The Exo Terra Compact UVB charts

[TCMontium]

Hi,

Do the UVB charts in the Exo Terra products have information that can let us determine roughly where the area of UVI 2.9-7.4 range on their products would be?
They don't seem to have any mention of UVI or the Ferguson Zone on their compact flourescent products. Just these charts below.

Chameleon Academy seems to have tested the 26W UVB 200 product, the bottom right chart. So maybe I can just use that as a reference and assume around 90 μW/cm^2 of UVB measurement on Exo Terra products is the range we want, to be in the 2.9-7.4 UVI range? Or does that number not correlate to the UVI values?
https://chameleonacademy.com/uvb/

(There is no UVB measuring device commercially available in my country and personal items with a value over 27 dollars (including shipping) from overseas requires legal paperwork and a LOT of taxes, with no guarantee to even recieve the product after all of it. So, I cannot purchase a UVB measuring device.)

 

[nightanole]

UVB to UVI is not a direct conversion. However rule of thumb is 35-40 to 1. So a UVB 40 μW/cm^2 would be a UVI 1.

That being said, CFL (curly guys) is a no no for chameleons. The cages are way too tall for CFL's to work. It needs to be a linear bulb with a reflector, and be T5, T5HO, or T8.

 

[TCMontium]

UVB to UVI is not a direct conversion. However rule of thumb is 35-40 to 1. So a UVB 40 μW/cm^2 would be a UVI 1.

That being said, CFL (curly guys) is a no no for chameleons. The cages are way too tall for CFL's to work. It needs to be a linear bulb with a reflector, and be T5, T5HO, or T8.

Yeah I know CFL is the worst option but chameleons do bask for hours under it everyday and Chameleon Academy shows results that are relatively close to T5 lamps when it comes to Exo Terra CFL bulbs, so it should suffice with D3 addition from suppliments. At least it did so far for people reproducing reptiles including chameleons with exo terra CFL lights.

There is no T8 or T5 alternatives, not even other CFL or Metal Halide etc options in my country. So I have to make do and thankfully, it seems to be safe enough even tho not without risks

.

 

[TCMontium]

UVB to UVI is not a direct conversion. However rule of thumb is 35-40 to 1. So a UVB 40 μW/cm^2 would be a UVI 1.

That being said, CFL (curly guys) is a no no for chameleons. The cages are way too tall for CFL's to work. It needs to be a linear bulb with a reflector, and be T5, T5HO, or T8.

Also, is there a rule of thumb for what would be a UVI 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7? since those are recommended for chameleon basking spot values afaik.
Or does UVI just increase by approx 40 μW/cm^2 every stage? Meaning UVI 3 is approx 120 μW/cm^2 of UVB? and 7 is approx 280 μW/cm^2 of UVB?

 

[nightanole]

Yes its 40 per uvi unit. So uvi 3 would be around 120 UVB.

But to be honest i think you are going way overboard with your levels. 3.0 is the new standard for max at the hang out/basking area. thats what we want to the top of the head to get on a brand new bulb. Not 4 just to be safe etc. 3 is not the min, its the goal.

As for supplements etc. Yes im an old hat from the 90's. I have raised plenty of happy healthy (based on the vet and x-rays) off of very low output (T12 vita-lite) that put out basically nothing past 12" away from the bulb (way below .5 UVI). And i raised them on just sticky-tongue-farms minerall indoor that has very low dose D3 for daily(or every feeder) use.

There plenty of breeders out there that 100% just do D3 and no UVB bulbs because they have it down to a fine science. Some even grind their own D3 and calcium mix.

And at the other end of the spectrum we have the metal halide and T5HO folks that have their setups dialed in and have zero D3 supplements.

But double check your charts. Lets say you get the 26 watt desert CFL. Just like my old 90's setup, its borderline useless past a foot away from the bulb. The drop off is massive, by 16" its got a UVB of 10. What are you going to do with a quarter of a UVI? Thats why i said the CFLs are not meant for chams. They are meant for "tank lizards" that are in 18" tall aquariums, not 3-4ft tall chameleon cages.


But all is not lost. Chams only need a a few hours of direct sunlight per week. 3 30min sessions per week is plenty. These guys are shade dwellers. And like i said you can always basically 100% suppliment with D3 and not even worry about the UVB.


No one in their right mind is going to OK a CFL setup in this day and age, full stop.

 

[TCMontium]

Yes as I said it isn't ideal but not every country has the products US and Europe do so, sadly I cannot provide the modern ideal equipment and have to rely on older methods.

Thanks for your input!