UVB LIGHTING

[KaylaHuffman00]

I’m just wondering if this is a good bulb to use or not. This is what petsmarts employee picked out for us based off of our tank size (10 gallon) and I know it will be too small for him soon but my boyfriend and I are planning on building our own viv for him within the next month.
Anyways the only thing I’m worried about is him not getting enough UVB, I really don’t want him getting MBD, and I didn’t know this at first but I read that the UVB light and basking light should be next to each other but the employee said opposite sides. I don’t know which is true but I just moved it near the basking light just to be safe. And we do currently bring him outside for a little every so often so he gets real UVB light. Anyways please let me know if this light will work for him for a little until we build his knew viv, since his viv will be a lot bigger I know he would need a better UVB light.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The Reptisun brand is good, but, the compact/coil type of UVB isn't really recommended. It
doesn't emit good quality UVB & what it does emit, it has a sharp spike & drop off of the output.
A lot of dragons develop eye issues also because of the low wavelength emitted.
We recommend using either the Reptisun 10 tube or the Arcadia D3 12% or 14% tube bulb. Or
there are T5 high output UVB tubes by the same brands also that are excellent UVB also.
What sized tank are you planning on upgrading to?

Tracie

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from Health to Enclosures

 

[KaylaHuffman00]

I was thinking a 40 at least but I’ve read that 75 would be better. I just have to figure out the measurements for a 75 and see if it would work! And okay thank you so much! And yes I’ve read about the eye problems and he is actually having some eye problems right now. We have been cleaning out the gunk from his eyes for the past 5days now, it hasn’t gotten worse and some days it’s better. I’ve heard that I should turn off his UVB light for a little but I’m too scared that he won’t get what he needs if I do that. Also I was already planning on buying him a new one once we got his cage build.

 

[kingofnobbys]

All Living Things brand is rubbish.
See this viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235611

Go for a minimum of 24W and 10%UVB rating irrespective of the type of UVB compact or tube.

Exo Terra , Zoo Med and Arcadia Reptile Brands are the only brands that have good UV products that are made properly (compacts, MVBs, T8 and T5HO tubes).
Careful though with Zoo Med T5ho tubes if they have gold endcaps …. there have been issues lately - they decay way too fast (since they changed manufacturer and started monkeying about with the phosphors - presumeably to cut costs).

I use 26W UVB200 compacts in a NanoHood in my 120L rearing tubs (basking spot 8 inches from the horizontal mounted compact).
My 100L tubs are 80cm long x 50cm wide x 45cm tall.
Currently one tub of my set of 3 in use (housing my water skink), I have my 2 big adult BTs and big beardie girl in home made 4ft tanks , all have 26W UVB200s in nanohoods in them. I'll be retiring the dual nanohoods from the big tanks about Xmas when I use my last 26W UVB200 from my bulk buy.
I find the 26W UVB200s are pretty good PROVIDED your mount them horizontally in hood rather than vertically in a dome …. they perform much like a very short t5HO tube producing a nice wide and long beam that covers my 120L tubs nicely , and covers about 2/3 the 4ft x 2ft tanks per hood.
These are the hoods I refer too :

These are easy to mount under the lid of a tub (only takes 2 hexhead screws) and the reflector is really easy to remove to allow drilling pilot holes for the mounting screws - only held by 4 phillips head screws.

These are the Arcadia Slimline reflector hoods I have ready to be installed

They came as kit including an Arcadia 24W 12%UVB T5HO tube in each (I bought 4 + 4 spare 24W 12%UVB T5ho tubes direct from Arcadia as a bulk buy).
Yes I buy my lights (all of them) in bulk at least 4 per order and usually go direct to the manufacturer or distributer (saves me bother and money and cuts the middleman profit from the equation).

I'm also using 26W UVB200's in NanoHoods in my old homemade 4ft x 2ft W x 1.5ft T timber BT and beardie tanks , have Arcadia 24" slimline hoods with 24W 12%UVB T5ho tubes ready to go when I've used up all my stock of 26W UVB200s.

In a larger tank - T5HO tubes in reflector hoods are the best solution, and they should be 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the tank with one end as close as possible to the basking spot.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I’m just wondering if this is a good bulb to use or not. This is what petsmarts employee picked out for us based off of our tank size (10 gallon) and I know it will be too small for him soon but my boyfriend and I are planning on building our own viv for him within the next month.
Anyways the only thing I’m worried about is him not getting enough UVB, I really don’t want him getting MBD, and I didn’t know this at first but I read that the UVB light and basking light should be next to each other but the employee said opposite sides.
<<< he's / she's clueless, ignore any advise given by that shop's staff , they essentially setting you for failure.
I don’t know which is true but I just moved it near the basking light just to be safe. And we do currently bring him outside for a little every so often so he gets real UVB light. Anyways please let me know if this light will work for him for a little until we build his knew viv, since his viv will be a lot bigger I know he would need a better UVB light.