Exo Terra 5.0 bulbs

[SYeretzian]

Anyone ever use these for their chameleons? I should I just stick with the tried and trusted ZooMed 5.0?

The tubes not the compact...

 

[ChromaChameleons]

I use Zoomed's 5.0 .. the exoterra 5.0 would be my second choice. I have measured my Zoomeds and can confidently say that replacement can be done at 9 months. I would probably replace the exoterras at 6 months though.

 

[Lizardlover]

Yeah, i use exo terra, i didnt know if i should switch to zoo med, i guess i will now

 

[summoner12]

From my understanding an exo terra's output longevity is nothing compared to the ZooMed.

UV Guide

Edit: I am going to make a thread about this.. but check out this link to learn about cages and UV tubes....

 

[summoner12]

OK so I did some reading on the site and they show a comparison between several lamps. If you click this link and go to 'graph 2', look at the green (ExoTerra) and red (ZooMed) lines.

Both lamps have 105 hours of use. The ExoTerra is putting out just under 80 uW/cm2 where the ZooMed is outputting just under 120 uW/cm2 at a 2" distance from the lamp.

You and I care more about the 6-10" range.

At 6" the ZooMed outputs 44 uW/cm2. The ExoTerra is outputting 29 uW/cm2

At 8" the ZooMed outputs 32 uW/cm2. The ExoTerra is outputting 21 uW/cm2

At 10" the ZooMed outputs 24 uW/cm2. The ExoTerra is outputting 16 uW/cm2

At 10" with no screen or mesh the ExoTerra is outputting an acceptable amount of UV... But with mesh you would be below a tolerable level for your cham. (if he were to bask at 10" all day) Even the ZooMed at 10" would be a loooow reading for basking, but still higher than the ExoTerra

 

[Lizardlover]

good to know, thanks

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Sahe,

Knowing the starting uW/cm2 UVB level and monitoring that level every month or so is a handy way to keep track of a tube's output level performance as it ages over time if you happen to have (like me ) a Solarmeter 6.2 UVB meter. It is also a handy way to measure the specific level at your chameleon's basking spot. The UK charts and graphs make it easy for those who don't own a meter to get a good idea of those same measurement values for their UVB tube without the expense of a meter. There is another parameter that isn't talked about much and that is the ratio of the UVB1 to the UVB2 portions of the UVB spectrum. It takes a fancy spectrometer ($1000's) to get those numbers. Instead of that expense, we've relied on the research of others to shed some light o) on those measurements. Here's an old posting with the links to the table(s): https://www.chameleonforums.com/repti-sun-5-0-a-13239/#post130891

Once again, the safe bet is the ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 linear tube.

 

[tryme]

I'm using a 10.0 reptiglo through aluminium screen. They work fine but don't last as long as the reptisuns.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I typically have used reptiGlo 5.0 bulbs - There is only a wide spaced coated wire (no mesh/screen) between the bulb and my chameleons. I replace every six months. I sometimes take the used for six month tube out to my green house for continued use over a workbench. I definately notice a big drop in visible light output pretty quickly after that original 6 month mark. Whereas the ReptiSuns seem to last longer. I have trouble sourcing ReptiSun bulbs where I live, but when I can I will choose these over ReptiGlo as the evidence does seem to suggest ReptiSun 5.0 is the best and reptiGlo is second best.

 

[SYeretzian]

Thanks for all the replies looks like Zoomed wins