5.0 or 10.0 Linear tube
- Thread starter mwebb
- Start date
veiledchamguy
Member
10.0 UVB output is excessive. Better safe than sorry!
summoner12
Avid Member
A 10.0 resting on the screen is a lot of UVB.
Zoo Med saying you should use a 10.0 for when using screen has their head up their a$$..... How else would you keep a chameleon in it's cage?
You can use a 10.0.... you could use a MV lamp..... BUT You wouldn't do it by placing them on the top of the cage. If you feel the need to use 10.0 I would be sure to rig it up so that it is hung from above the cage by a few inches.
Some Readings
Zoo Med saying you should use a 10.0 for when using screen has their head up their a$$..... How else would you keep a chameleon in it's cage?
You can use a 10.0.... you could use a MV lamp..... BUT You wouldn't do it by placing them on the top of the cage. If you feel the need to use 10.0 I would be sure to rig it up so that it is hung from above the cage by a few inches.
Some Readings
Todnedo
Avid Member
what is the range of uvb that chams need?
I have a 48" T12 reptisun 5.0 and its producing 12 uw/cm 3 inches from the bulb thru the screen.
Thats about the same amount of uvb earthworms get 3" under the ground on a summer day.
Mid day sun is about 200+ uw/cm. so why would a 10.0 too much?
Why do we have to use vitamin d3 with uvb bulbs and not sunlight?
I have a 48" T12 reptisun 5.0 and its producing 12 uw/cm 3 inches from the bulb thru the screen.
Thats about the same amount of uvb earthworms get 3" under the ground on a summer day.
Mid day sun is about 200+ uw/cm. so why would a 10.0 too much?
Why do we have to use vitamin d3 with uvb bulbs and not sunlight?
summoner12
Avid Member
Did you read the thread linked above? There was a link in that thread that took you to the uvguide website and it talks about how animals, including chameleons, get their UVB.
And I think it is quite obvious your UVB lamp is expired or not functioning correctly.
We use vit D3 when not exposing Chams to direct sunlight just in case the animal isn't processing enough of it, due to the fact that neither a 10.0 or 5.0 provide a 'perfect' spectrum of light such as the sun can. And we do not use D3 when the Cham goes outside because in most cases the animal can't escape the suns rays of light enough to prevent calcium in the body from turning into D3 causing an over dose. This is all for precaution assuming the Cham keeper isn't perfect. And I don't know many who are.
Zen Reptiles
Avid Member
Depends on the type of screen you use. You can definitely use a 10.0 if you are using fine screen and your chameleon never hangs out right up next to the UVB bulb.
For my basilisks, I have a 48" 5.0 and at 3-4 inches from the bulb and through the screen, where they hang out for basking, is only 24-34 uw/cm through 1/4" screen.
For my chams and frilled dragon, the 18" 5.0 at about 3-4" and through screen is around 45-65 uw/cm.
In my experience, the 48" tubes emit much less UVB at any stage . All the bulbs are fresh from the package about 3 weeks.
Somewhere on the forum, if you search hard enough, you can find some research that suggests that it's difficult to overdose on d3. So even while using any UVB light, it's ok to exchange a calcium day with a calcium+d3 day and not worry about edema or anything. I use d3 once or twice a month even with UVB bulbs, and usually 3 times a month for younger animals.
Though I would stay away from the rep-cal's 400,000 IU/kg formula, and stick with Miner-All 1 or the Zoomed stuff.
For my basilisks, I have a 48" 5.0 and at 3-4 inches from the bulb and through the screen, where they hang out for basking, is only 24-34 uw/cm through 1/4" screen.
For my chams and frilled dragon, the 18" 5.0 at about 3-4" and through screen is around 45-65 uw/cm.
In my experience, the 48" tubes emit much less UVB at any stage . All the bulbs are fresh from the package about 3 weeks.
Somewhere on the forum, if you search hard enough, you can find some research that suggests that it's difficult to overdose on d3. So even while using any UVB light, it's ok to exchange a calcium day with a calcium+d3 day and not worry about edema or anything. I use d3 once or twice a month even with UVB bulbs, and usually 3 times a month for younger animals.
Though I would stay away from the rep-cal's 400,000 IU/kg formula, and stick with Miner-All 1 or the Zoomed stuff.
summoner12
Avid Member
When I say OD on D3 I am meaning that in the terms of.... if you gave your cham D3 a couple of times a week and he went outside during that week.... you'd be giving him too much. It is my understanding that the D3 can no be rejected if there is too much... sure there are minor side effects like edema with small ODing... but why do that to your cham?
summoner12
Avid Member
Dr Brames states "reptile lighting is a process, not a bulb".
