Compact VS Tube

[Dunnigan]

When i bought my male veiled i got a compact and heard about the problems that it could cause and i never really got around to getting a tube...today when i was misting his he did this weird thing with his eye and i went out and got a 5.0 tube and set it up.

He dosent have any other problems that i can notice. Im moving to orlando in a few weeks and i heard that there is a great herp vet over there (Dr. Alfonso) and am making an appointment to see him when i get there just for a general check up. (Ive been afraid of all the vets around here because i called one one time and asked if they know anything about chameleons they said "Yea we take in all types of lizards..." and then proceded to ask me where i caught him...)

I dont think he likes the new lighting? Hes all stressed (Dark Colors). Hopefully this will stop soon?

Im just wondering is anyone else out these has expierenced this and if so how long it lasted.

On a side note i decided the weird thing he was doing with his eye was him trying to get water out but i needed to get rid of the compact anyway!

 

[jannb]

Maybe he was only cleaning out his eyes and you had not used the compact long enought to damage his eyes. You will love Dr. Alfonso. He's great!!!! He has ALLOT of chameleons himself. I drive 2 hours to see him. My daughther, who's only an hour from him has used him for years with her 10 + chameleons. Jann

 

[Dunnigan]

Maybe he was only cleaning out his eyes and you had not used the compact long enought to damage his eyes. You will love Dr. Alfonso. He's great!!!! He has ALLOT of chameleons himself. I drive 2 hours to see him. My daughther, who's only an hour from him has used him for years with her 10 + chameleons. Jann

Ive heard that from a lot of different people. Im just wondering how far away i he from the University of Central Florida?

 

[jannb]

He's real close to Universal Studios....not far off I-4. 5633 Metrowest Blvd. near the corner of Kirkman & Metrowest Blvd. Phone: 407-295-7547

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

The dark colors are probably him basking to absorb heat, they turn darker colors to warm up and they will turn very pale colors if they are overheated. As far as the compacts, I have used both reptiglow and reptisun without any problems. I would just be wary of those not so well known name brands and those ones that have both a heat bulb and a uvb in one.

-chris

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

I have a couple questions and I think they go right along with this thread.

1. Who has had problems using a compact florescent and what kind of problems did you have and what type (brand) were you using?

2. Who has used compact fluorescents without any problems and what type (brand) do/did you use?


Chris

 

[Rocky]

I almost got the compact because the petstore told me that it didn't matter, but they didnt have either so I went to petsmart where tehy actually recommended the compact for him. It also looked like it would go better with the cage i got and in general just looked nicer, but when it came down to it I decided to just get a 5.0 bulb because i had a fixture already.

Then I found these forums and the first thread i saw involved compacts causing blindness >.< needless to say i called both petsmart and the petstore and told them that they were wrong about the compact and were probably going to cause a lot of owners unneccesary vet bills.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have a couple questions and I think they go right along with this thread.

1. Who has had problems using a compact florescent and what kind of problems did you have and what type (brand) were you using?

2. Who has used compact fluorescents without any problems and what type (brand) do/did you use?

Chris

Used ReptiGlo 5.0 and 10.0 CFLs on two chameleon cages for six full months. No issues resulted from their use, that I am aware of. Switched back to linear tube after reading reports of potential eye issues. Did contact ReptiGlo, and eventually they responded with reassurances. Still wary of using CLFs though. As far as I know, UVB/UVC testing on the twisty ReptiGlo brand CFLs are not one of those tested by the UVGuide people in the UK. http://www.uvguide.co.uk/compactlamps.htm#lampsontest​

 

[JoeyTwilight]

Used ReptiGlo 5.0 and 10.0 CFLs on two chameleon cages for six full months. No issues resulted from their use, that I am aware of. Switched back to linear tube after reading reports of potential eye issues. Did contact ReptiGlo, and eventually they responded with reassurances. Still wary of using CLFs though. As far as I know, UVB/UVC testing on the twisty ReptiGlo brand CFLs are not one of those tested by the UVGuide people in the UK. http://www.uvguide.co.uk/compactlamps.htm#lampsontest​

I had used The exo terra bulbs on two babies for over 8 months before I had read the warnings about compacts, at times they would sit and bask within inches of the bulb for extended periods of time. When I did read the warning I was horrified and quickly changed to mercury vapour, they were both in flexariums at the time so this is why I put them so close to the cages I was worried they wouldnt be getting enough UVB through the mesh. Fortunately I never had any type of issues with their use and both Cham's have grown into large health adults with nice skeletal and muscular structure. I am going to stick with the mercury vapour simply for the colours they show in that light versus flourescent. There is a large wholesaler/retailer of reptiles in my town that has strictly used those bulbs for about 3 years on everything from uryomastix and beardies, to monitors, sulcata tortoises, collard lizards, as well as their chams.They have a ridicoulous selection of reptiles at this place. So I talked to the owner and he said he hasnt encountered a problem yet.He carries all the major brands in both tubes and compacts zoo-med,Arcadia, Zilla etc. but I guess Hagen gives him a smokin deal on them when he buys in bulk and they are fairly space efficient if you use them correctly. He has rows of vinyl eavestrough placed upside down and mounts fixtures inside them so they then run the lengths of the cages. It seems to work well and he has a ton of those bulbs crammed in them. So Hope this helps, it would be really nice to know if the Exo-terra bulbs actually pose a risk or not ? Around here they are way cheaper than the tubes.

 

[Dunnigan]

Joey, By any chance is the name of the place you speak of Tar Pit Reptiles? The owner of that place has a selection like you described and always uses the mercury vapour bulbs...

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

Just be careful with the MV bulbs, they tend to put out quite a bit of heat.

Anyone ever have any problems with compacts?

-chris

 

[ciafardo 4]

chris i also hear these studies but name brands are never mentioned i use a compact on a meller but its on a 260 gal reptarium changed it twice no problems ever he sits under it for a better part of the day i also used them on veiled hatchlings again never a problem so other than the meller light i dont use them but do the name brand compacts cause problems i know everyone on this forum hears compact and its like blood in the water for sharks they swarm to tell you how bad they are but do we really know have studies been done on name brands or has anyone had problems hmmmm maybe its kinda like baking sticks for your chams i have never baked a stick in my life and i have had no problems bake cakes not sticks

 

[JoeyTwilight]

Sorry I just reread my post and it is misleading, The petshop is using the Exo-Terra(Hagen) brand compact flourescents on all his cages not the mercury vapour. Its a place called RiverFront Aquariums here in Calgary, Canada.