Is there anything to take into consideration when providing uvb light to snakes and such that are lacking melanin (albino/amel and whatnot)?
Yes you do need to be aware that these animals skin will transmit much more UV than a pigmented snake. Their eyes can also be more sensitive to both UV and visible light.
General UV safety tips for UV provision.
Adhere to minimum safe distances from bulbs and make sure reptiles can’t bask closer to the bulb than this recomended safe distance. (This will vary depending on the type of bulb. Its typically about 15cm for a t8 tube).
Make sure the UV index you provide in the enclosure won’t exceed what the animal would typically encounter in the wild. (UV tool is a good resource).
Use reptutable brands with safe spectrums. There were cases of reptiles eyes being harmed by bulbs that emitted damaging non-terrestrial UVB wavelengths (not normally in sunlight). Arcadia is always my go-to brand.
Make sure bulbs are installed in a way that light is directed downwards, not angled on the side of the enclosure so it would shine into the animals eyes illustrated quite well by the picture below. This is particularly important for animals that do bask for longer periods of time as the form of their head shape is often adapted to sheild their eyes from top down light but wont help if the bulb is positioned at the side of a basking point.
-Photo credit Fran Baines
Provide plenty of cover and hides for the animal to avoid the light if desired
Use a bulb guard if applicable. Or otherwise make sure the animal cant climb on or damage the bulb.
Extra considerations for light sensitive animals
Use a lower UVB % than typically recomended for the species in question. As the skin transmits uvb more easily you wont need as much.
Dont use really bright light. High light intensity could stress them out or even hurt their eyes. Unless you have a huge very tall enclosure you wouldnt pick a bright T5 light for example. Use the light and shade method and make sure the animal can self regulate its exposure and never be forced to move through lit areas.
Diffuse the light. You can place the bulb on the outside of the enclosure on the other side of fine mesh or place fake plants and other cover around the basking areas. Some animals will bask with parts of their bodies concealled, (be that with parts of themselves sticking out of burrows or parts sticking out of leaf cover) so they are still getting the benefits of UV but not over exposed to it and have the option of hiding their faces.
Monitor the situation! The aim is to provide a few oppotunites for the animal to safely use UV and be able to self regulate this within the safe limits. If you notice a sudden decrease in activity, more escape related behaviours or any other causes for concern then re-evaluate and potentially remove the bulb.
Depending on the animal some keepers of light sensitive animals may choose to avoid providing visible or uv light at all. I have seen leopard geckos at shows for instance that, even in quite dim room lighting, were visibly stressed, squinting and restlessly trying to keep their heads sheilded from the light under the stickers on top of their deli cups. I don’t remember what morph those were but in that case providing lighting would likely do more harm than good.
So providing full spectrum light will be a case by case assesment for the individual animal. I don’t particularly agree with breeding animals that can’t perform such an intrinsic natural behaviour like that…even moreso with animals that truly rely on UV. but thats probably a topic for a different post….
In most cases Iv’e seen (with snakes at least) animals with reduced pigment still activley make use of, and can safely benefit from, UV without evidence of stress or harm. But again- case by case assesment.
Hope some of this helps!