Your personal experiences with the ReptiGlo 10.0 fluorescent

[randommonks]

I know this site has done a lot of bashing of the ReptiGlo 10.0 but I've used it previously without any problems. Darwin spent the first 6 months with me under one (2011) and grew like a weed (from 6" to 18") and ate like there was no tomorrow. I eventually switched to the Reptisun because I didn't like the blue glow of the Reptiglo but I definitely will consider getting him under one in the future. I didn't notice any change in behavior upon switching the bulbs.

I also have a friend whose rescue dragon was under the Reptiglo before coming into her care (I believe back in 2010) that had developed eye problems that immediately cleared up when put under the Reptisun 10.0. (Second hand story I know :roll: )

I'd like to hear about your personal experiences with the Reptiglo light- good or bad. I'm not looking for bulb bashing, your opinions, or second-hand experiences. If you're afraid of public backlash because you're using one or you've used one, feel free to PM me your experience and I'll post it anonymously

 

[morphmom]

My adopted adult Myah was under a ReptiGlo 5.0 coil bulb for the first year of her life. She did not develop eye issues. I switched Myah to a ReptiSun 10.0 24" tube light shortly after I adopted her and her increase in energy was amazing. Her appetite increased as well. I believe in the ReptiSun but I do know that there is a reptiglo for desert species now. I have not used it, and don't actually plan on trying it but others may have. :wink:

 

[randommonks]

My adopted adult Myah was under a ReptiGlo 5.0 coil bulb for the first year of her life. She did not develop eye issues. I switched Myah to a ReptiSun 10.0 24" tube light shortly after I adopted her and her increase in energy was amazing. Her appetite increased as well. I believe in the ReptiSun but I do know that there is a reptiglo for desert species now. I have not used it, and don't actually plan on trying it but others may have. :wink:

My understanding of the coil lights is that they're fine to use with appropriate distance. The Reptiglo 10.0 has always been for desert species and replaced the Reptiglo 8.0 several years back. My intention was actually the use of the fluorescent tube since it seems to be the general consensus here that the tube light is more appropriate for bearded dragons than any coil light

 

[mutinyofthemind]

I had my beardie under a ReptiGlo 10.0 for a month or so, not that long, but I didn't notice any negative side effects from it during that time. The ReptiSun 10.0 is certainly more attractive in lighting, and I've noticed my beardie won't UVB-bathe as long under it, but no real change in behavior other than being a lunatic in his enclosure when I'm home and the Reptisun brings out his colors better. I could argue that the Glo caused him to stressmark more often, but since I swapped out the Glo for the Sun the same time his 24"x18"x12" enclosure was upgraded to a 36"x18"x18", it was possibly from him wanting more room to roam or not being able to move away from UVB light.

 

[randommonks]

I had my beardie under a ReptiGlo 10.0 for a month or so, not that long, but I didn't notice any negative side effects from it during that time. The ReptiSun 10.0 is certainly more attractive in lighting, and I've noticed my beardie won't UVB-bathe as long under it, but no real change in behavior other than being a lunatic in his enclosure when I'm home and the Reptisun brings out his colors better. I could argue that the Glo caused him to stressmark more often, but since I swapped out the Glo for the Sun the same time his 24"x18"x12" enclosure was upgraded to a 36"x18"x18", it was possibly from him wanting more room to roam or not being able to move away from UVB light.

I definitely agree that the Reptisun is more attractive than the blue Reptiglo! Glad to hear your guy is doing well!

 

[mish13]

I've used the reptiglo 10 compact for the first yr of my girls life . I had no problems with this light ! She was very active ate well and grew quite quickly. I made a similar post on here not to long ago and got totally bashed for it . oh well. Last month because all the hype about the reptisun 10 flur tube i spent a bunch of money and bought a new setup. I see no change in her, shes not doing anything different. I would use the reptiglo again .

 

[randommonks]

I've used the reptiglo 10 compact for the first yr of my girls life . I had no problems with this light ! She was very active ate well and grew quite quickly. I made a similar post on here not to long ago and got totally bashed for it . oh well. Last month because all the hype about the reptisun 10 flur tube i spent a bunch of money and bought a new setup. I see no change in her, shes not doing anything different. I would use the reptiglo again .

Out of curiosity, how far away did you keep the compact light? I know there tends to be a pack mentality as far as the Reptisun goes but I believe it's mostly geared toward safety rather than anyone trying to be malicious.

 

[mish13]

It was about 8" - 9 " away from the basking spot.

 

[snazzyglasses]

Not a personal experience, but here are some musings if anyone's bored enough to read them lol-
I wonder if part of it has to do with genetics and how "hardy" a particular dragon is? I'm sure an inbred, sickly beardie would not do well under a lower-cost lamp like the ReptiGlo tube (curse those careless breeders who are just in it for the money ), but a healthy beardie with decent genetics would be absolutely fine with that UVB. (**I'm not trying to imply that beardies who improve under a ReptiSun tube or Arcadia are sickly or have something wrong with them though!!** However I do believe that you get what you pay for when it comes to UVB lighting quality.)

I've considered getting a ReptiGlo 10.0 tube just for curiousity's sake, since healthy beardies seem to be just fine under them. I'm not sure about those coils and compacts though? It looks like the independent testing is showing they're not giving off consistent amounts of the beardie-appropriate wavelengths (290-305-ish nanometers) yet. Something about the materials they're made of I think.
But I'm not an expert! Just my thoughts on the subject

 

[Fishercat]

Hi.

Thanks for doing this.

I'm using a Repti Glo 10.0, and I'm content with it.

I haven't had Teach long, and initially came here looking for help when I was very worried about him. (Turned out temps were too low.) I got a lot of comments to the effect that I must change UVB bulbs, that compact bulbs are dangerous, etc. That all sounded a little fanatic to me, so I asked for more info about the issue, and Tracie was very helpful. She gave me links to the post and report that got everyone worried.

This is the report: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm There is a LOT of information there. I haven't read all of it, but here are some pieces of information I picked out (found under the link to lamp test results) that made me decide to continue using the bulb I've got.

-The only bulbs listed as giving problems were the ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 and 5.0 (compact); Big Apple Herpetological Mystic (tube); and the R-Zilla Desert 50 Series (tubes).
-Two of the problem bulbs were compact (from ZooMed), and two were long tubes.
-The ReptiGlo 10.0 is not one of the compact bulbs that was found to be a problem.
-The report was originally published in 2007, and there's an update note dated September, 2009 saying that the manufacturers of the problem bulbs had been very responsive, and pulled or reformulated the products.

If you want to read the report yourself, it's written in British English: "lamp" means what Americans call "bulb". (I don't speak Aussie or Canadian.) The home page of the website has a prominent notice saying that the UVB Guide section is closed for a major update. Presumably, they'll have new information on the problem bulbs when that section re-opens.

In short, I think there is real science behind the source of the bulb-bashing. But I don't think most people doing the bashing have actually read it critically. They just heard "compact bulbs are bad" and became True Believers. I decided to keep using the Repti Glo 10.0, but I have added the symptoms of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis to my mental checklist of things to watch out for.

[Edited to add:] Sorry; all I really wrote about was my decision-making process. I'm content with the bulb because it wasn't one of the changes I made when I was concerned, and after I did make those changes, he perked right up. He seems to be perfectly fine now. Eating hungrily, pooping regularly, alert and active except when he's sleepy.

 

[randommonks]

Thank you Fishercat. Very imformative and reasonable. How long have you used the compact bulb? My beliefs about the compact has shifted since I first heard about them and I'm curious now about real, first-hand experience with them.

Snazzyglasses, does what Fishercat posted change your mind at all about compact bulbs? I'm not sure exactly what makes some beardies susceptible to the Reptiglo but it probably has something to do with genetics, like you said. Similar to how everyone has varying degrees of vision correction.

 

[Fishercat]

You're welcome. I'm happy to be able to add some specifics to the discussion on the topic.

I've only had Teach for 3 weeks today. Not long at all. The friend who gave him to me is a herp professional who's had a healthy beardie of her own for several years. She gave me the bulb, and presumably uses the same kind for her pet. But that's second-hand info (and guesswork to boot), so, not really what you were looking for.

If he does seem to develop any problems from his UVB light in the future, I'll make a point of updating this thread.