PowerSun UVB MVB Over Exposure??

[dlquick]

I recently purchased a PowerSun UVB MVB 100W basking lamp about two weeks ago, and ever since, my female beardie (4-5mths) is not doing so well..
She’s had a normal appetite, and pooping once a day, but her poops have been getting worse every day. More water than usual, and little to no form at all. Not diarrhea, but it has no form, just a mushy watery mess with a mushy white urate.
To add to this, I noticed she’s been moving away from the lamp more often, and at first I thought maybe she was just getting up to stretch her legs a bit, but I found her hiding underneath her basking rock after about 9hrs of normal daytime exposure.

I plan to remove the PowerSun tonight, and throw in a regular basking lamp, and see if her health/activity improves. I’ve read some frightening things about these from ZooMed since I’ve noticed her health deteriorating.
I think I’m going to submit and buy one of the ReptiSun 10.0 T5 fixtures.
I will update this in a few days should things improve or get worse..

Here is her current set-up
40g Enclosure 36”x16”x16”
ZooMed Deep Dome Fixture
ZooMed PowerSun UVB MVB 100W 12” from lamp/basking
Zilla 24” T8 UVB lamp

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Hm, that is interesting. I hadn't heard of the Powersuns causing any trouble recently, but it
isn't out of the realm of possibility. I noticed you were using a Zilla T8 UVB tube too along
with that? Were you using that first, before you got the Powersun, or was it the other way
around? How close is the Zilla UVB to her?
At 12 inches, it "should" be safe. I would recommend for now, just taking that light out &
using a nice bright halogen instead along with the Zilla tube bulb. The Zilla though, is not
a great bulb, but if you go ahead & upgrade to a T5, either the Reptisun or the Arcadia, she
will probably do very well under one of those.
I am sorry this has happened. Do you have access to a UVB meter to measure the light? If
not, I would be happy to measure it for you with my meters if you would like. Or, are you
going to contact Zoomed?
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[dlquick]

Hello,

Hm, that is interesting. I hadn't heard of the Powersuns causing any trouble recently, but it
isn't out of the realm of possibility. I noticed you were using a Zilla T8 UVB tube too along
with that? Were you using that first, before you got the Powersun, or was it the other way
around? How close is the Zilla UVB to her?
At 12 inches, it "should" be safe. I would recommend for now, just taking that light out &
using a nice bright halogen instead along with the Zilla tube bulb. The Zilla though, is not
a great bulb, but if you go ahead & upgrade to a T5, either the Reptisun or the Arcadia, she
will probably do very well under one of those.
I am sorry this has happened. Do you have access to a UVB meter to measure the light? If
not, I would be happy to measure it for you with my meters if you would like. Or, are you
going to contact Zoomed?
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

I removed the PS UVB last night, and replaced it with a ZooMed 100W basking bulb, and after 24hrs her poop is still the same. But, she still went under her hide rock just before bedtime. Is it possible she knows her internal clock?
Maybe I’m just over thinking this whole thing, but she did the same thing yesterday.
So maybe the PS UVB bulb isn’t an issue at all, she’s just ready for bed maybe?

Her “loose poops” are my only worry at this point. I’m still not sure on what exactly “normal” poop is supposed to be like..

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Well, that is a possibility she has a time clock, sure. Do her eyes seem to be irritated at all
or has she been squinting? Does she bask under it at all?
The stools should be formed but not super hard. They will vary in consistency depending on
what they eat & how much fluids or vegetation they take in. There is usually a little bit of
water/fluid that is excreted along with a solid white urate portion too.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[dlquick]

Hello,

Well, that is a possibility she has a time clock, sure. Do her eyes seem to be irritated at all
or has she been squinting? Does she bask under it at all?
The stools should be formed but not super hard. They will vary in consistency depending on
what they eat & how much fluids or vegetation they take in. There is usually a little bit of
water/fluid that is excreted along with a solid white urate portion too.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

Okay, Day 2 with no PowerSun UVB, she pooped twice today, roughly the same amount both times. First one was the same soft consistency with water, Second was solid with very little water. The second is what I consider normal.
Not sure if she was just a little backed up, or if the PowerSun was affecting her overall health. I plan to go one more day tomorrow without the PS just to get a good health average.
On Day 4 I’m going to go back to the PowerSun, and get an average three day report again. I’ll keep this updated.

As far as eye health is concerned, all seems normal for the time being.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I recently purchased a PowerSun UVB MVB 100W basking lamp about two weeks ago, and ever since, my female beardie (4-5mths) is not doing so well..
She’s had a normal appetite, and pooping once a day, but her poops have been getting worse every day. More water than usual, and little to no form at all. Not diarrhea, but it has no form, just a mushy watery mess with a mushy white urate.
To add to this, I noticed she’s been moving away from the lamp more often, and at first I thought maybe she was just getting up to stretch her legs a bit, but I found her hiding underneath her basking rock after about 9hrs of normal daytime exposure.

I plan to remove the PowerSun tonight, and throw in a regular basking lamp, and see if her health/activity improves. I’ve read some frightening things about these from ZooMed since I’ve noticed her health deteriorating.
I think I’m going to submit and buy one of the ReptiSun 10.0 T5 fixtures.
<<< I advise against using Reptisun T5HO tubes at the moment , see viewtopic.php?f=6&t=234752&p=1806285#p1806285 , get hold of an Arcadia T5HO 12%UVB tube instead , is a much better tube .

I will update this in a few days should things improve or get worse..

Here is her current set-up
40g Enclosure 36”x16”x16”
ZooMed Deep Dome Fixture
ZooMed PowerSun UVB MVB 100W 12” from lamp/basking
Zilla 24” T8 UVB lamp
<<<< I'd ditch the ZILLA T8 UVB tube , this brand is a nock off made in china and are very poor quality, bad quality phosphors , poor quality quartz used in the tubes which has lots of defects that leak UVC.
<<< strong suggest replacing the ZIlla T8 with an Arcadia 12%UVB T5HO and ensuring the tube and hood are mounted UNDER THE MESH LID , not more than 12 inches from the basking spot , see viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235611

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's great she seems to be doing well today & has gone to the bathroom a couple of times
today also.
I will be interested to see whether or not the Powersun MVB bothered her or if it was just an
off time for her. At least her eyes don't seem to be affected then.
I agree, we recommend using either the Reptisun 10 or the Arcadia D3 12% or 14% tube would
be a much better light than the Zilla.

Tracie