The amount of UV the Cham is actually getting off a UV bulb is
relative to the distance the light fixture is from the cham.
The amount of UV the cham is ACTUALLY GETTING at any given moment
could be EXACTLY THE SAME from either a 5 or 6% bulb as 10 or 12% bulb....
IF
the stronger UV bulb is FARTHER AWAY and/or going through finer mesh screen.
The size of the cage and how much shading one gets from the screen (mesh size) and plants should be factored in.
In other words-
The farther away from a UV bulb, the weaker the UV striking a surface (or chams back!) becomes.
The closer to a UV bulb, the stronger the rays.
So hypothetically...
A 6% bulb is yielding the same strength UV
striking the chameleon if he is sitting, say... 8" +/- inches under the 6%b bulb....
as a 12% bulb would deliver to him if he was sitting approx. 15-16 inches under that (12%) bulb.
It is all relative to how the lighting is applied.
Now this part is important for Newbies especially:
IF you do not have a Solarmeter,
if your cage is smaller (less than 3 or 4 feet tall and 2 feet square) ,
and it is sparsely planted (has only minimal shade)....
then you should stick with an Arcadia 6% bulb or Repti-sun 5.0 bulb.
That way you will be safe and not "zap" them with too much UV....
since you have NO WAY of knowing exactly how much UV they are getting "lit" with.
By using that bit of common sense, then all is well.
Because more UV is not always best.
YES!-There is such a thing as too much UV, and that is bad.
Now,
Some folks with *well planted* 48H x 24 x 24 set ups have started using the HO t5 12% Arcadia bulbs and are having great success!
But again, in those habitats,
the animal has plants to go into for shade, just as in nature!
And, as they move around in a big cage--
they can also can get farther away from the bulb if they choose to.
Something to consider:
The Chams *average distance* they spend through-out the day in relation to the UV bulb(s) is also a key factor.
It is a key factor in how much Vit. D they actually synthesize from the UV light that is striking them, and the strength of that light.
Cheers!
Todd
PS.
Here are a few random pics of UV testing I have taken lately.
No particular order.
They are just a few out of many.
It illustrates how different types of fixtures and different bulb configurations can create different UV levels.
I hope I can help others get ideas .....
and to inspire folks to see how they can determine how to supply / apply *correct* UV lighting.
If you click on these images to enlarge, I think you can see all the Solarmeter readings...
if not and you want to know one, just let me know.
