Should I switch from 5.0 UVB to a 10.0?

[JackP308]

I use 10.0s and 5.0s side by side brand new on babies and all my animals I see no difference in growth or behavior. 10.0 cost more though.

 

[Kamillion]

I'm pretty sure mine. 13 w.... Too much?

 

[spawn]

You don't want to use 2 10.0's, he will get fried from overexposure. You need to exchange them for 5.0's. Trust me on this, two 10.0 bulbs will cause UVB burns and most likely kill him.

I should have prefaced it with the bulbs are for different enclosures. Only one 10.0 bulb, and it's a reptarium - with that thick plastic mesh. There's definitely not enough uvb getting through that mesh with the 5.0.

 

[Olimpia]

I switched all my UVB bulbs to the 10.0s. After seeing several studies measuring the output of UVB between the 10.0 and the 5.0 through screen, it doesn't make sense to buy the 5.0 any more. The output is measly, and while the 10.0 isn't dramatically stronger at least it's better. So don't worry, your chameleon will not burst into flame by using the 10.0 bulbs, or go blind, or become left handed, or anything else lol. At least not using the linear fluorescent Reptisuns, as they are the only bulbs I've used personally for a while now.

To save money you can always find these bulbs for sale on Ebay or Amazon for half of what they're worth at pet stores. I find my 4' ones for $25 each, as opposed to $40-50.

 

[Nrupaw]

I switched all my UVB bulbs to the 10.0s. After seeing several studies measuring the output of UVB between the 10.0 and the 5.0 through screen, it doesn't make sense to buy the 5.0 any more. The output is measly, and while the 10.0 isn't dramatically stronger at least it's better. So don't worry, your chameleon will not burst into flame by using the 10.0 bulbs, or go blind, or become left handed, or anything else lol. At least not using the linear fluorescent Reptisuns, as they are the only bulbs I've used personally for a while now.

To save money you can always find these bulbs for sale on Ebay or Amazon for half of what they're worth at pet stores. I find my 4' ones for $25 each, as opposed to $40-50.

Thanks for the input. I was planning to switch out the bulb at its 6 month mark. So i think i will work with the 5.0 for the time being. And jan/feb i will switch to a 10.0 and see how things go.

Thanks again to everyone for their help

 

[bradley]

I switched all my UVB bulbs to the 10.0s. After seeing several studies measuring the output of UVB between the 10.0 and the 5.0 through screen, it doesn't make sense to buy the 5.0 any more. The output is measly, and while the 10.0 isn't dramatically stronger at least it's better. So don't worry, your chameleon will not burst into flame by using the 10.0 bulbs, or go blind, or become left handed, or anything else lol. At least not using the linear fluorescent Reptisuns, as they are the only bulbs I've used personally for a while now.

To save money you can always find these bulbs for sale on Ebay or Amazon for half of what they're worth at pet stores. I find my 4' ones for $25 each, as opposed to $40-50.

I 100% agree with you. I have always used at least a 10.0 bulb for my chameleons. The 5.0 dont give out great amounts of uv even when not covered by mesh.

I personally use the 12% d3+ arcadia T5 bulb through screen and its great! The 6% is also great as the T5 bulbs give out upto 100% more uv that the t8 bulbs.

With the arcadia T5 bulbs I would use the 12% for yemens and panthers and the 6% for jacksons and montanes.

I personally wouldnt use a 5.0 anymore. Uvb also has changes dramatically and you no longer should go with this animal needs this etc. It depends entirely on the height of enclosure, the decoration used so the animal can hide and wether the bulb is going to be covered by screen.

Gone are the day of 5.0 for forest animals and 10.0 for desert species.