Reptisun 10... T12?

[WeWalkers]

Hello Everyone!

I am wondering about the age of a Reptisun 10 bulb that I recently purchased at a local independent pet store.

I ordered the ZooMed light cycle unit that fits T8 and T10 bulbs, thinking that the Reptisun 10 bulbs are T8.

This morning I was all excited that my unit came in and started putting everything together....well the bulb that I purchased last week is a T12? Huh? Everything I have read here says that the companies have all switched to the T8 size...so now I am stuck (again) I purchased the bulb locally thinking I would be avoiding shipping costs and possible breakage, but now it seems I have purchased an old bulb...and one that I don't have a fixture for. UGH! :evil:

Does anyone know when ZooMed switched to the T8 size?

I wish the bulbs were available locally....

 

[BeardedDragonCo]

Most older T12 fixtures didn't use an electronic ballast, therefore the bulbs degraded quickly and did not emit high enough uvb. I believe Zoo Med went the the T8 as most of the fixures are only available with a higher quality electronic ballast which has the ability to put out the proper uvb.

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Zoo Med started phasing out the T12's a few years ago. I heard some where on the forum before about some type of converter you can buy to make a T12 fixture work with the T5 and T8 bulbs. Maybe you can google T8 converter and see what you come up with. It's worth a try, huh?

 

[BadCon]

The t12 bulb itself should be ok when used with an electronic ballast. But yes, that bulb is at least 4yrs old. If you want something that will work with both a T8 and a t12, look here - http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2121
I don't know what size bulb you got, but these fixtures come in 3 sizes. Buy the one that most closely matches your bulb wattage.

 

[WeWalkers]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for the replies!

I already have the fixture...it's the ExoTerra Life cycle Unit http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/light_cycle_unit.php it will only fit a T8 or T10. I'm really excited to use this fixture so I will just get the correct bulbs for it, rather than purchase another fixture.

I took the bulb back to the Pet Store and he is going to order me a T8...I'm a bit nervous because he didn't seem to know that they were available in the T8. He says that most of his customers want T12, but then said that most customers use the twisty kinda bulbs...

He was thinking that since I had the Exo Terra Life Cycle Unit that I should use the Exo Terra bulbs...I explained that I have it from good authority (BeardedDragon.org) 8) that the ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 is the best bulb available and that I do not want use Exo Terra bulbs just to stay with the same brand. The unit can use any brand bulb that is a size T8 or T10.

I also brought up that the Reptisun in the size T12 is being phased out and replaced by the T8 size...he was very insistent that the bulb I purchased was new and he didn't think that T12 was going to be phased out....gosh so much information!

I just want to have a safe and healthy enclosure!!!