Howdy,
The definitive reptile UVB website is:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
The specific issue with the Compact Reptisun 5.0 and 10.0 fluorescents is:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm
To summarize:
If you have a choice, many keepers prefer the ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 linear tube as it has a proven track record and good independent research to back it up.
The ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 produces more UVB which may or may not be needed for your chameleon application. It produces less visible light which is why it tends to look dim. It may also be the case that the visible light that it does produce is "less appealing" to chameleons but there isn't a lot of data to back that up.
The trouble began when ZooMed produced compact versions of their popular linear tubes. The linear tubes are produced in Germany with a very effective phosphor for producing UVB in the 290nm-320nm range (good) and negligible amounts below (bad) 290nm. The compact versions are currently produced in China and although they may be producing effective amounts of UVB in the 290nm-320nm range, they appear to be producing additional energy "out of band" below 290nm (if I remember the story correctly
.) This out of band energy is more biologically active (damaging) yet it isn't all the way into the UVC (think cancer.) The compact Reptisun 10.0 is linked to eye problems like photo-kerato-conjunctivitis (snow-blindness). The compact 5.0 isn't as bad but it still has been linked to problems. The problem that I have with compacts in general is that when they produce UVB, due to the "compact" nature of the tube design, they produce very high levels as you get closer to the tube when compared to the linear tube. This leads to excessive UVB levels if your chameleon is able to get too close; especially true for screen climbers.
The really bad actors out there are the R-Zilla Series 50 and Series 25 linear tubes. It doesn't take long to kill a chameleon with one of these UVB lights. They were supposedly pulled from the market after I sent one to Mrs. Frances M. Baines, M.A., Vet.M.B., M.R.C.V.S. (who is part of the UK UVB website) who did the full spectral analysis of a Series 50 and found that it was truly a killer light
. I sent it in for analysis because of the mounting evidence that they were basically sunburning them to death. The manufacturer was unaware of the actual spectral output since their equipment wasn’t capable of that level of analysis.
The bottom line is that by using the Reptisun 5.0 linear tube, keepers can eliminate a potential source of health problems. Other tubes might be adequate and possibly even better but the variables involved in selecting a UVB source for chameleons from this array of products can be quite confusing and fatal mistakes can be made.
Both
www.bigappleherp.com and
www.lllreptile.com usually have all of the sizes of the Reptisun 5.0 tubes ON SPECIAL SALE for $13.99 which can't be beat
.
