i have a zilla uvb but should i go ahead and run a reptisun?

[allaboutfish]

i look on yahoo answers and someone said that reptisun will still produce uvb after 8 months and zilla stops at 4 months and i was going to replace every 6 months so should i just run both? i really hate how much reptisun costs though. any good sites that have it for under 60 dollars?

 

[Mistyck]

Reptisun 10.0

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog.../-/zoo-med-18-repti-sun-100-fluorescent-bulb/

That's an 18" bulb, they have bulbs all the way up to 48"

 

[Prouddragonmama]

Hi I started with a zilla and decided to switch to reptisun tube after reading much debate an the zilla! Petmountian usually has reproduce for $25 6.99 shipping they have lots of good stuff much cheaper then chain pet stores

 

[BryanAndrew]

What size are you trying to buy?

 

[allaboutfish]

either an 18 inch to replace the zilla bulb or a 10.0 compact

 

[Mistyck]

Compacts are no good. I posted a link to an 18" Reptisun 10.0 in my previous reply. we buy our bulbs from LLLReptile.com, never had a problem with them.

 

[allaboutfish]

actually the 18 inch wont fit. why dont the compacts work? it's either the compacts or i have to use the zilla.

 

[Mistyck]

Because the compacts are harmful to their eyes. Why can't you use the 18" Reptisun? What does your lighting fixture look like?

 

[allaboutfish]

bc the fixture itself is 18 inches and the bulb is 16 inches i might could use my fish tank fixture and put my fixture on it and buy a reptisun.

 

[thegreybush]

Compacts are not as good

.

This statement has beaten to death.

Because the compacts are harmful to their eyes.

4 years ago.

That's been debunked last year. we discussed this already. http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=147753

Really I use both types. I have one cage with a 24" reptiglow 10. and another with a 24" reptiglow 10. and a 36" reptiglow under a 48 hood, and I use the compact reptisun 10.0 coil lights in another cage with only improvements to report. I believe the tubes are better than the coils in how they release the light. But I don't believe for a second that you are going to make your beardie go blind with those any more. The cases that DID were small and few between. Make the decision that makes you feel good about what you did.

 

[BSC]

A Zilla bulb almost blinded my dragon and made her sick....just letting you know.

Never again wil I buy a Zilla bulb.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Enclosures]

 

[BadCon]

Compacts are not as good

.

That's been debunked last year. we discussed this already. http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=147753

Really I use both types. I have one cage with a 24" reptiglow 10. and another with a 24" reptiglow 10. and a 36" reptiglow under a 48 hood, and I use the compact reptisun 10.0 coil lights in another cage with only improvements to report. I believe the tubes are better than the coils in how they release the light. But I don't believe for a second that you are going to make your beardie go blind with those any more. The cases that DID were small and few between. Make the decision that makes you feel good about what you did.

Debunked is a bit of a stretch...don't ya think? I haven't seen any significant test results for the supposed "new" batch of compact/coil lamps on the market. The only reliable numbers I have to go on are those based on tests from 2007, and all the results indicate compacts and coils are not nearly as fool proof as a reptisun tube. Their UVI to UVB ratio is too high, indicating their output consists of high energy shorter wavelength UVB...which is the type most responsible for eye and skin issues. Can these bulbs be used at all? Of course...if you know what your doing and keep the reptile a safe distance away. But when a vastly superior alternative exists on the market (Reptisun 10.0 tube), it doesn't make any sense to stand up and defend a compact lamp. You want to use one, feel free...but don't expect everyone to replicate your setup to the T. Just because its working for you, doesn't mean it isn't dangerous in the hands of a less experienced owner. Reptisun 10.0 tubes are virtually ***** proof. Even just a few inches away their UVI is very low.
Whenever the results of the most recent lamp survey get posted, things may change. But until then, I'm sticking with the data we have, and not anecdotes posted on a web forum.

 

[Mistyck]

Compacts are not as good

.

This statement has beaten to death.

Because the compacts are harmful to their eyes.

4 years ago.

That's been debunked last year. we discussed this already. http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=147753

Really I use both types. I have one cage with a 24" reptiglow 10. and another with a 24" reptiglow 10. and a 36" reptiglow under a 48 hood, and I use the compact reptisun 10.0 coil lights in another cage with only improvements to report. I believe the tubes are better than the coils in how they release the light. But I don't believe for a second that you are going to make your beardie go blind with those any more. The cases that DID were small and few between. Make the decision that makes you feel good about what you did.

Just because they work for you doesn't mean that a less experienced person won't have troubles with them. I still do not recommend the coil bulbs, PERIOD. I don't care what study has been done, I know what it caused to one of my dragons and I will NOT use or recommend them. So Debunked...No, but discussed, yes.

Thanks Badcon. I agree with you.

 

[FBradshaw]

Another main issue the compacts have is that they aren't large enough to provide UVB to 75% of an enclosure and their UVB output isn't high enough to work as a spot UVB source like MVBs are. By trying to get the light closer to allow more UVB at the basking spot you subject your dragon to the higher UVI levels that BadCon mentioned which is when you get eye and skin problems.

The Repti-Sun 18" bulb will fit in the current fixture you have as the bulbs themselves are not actually 18" they are made for an 18" fixture. However you can always go to any hardware store and purchase a fluorescent fixture that will accommodate any size bulb you buy.