Reptisun Compact Flourescent

[Bizzle90]

Hey guys,

Does anyone happen to use/recommend Reptisun Compact fluorescents, or are they the same as the linear fluorescents?

Also, is there a drastic difference between the Reptisun and the Repti-Glo linear bulbs?

Thanks!

 

[jastate09]

The compact is suppose to be safe now but I still don't use them. I use the linear fluorescents. The Reptisun is recommended more often than the Repti-Glo.

 

[bootsiemonroe]

I use a compact Reptisun, but I am new to chams. I do not seem to have any problem with it.

 

[bradley]

I personally wouldnt use a compact. I use all linear and always use the arcadia T5 range.

 

[Lala0]

I personally wouldnt use a compact. I use all linear and always use the arcadia T5 range.

I second this! Arcadia make some great bulbs

 

[ecoreef]

Some people use the CFL's with no problem. I personally like the linears. If you do get the cfl make sure it's near his/her basking spot.

 

[Wykd]

linear flourescent last longer than cfl but loose about 40% of their output over their lifespan. lifespan roughly 20k hours

CFL have shorter lifespan but less output loss over time (15% or so loss). lifespan 12k hours

So at 6 months the cfl will have lost less output than the t5/linear light will at that same 6 month mark.

However little known/published fact: if you use your CFL upside down it will shorten the lifespan of the light. So unless you would run the cfl on its side or base down then you would not want to go cfl because the heat kills the ballast on the bulbs when upside down.

 

[PREACHAP]

i've recently come under the knowledge of people having problems with these compact lights prolonged use causing blindness in chams

 

[Adam Harrelson]

i don't thiy have think they have problems i mean i use one

 

[bando]

In the past I've used a CFL setup for my bearded dragon when I first got him. After a couple of months his health seemed to deteriorate and his eating slowed significantly out of the blue. Growing beardies have insatiable appetites so I new something was wrong. I did some quick homework online and read of the problems that some people experienced with CFL's causing temporary blindness and if left too long, can cause permanent damage. Sure enough he was hungry but could not see his crickets. He'd make a quick lunge and miss. I switched out his lighting, hand fed him for two weeks and he's been fine since with excellent vision. CFL's may have come a long way in the past two years, but not worth the risk in my opinion after the first hand experience. In retrospect, it could have been the hood too (exo-terra). It had metal reflector plates behind the bulb areas which could have exasperated the issue. Anything causing a glare in your eye is going to hurt after a while...

 

[reptilover]

i've recently come under the knowledge of people having problems with these compact lights prolonged use causing blindness in chams

This information is very outdated. All eye related issues with CFL'S have been fixed and have been safe for awhile now.

Also my vote stands forwards Reptisun 5.0

 

[Willnevins]

Reptisun 5.0 saved my bearded dragons life so I will never use anything but that. I was using the wrong bulb (not sure what I had) and she developed MBD. She couldn't lift her body up, she would drag herself around her cage. After switching to reptisun 5.0 I noticed a difference in her strength the first day. She still has lasting damage to her arms, they are twisted and strange looking but she is a lot bigger now, very healthy and strong.