Lighting for Bradypodion

I have just learned from keepers in Europe that energy saving UV bulbs (like the cfl ones) will result in infections over time with this genus. This is some absolutely critical information! My very first pair of Bradypodions I got a couple years ago were both kept with energy saving UV bulbs over their cages, and were kept in exo terra glass enclosures, both of which I have learned since then is a big no no with them. My mistakes and failures=your success! hopefully
They should only be kept in all screen enclosures, along with fluorescent bulbs. The exception is B. setaroi, which can be kept in glass terrariums with no problems, but we cant get those here so that doesnt do us much good
I hope this helps.

Was there a reason given? Infections of what system?

showjet95 said:

I have just learned from keepers in Europe that energy saving UV bulbs will result in infections over time with this genus. This is some absolutely critical information! My very first pair of Bradypodions I got a couple years ago were both kept with energy saving UV bulbs over their cages, and were kept in exo terra glass enclosures, both of which I have learned since then is a big no no with them. My mistakes and failures=your success! hopefully
They should only be kept in all screen enclosures, along with fluorescent bulbs. The exception is B. setaroi, which can be kept in glass terrariums with no problems, but we cant get those here so that doesnt do us much good
I hope this helps.

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what lighting can you use than? are you sure they didnt mean mercury vapor? the UVB just create the same light wave lengths needed for calcium aborbtion right? I dont have any Bradypodions but you just struck my curious bone.....

I'd be curious to know more about how fluorescent bulbs are causing infection. I don't see any process by which such lighting would result in an infection of any kind. Can you get any more information about it (how is it causing the infections, what kind of infections do they cause, etc.)?

Chris

I am just passing along info I get that may be beneficial to Brady keepers. It certainly cant hurt, and does come from a very well known European breeder of many very rare species of chameleons, particularly Bradypodion. He said he will speak with his vet tomorrow to get more exact information, but he says exactly this..."the hard radiation causes a sunburn on the ocular mucous membranes and damages the net skin. The animals are thereby weakened and susceptible for secondary infections"

I will get more information tomorrow and relay it on this thread.

I am only the messenger

We're just curious is all. Whatever more you can relay from them will be interesting.

Hmm. Interesting. I'm curious because if this is the case, it means it could hold true of other species as well. That said, I think the non-fluorescent bulbs have stronger radiation levels than fluorescents. If its a wavelength thing, then it is going to vary between every type of fluorescent bulbs, as each as a different spectrum formula. It honestly sounds like the old photo-kerato-conjunctivitis issue with the old Reptisun CFLs, etc. (http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm), in which case, its largely irrelevant at this point as the formulas have been changed.

Chris

Interesting.... Does this mean all fluorescents?(cfl and linear)

I have been curious as to why all EU keepers are using MV... Maybe this has something to do with it. Now that GOOD MV have just recently became available, I just may give them a shot.

I look forward to seeing what the vet has to say...

Chris Anderson said:

Hmm. Interesting. I'm curious because if this is the case, it means it could hold true of other species as well. That said, I think the non-fluorescent bulbs have stronger radiation levels than fluorescents. If its a wavelength thing, then it is going to vary between every type of fluorescent bulbs, as each as a different spectrum formula. It honestly sounds like the old photo-kerato-conjunctivitis issue with the old Reptisun CFLs, etc. (http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm), in which case, its largely irrelevant at this point as the formulas have been changed.

Chris

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Good points...

Is it possible that the new formulas could still cause this, only in bradypodion and other uncommon species?

Alex, Not speaking for brady's particularly but MVB is the way to go if you can work around the heat the bulb produces. The electricity usage is another story

ataraxia said:

Alex, Not speaking for brady's particularly but MVB is the way to go if you can work around the heat the bulb produces. The electricity usage is another story

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Thanks bud, That is the problem for sure... But ironically Arcadia just released an 80w MVB!!! And Todd at LYR will have them soon... I am SO anxious to get some UV readings and temps from these bulbs.. They could be a GREAT thing The only downside is the cost... Looks like they'll be a pretty penny PER CAGE, and I have a lot of cages with more on the way..

I just read that, kinda excited to see a 80 watt/ 110v version. That would be great. I will definitely try one or two once they come out with that version. Spending that much for a base 220v kit seems a bit much

Have you heard any more about this? I'm still curious.

coldbloodedAL said:

Interesting.... Does this mean all fluorescents?(cfl and linear)

I have been curious as to why all EU keepers are using MV... Maybe this has something to do with it. Now that GOOD MV have just recently became available, I just may give them a shot.

I look forward to seeing what the vet has to say...

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I must make a correction to this... They are using HQI bulbs not MV, sorry for the mistake..

HQL is Osram's mercury-vapour lamp.. These laps are OK if you keep animals inside only for few months of the year !! Very low UV production.
HQI/HID is better when kept longer periods inside.

Julle said:

HQL is Osram's mercury-vapour lamp.. These laps are OK if you keep animals inside only for few months of the year !! Very low UV production.
HQI/HID is better when kept longer periods inside.

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Thank you for making that clarification julle, maybe I was thinking of HQI... So metal halide then

Sorry i read you wrong
But anyways, HQL is widely used in central europe and they realy are ok when kept short times inside.
HQL don't work for longer periods.
Hid's and arcadia mv's has worked for me.
My oldest arcadia mv is 1.5 years old and almost no decay, i realy wait for the 80w version (i can't get it yet..)

Olimpia said:

Have you heard any more about this? I'm still curious.

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He said his vet is out until next week, he will meet with him then.

They use metal halide bulbs, which produce alot of light, heat and UV.

links that were sent to me...

http://www.leuchtstark.de/Leuchtmit...ips-MASTERColour-CDM-TC-35W-942-G8-5-1CT.html

http://www.lichtlieferant.de/elektr...g-hid-pv-c-035-i-cdm-evg-35-watt-philips.html

I cant get the second link in english...ermmm...

I think claiming a certain type of light caused an infection is oversimplifying the problem. It is more than likely that for some reason they are causing overgrowth of certain bacteria or fungi in their enclosures by selecting certain water/lighting combinations. Can you get more specifics about husbandry so as better to assess? ie watering regimens/sources, plants in the enclosures, substrates, humidity AND the specific lighting involved? With bradys, it seems people are getting worked up about keeping high humidity. I can say from also keeping dart frogs, this comes with certain risks as above and requires more vigilance with keeping.