonight and they were very playful.

I started using a red light also. Wow what a difference in their activity level. Doesn't seem to bother the boys at all.

hummmm, I think I will give the red bulb a try...

Me too; I'm sold. I've been using a night light covered with a thin pink cloth, but I'm not able to get a good enough view of their night time antics. So, red light it is!!

are these the red lights that are usd for lets say, snakes?

Any red light should work, I wouldn't think it would have to be the expensive heat/UV that you use for reptiles. Getting a sheet of red cellophane and covering a dome light that has a regular bulb works the same way when all you are trying to do is alter the light spectrum to red.

the red party lights work real good can get them at walmart for about 6 bucks

Not meaning to "top" you dishman but Lowes sales those bulbs for $2.97.

**cough** buy at Home Depot

We use a red light in the glider room too. It is especially nice for my Stitch. She has cataracts and anxiety (she's a rescue) and I noticed the regular light would make her nervous. With the red light, she doesn't act any differently.

The red lights are great. I have been using them for a while now.

Just my two cents, mine love playing with a laser pointer as much as my cats do. They prefer it to many other types of interactions that I've found. Whether or not they see the color red as we do, I don't know, but I do know they see the light source. I also think that it may be easier for them to be in red light because it IS a slower, longer wavelength, not a bombardment of frequency. A blacklight would be the opposite if I'm not mistaken. If hubby shines a laser pointer in from the outside of the tent, one glider will attack the dot on the tent screen, and another will attack the dot on the floor. I wonder if they would notice any differences in color/sound coordinated frequencies, like some new age chakra things. Like try a Red light with corresponding music tone, and try red light with an opposing music tone, and different combinations, and see if there is any witnessable change in skittishness, reluctancy to come out, etc.

Here is a chart on Chakras and their color frequencies

http://files.meetup.com/1345868/Chakra%20~%20Color%20Frequency%20~%20Food%20Chart.jpg

And here is a music/color combination chart (though the specific frequencies aren't listed and would vary based on instrument and its tuning)

http://www.kyoholistics.co.uk/uploads/5/0/0/2/5002996/1477421.jpg?1296598656

Here is one that includes a bit of all of it:

http://the11thwave.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/chakra-chart-body-tuners-1-09.jpeg?w=590&h=367

Last but not least, here is a site outlining Chakras for animals, rather than the standard human model:

http://www.patinkas.co.uk/Chakra_System_of_Animals/chakra_system_of_animals.html

I'm going to have dancing new age gliders lol.

This is SO interesting to know. I will be getting my
suggies after the holidays and will use this advice. Thanks to you all for all the wonderfull info you provide to this Newbie and so many others

After reading this last week, I put a red light in my glider area. I noticed they were a lot more active at night with teh red light on than the ambiant light from teyh kitchen that I used to leave on. I've only had them 2 weeks and teh first few nights they didn't play much at all that I could tell.

Id recommend the Red light. Not the Black light. Black lights are UV as previously stated. UV light is very hard on the eyes. It's like staring into the sun. The difference is you can't see the harmful UV rays like you can the visible light spectrums. UV is between 380-420 nanometers. This spectrum can cause cancer. Exposing your gliders to Black lights can cause vision issues in the later years of your gliders life. I personally wouldnt' recommend it. Just my two cents on the Black light thing.

Red light is visible to the gliders just like it is to you. However like you it won't effect the dilation or constriction of hte pupils.

This isn't semantics. It has nothing to do with how bright the light is. The red light doesn't effect the lights the white and blue do.

Hope this helps.