chameleon guy
New Member
I already know chams eyes can get messed up from a compact bulb but what about other herps like frogs or other reptiles?
compact bulbs?
- Thread starter chameleon guy
- Start date
cushcameleon
New Member
Here's a link for you that shows compacts hurt all types of animals http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm, the problem with compacts is there unbalanced spectrums and non-filtered rays.
solitarychichlid
New Member
That is a really good link with very useful info. My personal preference is to use a tube not coil bulb. It seems the light would be more sparsely dispersed. I'm not saying that coils are dangerous but if they have caused damages to one animal, they are likely to cause damages for any. It wouldn't just be with chameleons. Although that is a really good link, what I don't like is how outdated it is. I mean there are some lights in the study that were bashed and criticized for various reasons and are perfectly fine now. Some lights concerns were ignored I believe, but others were fixed and recalled. I know Zillas Desert Series were. I asked around and even called the company. And after I started hearing positive feedback, I tried them (for other reptiles) and liked them. This was sometime last year. So basically, an update is not uncalled for because there could be lights out there that are dangerous which weren't even considered in that study. It would be great if we all knew what was going on every now and then, since we don't all have the tools to do that kind of research.
jojackson
New Member
Chamguy, yes , if they effect chameleons due exposure, they will do likewise other diurnal reptiles and you can assume worse for frogs.
I adopted some bearded dragons a while back, that suffered from the use of a compact
10 . Because the 10 is so intense (narrow spectrum of output, regardless wavelength)
and because they were housed in a white melamine cage, the effect was intensified.
Think of looking at snow without sunglasses on a bright sunny day.
One has recovered normal vision, but one has been left almost blind, she can find food but has to be supervised to ensure she gets enough (live insects), initially I had to handfeed them.
I agree with solitarychiclid though, an updated list of brands/strengths tested and found acceptable and being used without issue would be good, likewise a listing of brands/strengths/manufacturers not mentioned in the uk test that fall to either category.
I adopted some bearded dragons a while back, that suffered from the use of a compact
10 . Because the 10 is so intense (narrow spectrum of output, regardless wavelength)
and because they were housed in a white melamine cage, the effect was intensified.
Think of looking at snow without sunglasses on a bright sunny day.
One has recovered normal vision, but one has been left almost blind, she can find food but has to be supervised to ensure she gets enough (live insects), initially I had to handfeed them.
I agree with solitarychiclid though, an updated list of brands/strengths tested and found acceptable and being used without issue would be good, likewise a listing of brands/strengths/manufacturers not mentioned in the uk test that fall to either category.
chameleon guy
New Member
I have exo terra 2.0 coil bulb. Would this be safe for dart frogs?
chameleon guy
New Member
Only if they cant jump on it. 2.0's dont put out much UVB , but if you use it, use it outside the enclosure , or use a light cage, the base gets hot. Dendrobatidae are rainforest dwellers, so little UVB would be required I assume.
i plan on putting the light on a screen top. So it would be totally safe to use?
jojackson
New Member
Totally? Well put it this way, you cant suit me, if its not!
But I think so, yes. Ofcourse, be sensible about it, observe your frogs for a few days, if they hide from it, assume its not good, to be on the safe side.
You dont specify what kind they are, some are nocturnal, these shouldnt require Uv, if they are diurnal they will get some via patches of sunlight that reach the forest floor,
but it would be filtered and much absorbed by canopy froliage, so what they get, given they dont spend much time in direct sun, lest they dry out, would be minimal.
Try to make sure they can escape from it if they want to, even if they are diurnal.
But I think so, yes. Ofcourse, be sensible about it, observe your frogs for a few days, if they hide from it, assume its not good, to be on the safe side.
You dont specify what kind they are, some are nocturnal, these shouldnt require Uv, if they are diurnal they will get some via patches of sunlight that reach the forest floor,
but it would be filtered and much absorbed by canopy froliage, so what they get, given they dont spend much time in direct sun, lest they dry out, would be minimal.
Try to make sure they can escape from it if they want to, even if they are diurnal.
chameleon guy
New Member
Totally? Well put it this way, you cant suit me, if its not!
But I think so, yes. Ofcourse, be sensible about it, observe your frogs for a few days, if they hide from it, assume its not good, to be on the safe side.
You dont specify what kind they are, some are nocturnal, these shouldnt require Uv, if they are diurnal they will get some via patches of sunlight that reach the forest floor,
but it would be filtered and much absorbed by canopy froliage, so what they get, given they dont spend much time in direct sun, lest they dry out, would be minimal.
Try to make sure they can escape from it if they want to, even if they are diurnal.
i am talking mainly about Dendrobates leucomelas(bumble bee dart).
