10.0 UVB bulb on panther
- Thread starter andynco
- Start date
There is some debate on the subject of which UVB bulb to use. First I would ask what the native environment offers. UVB from sunlight can be intense, but with adequate foliage offered for shade your cham should be able to decide where it is comfortable. Many keepers are using 10.0 bulbs very successfully and I'm sure they will chime in 
. I'm not sure if it is necessary, but it does give you the option to use an additional piece of screen to lessen the intensity until the bulb gets older, and then you can remove the extra screen. This will require a UVB meter to tell you when to adjust/change the bulb.
As for hurting their eyes, just keep the lights on the top of the cage and offer some shade and they will be fine.
. I'm not sure if it is necessary, but it does give you the option to use an additional piece of screen to lessen the intensity until the bulb gets older, and then you can remove the extra screen. This will require a UVB meter to tell you when to adjust/change the bulb.As for hurting their eyes, just keep the lights on the top of the cage and offer some shade and they will be fine.
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
No, they will not hurt their eyes, at least certainly not the linear fluorescent bulbs. I use them on everyone and they are doing just great. They don't output anything excessive (ceratinly way less than outside in the shade) so I have no worries using it inside. I just thought the 5.0 bulbs were really weak, in my opinion, and only got weaker with time.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Im a 10.0 guy too. its lets me get at least 10uw to half the cage depth when used in a 4ft cage if you use a refector.
The whole eyes thing came when they botched the formula for the compact fluorescents back in like 2007-2008. A cham needs 10-55uw tops, the bad bulbs were putting out 2000uw 2" from the bulb, and that was just in the uvb spect. They where also putting out a lot of nasty stuff in the non terrestrial bands.
But back to topic. 10.0 is fine, and please use common sense and have lots of leaves and lots of open areas, your cham will regulate its uv intake just like it regulates its temp. He might want 30uw and go right up to the bulb in the morning, but want only 10uw and waddle down to the mid cage by the evening.
The whole eyes thing came when they botched the formula for the compact fluorescents back in like 2007-2008. A cham needs 10-55uw tops, the bad bulbs were putting out 2000uw 2" from the bulb, and that was just in the uvb spect. They where also putting out a lot of nasty stuff in the non terrestrial bands.
But back to topic. 10.0 is fine, and please use common sense and have lots of leaves and lots of open areas, your cham will regulate its uv intake just like it regulates its temp. He might want 30uw and go right up to the bulb in the morning, but want only 10uw and waddle down to the mid cage by the evening.
