Can uvb bulb be cause of mbd
- Thread starter Dave85731
- Start date
Graves923
Chameleon Enthusiast
T5 and T8 linear bulbs are best since the cover a wider area with UVB light allowing the chameleon more options for finding a spot to perch. Those compact bulbs arent the best since the UVB light is so focused. I believe that the reptisun bulbs in the past were faulty and didnt emit the advertised UVB or something like that. Ive also read it caused eye problems but the company has since corrected the issue.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
That is a reptisun 10.0. Even with it being a crappy CFL (most of the light just reflecting off its self, or the hood), its still putting out more uvb that the vita-lights we had in the 1990's, and we didnt get MBD back then. Just keep up with the 2x a month D3 supplement and you will be fine. The first gen bulbs put out way too much non terrestrial uvc and caused eye problems. However they were recalled, and that was pushing 10 years ago.
At the end of the day, you will get the most bang for your buck if you go with a single linear tube with reflector, it will litterally be putting out 10x more light and uvb into the cage, for the same wattage.
At the end of the day, you will get the most bang for your buck if you go with a single linear tube with reflector, it will litterally be putting out 10x more light and uvb into the cage, for the same wattage.
Dave85731
Avid Member
i was just wondering I saw a post on Facebook this lady's Cham has mbd well I'm not sure if it's mbd I'm no vet but she posted that pic of what she used for uvb and a guy said it's wrong and that's the reason of mbd and I've never heard of that before so thought I'd bring it up here lol
I disagree that they need as much or more than a bearded dragon. That much with out very dense plant cover and more distance from the bulb is going to cause eye irritation.
If you had a huge cage and too much distance from your basking spot then maybe he'd be onto something. I say its the difference between adequate and optimum.
If you had a huge cage and too much distance from your basking spot then maybe he'd be onto something. I say its the difference between adequate and optimum.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Well, that response is baloney and you can quote me. No bulb on its own is a CAUSE of MBD. The cause is a lot more complex than that but takes more brainpower to understand. Sounds like the spouting of someone who accepted media posts as husbandry gospel without engaging said brain. There might be one chameleon species that can tolerate as much or more UV than a beardie, but I doubt many of us are going to be keeping it any time soon (Chamaeleo namaquensis)!
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nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Now that is is partially true. a 5.0 cfl going through screen, is going to be completely worthless 8-12" away. Even a linear tube 5.0 is going to be worthless 18" away.
Its why i recommend 10.0 T8 and 6% T5HO for 4-5ft cages, since the uv wont be worthless till mid cage. This way half the cage is a dead zone so the cham can regulate. Or you can just make it chuck full of plants and it can regulate in the shade
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
A T5HO is 33% more efficient, and double the wattage per foot. So its easily 4x more light/uv vs a T8, and if your t8 doesnt have a reflector(i have never seen a T5HO without one) you can get up to 10x more light vs a T8 with a normal white metal/plastic reflector. Its why no one recommends 12% T5HO's unless you have a meter.
Virgil1972
Avid Member
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
It took me a disturbingly long time to realize the greenish squiggly line was a bearded dragon...
Virgil1972
Avid Member
I never knew bearded dragons organs were square or oval.
This site has lots of info on UVB...
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/lightingsurveyintro.htm
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/lightingsurveyintro.htm
