Zen Reptiles
Avid Member
So, with the collection slowly growing, I am thinking of Mercury Vapor bulbs as a viable option to cut down on power costs in the Winter. Winters can get costly to heat the animals, with space heaters going, lights going, furnace going, etc etc.
Where I live, it can get VERY cold in the winter, into the -40C range, and some days are just plain cold inside even with the heat on. For about 2 months in the dead of winter it is a real struggle to keep everyone comfortably warm here.
I like the idea of Mercury Vapor bulbs during the winter, and old fashioned lighting in the summer, since they get outdoor Sun most of the summer when it's into the +30C range.
My questions....
1) What wattage have you found works best for both heat and UVB exposure?
2) What brands are best, and what makes them different from others?
3) Have you tested hardware store brands of MV bulbs, what were the readings?
4) With the amount of heat given off from MV bulbs, could I use one bulb placed several inches away to heat TWO cages next to each other?
5) Have you had any problems with MV bulbs, their safety, their UVB radiation, their heat output, etc???
Thanks in advance.
Where I live, it can get VERY cold in the winter, into the -40C range, and some days are just plain cold inside even with the heat on. For about 2 months in the dead of winter it is a real struggle to keep everyone comfortably warm here.
I like the idea of Mercury Vapor bulbs during the winter, and old fashioned lighting in the summer, since they get outdoor Sun most of the summer when it's into the +30C range.
My questions....
1) What wattage have you found works best for both heat and UVB exposure?
2) What brands are best, and what makes them different from others?
3) Have you tested hardware store brands of MV bulbs, what were the readings?
4) With the amount of heat given off from MV bulbs, could I use one bulb placed several inches away to heat TWO cages next to each other?
5) Have you had any problems with MV bulbs, their safety, their UVB radiation, their heat output, etc???
Thanks in advance.
