Question about UVB light fixture

[beenpanced]

I was at a garage sale today and they guy must of had a reptile at one time cause he had a 10 gallon tank and a UVB light fixture for sale. He only asked $20 for both so I bought them. The light fixture, thankfully in a box, is a R-Zilla tropical series Low profile Single Bulb Fixture. It is a 25 microwatt UVB @ 12". Is this a safe bulb for my small cham cage. I'm sure the bulb is due to be changed but I'd like to use the fixture if anything.
it says it is a 12 watt full-spectrum T5 fluorescent bulb that produces 25 microwatts per second/cm2@12"
between 280-320 nanometers

 

[summoner12]

Replace the lamp in the fixture with a ZooMed 5.0 in the appropriate length for the fixture and remove the R-Zilla lamp. There have been a lot of issues with that lamp killing chameleons due to its output of UVC (used in water purification to KILL organisms).

UV Guide article:

"The new R-Zilla Desert 50 Series are described as "ideal for these desert-dwelling reptiles: African fat-tailed gecko, leopard geckos, Schneider's skinks, bearded dragons, nile monitors, tegus, blue-tongue skinks, red- footed tortoises, uromastyx, emerald swifts and savannah monitors".
Fig. 4. R-Zilla Desert Series 50 T8 tubeFig. 5. R-Zilla Desert Series 50 T5 fixture and tubeNo minimum basking distance is specified regarding the T8-size linear tube. We recorded total UVB levels from a 15 watt tube that had been burned-in for 150 hours as 69 µW/cm² at 10 inches.
Included with the T5-size "Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture" (a tube inside a ballasted fixture complete with a UVB-transmitting acrylic cover sleeve) is a detailed instruction sheet stating that the lamp unit is "for use over covered terrariums only" - presumably the cover would be a screen. The recommended tank sizes are all of maximum height 12 inches, so this is presumably the suggested maximum distance from the reptile; a minimum distance is not specified. We recorded total UVB levels from a brand new T5-size "Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture" with its acrylic sleeve in place, as 137 µW/cm² at 10 inches." - UVGuide.co.uk

 

[beenpanced]

Does zoo med have bulbs for this hood? it is a very thin bulb compared to the one i have for my big guy (reptisun 5.0 fluorescent).

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

Although the R-Zilla 25 and 50 series don't quite make it down to UVC, they do go below the safe-end of UVB heading towards UVC. This portion of the spectrum is more "biologically active". Translate that to mean deadly as far as chameleons are concerned. As Summoner12 mentioned, the UK site has info on the R-Zilla 50 series (from the one that I shipped to the UK for analysis ) that shows its deadliness (http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm). I took photos of one of the panthers killed by the R-Zilla light (blistered to death from "sunburn"). The 25 series, with half the deadly output power, might be better and take twice as long to kill a chameleon . Did you ask the seller what happened to his reptile? Bearded Dragons etc. all suffered from exposure to this light. That's why they are re-formulating the phosphor. At least you've taken a "killer" off the streets .

Sorry, the fixture is a T-5 and a Reptisun won't fit .

 

[beenpanced]

I didn't really ask why he had it for sale, I just jumped on it. Oh well. At least I got a 10 gallon tank for my Leopard Geckos, I just thought I might get a good light out of the deal too. Thanks for the great info!

 

[summoner12]

I guess I had my info wrong, sorry!

Dave, the smaller reptisuns are T-8?

 

[beenpanced]

I guess I had my info wrong, sorry!

No harm no foul. You still gave me great info.

 

[Dsignrguy]

yes, the smaller reptisun bulbs are T8's