too close to uvb bulb?

[beardcore]

can a dragon get to close to a uvb bulb? i have a screen top

 

[BadCon]

Yes

Depends on the bulb, but every UV bulb has a recommended safe distance. That distance depends on the style and rating of the bulb. 100w mercury vapor bulbs typically have a "no go" limit of 12", that is...the animal shouldn't get any closer then that (most of the MVB's are still having design issues, and shouldn't be used at any distance). Repti-Sun 10.0 tubes have a safe distance of about 6", and that's pretty standard for tube style UVB bulbs. I don't recommend people use any "compact" style UV florescents, so the safe distance there would be infinity .

Why are there distance limits? Because as you get closer to a UV bulb, the intensity of the UV increases. Too much UV, especially the wrong types of it, can lead to various illnesses...perhaps the most common of which is photo-kerato-conjunctivitis (http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-info.htm). Conversely, the farther you get away from a bulb the lower the UV levels...which is why there are required distances for the bulbs to be effective. So really, you are working within a window of effectiveness and safety. To far away and it doesn't provide any benefit, too close and you're risking the animals health. The site I just linked has a great explanation about all things UV related. Its a good read for any dragon owner.

Most any brand worth a darn will print some general safety requirements on the bulbs packaging. Sometimes reputable sources will establish a different set of numbers for a specific brand, and sometimes the brand is so outrageously unsafe that no minimum distance is appropriate as they shouldn't be used (UV coil bulbs for example). I personally experienced a series of bulbs that had defects, and were NOT safe at the minimum recommend distance...resulting in my male dragon experience a minor case of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis. The damage could have been much worse if I hadn't made sure to keep my animal safely away from the bulb...I'm sure some other users weren't so lucky. So always make sure to pay attention to your lighting setup. For sun loving reptiles like beardies, its perhaps the most important facet of their lives.

 

[beardcore]

so if i have a basking spot real close to the top should i use a 5.0? cause i can only raise the 10.0 2 inches and that will make it 5 inches.

 

[BadCon]

Is that 5" to the basking spot, or 5" to the top of the reptile? If the beardy is sitting on the basking spot with their head tilted up, how far away is the UV tube? If its 5" to the top of the beardy, you should be alright, but I wouldn't let them get any closer. I wouldn't want them getting any closer regardless of the UV tube, as their output gets rather high up close...even 5.0 tubes. So if necessary, lower the basking. If by chance that's 5" to the basking spot...then its really only 3" or so from the animals skin and eyes...and this isn't safe.

I'm assuming this is some kind of platform raised off the bottom of the viv? Does your tank have a screen at the top? Would it be possible to put this between the UV tube and the basking spot? This will block some of the UV emission, thus making the situation a wee bit safer. Can you raise the light fixture up with some wood (or anything else)?

 

[beardcore]

Its a cork piece glued on. So. Can't move lower. Uv was just raised up I have hood so can't go extremely high. Yes it has a screen top. What should I do I have the 5.0 still. Also I could not have the uvb over his basking spot.