dustin11d11
New Member
What do you guys think of those? I am looking at buying one soon just want to know if there safe and if you had any brand ideas.
uvb and heat in one bulb
- Thread starter dustin11d11
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nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
You can use a merc vapor lamp for uv and heat (sunglo or whatever) but you still need to provide a basking lamp with no uv. The cham needs to regulate both heat and uv exposure. You shouldnt make the little guy have to decide between hot and uv, or cold and nothing.
Lpsouth1978
Avid Member
I agree, they do not get to chose between heat w/UVB or heat w/o UVB in the wild, and clearly they thrive in those conditions. I use a MVB (mercury vapor bulb) with my 1.5 year male veiled, and he is none the worse for it.
The cham can still regulate this by hiding under leaves or moving somewhere more shaded in the enclosure. This would mimic the wild better than a second heat lamp would. There is only one heat source in nature (that I am aware of) and it produces both heat and UVB at all times. Why would they need something else in captivity?
Also, the MVB will produce a fairly focused beam of UVB, while the heat will dissipate more and heat up a larger area than the UVB covers.
Chameleopatrick
New Member
mmmmmm no.
You don't need to provide another basking area without UVB. That's just a made up theory that's inaccurate.
This may help you if you read this.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/definitive-lighting-thread-everything-you-really-need-know-80869/
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
WAT?
http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/lighting-guide/
http://www.chameleonnews.com/10JulWeldon.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/04AugBeveridge.html
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/guidetolighting.htm
No offence but i would like to see a few articles that state a single artificial source of both light and heat is a good idea for a reptile.
EVERY article ive read in the past 15 years has stated multiple sources of both heat and light and uv are necessary with data to back it up. Even the producers of the MV uv lights recommend additional non uv lightning.
http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/lighting-guide/
http://www.chameleonnews.com/10JulWeldon.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/04AugBeveridge.html
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/guidetolighting.htm
No offence but i would like to see a few articles that state a single artificial source of both light and heat is a good idea for a reptile.
EVERY article ive read in the past 15 years has stated multiple sources of both heat and light and uv are necessary with data to back it up. Even the producers of the MV uv lights recommend additional non uv lightning.
ataraxia
Avid Member
nightanole: Most of us that use the forum recommended linear tube with a separate basking bulb have to place them as close as we are able to so the animal benefits from "basking". This is not only to thermo regulate but it is also for uvb absorption. There is no need to have another bulb for basking when using a MVB. You really dont want an animal preferring another source that has no uvb.
Op: Veileds do well under them.
Op: Veileds do well under them.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Im just stating what the Doctors and manufactures recommend, and what i observed in the 5 years i ran them. My vieleds would not act normal unless i included and additional incandescent bulb for just plain heat during the day. They would go back and forth between the 2 during the day since one was 120 watt (MV) and one was 45 watt(light bulb). I dont think my chams liked it that they had to stay at 95F to get enough UVB. it was kind of a bad choice that the lower temp zone was only UVA.
I ended up using the MV for the beardies. They LOVED it. I made a hot spot and had the MV over the hot rock. Then they had the standard linear tube over the log section when they wanted to cool down.
I ended up using the MV for the beardies. They LOVED it. I made a hot spot and had the MV over the hot rock. Then they had the standard linear tube over the log section when they wanted to cool down.
deadhd5
Avid Member
Just my anecdotal observation. I am sure that a dedicated keeper can succeed using MV, but I am reluctant for the below reasoning.
I always put one end of my linear tube UVB (Arcadia T5HO 6%) next to the basking bulb so the cham can get UVB while it heats itself up. I have a perch that extends the length of the tube so they can also get UVB without heating. They relax under the side of the tube without the heat light more often than not.
My concern with only using a MV light is that the cham would have no option to get UVB without also baking. None of my 3 panthers spend a significant amount of time under their heat lights, usually only once a day in the late morning. Forcing them to heat themselves more than they would otherwise so they can get enough UVB doesn't sound logical. In nature they can absorb UVB from filtered light, even in the shade. Artificial lighting does not provide that option (according to my solarmeter).
I always put one end of my linear tube UVB (Arcadia T5HO 6%) next to the basking bulb so the cham can get UVB while it heats itself up. I have a perch that extends the length of the tube so they can also get UVB without heating. They relax under the side of the tube without the heat light more often than not.
My concern with only using a MV light is that the cham would have no option to get UVB without also baking. None of my 3 panthers spend a significant amount of time under their heat lights, usually only once a day in the late morning. Forcing them to heat themselves more than they would otherwise so they can get enough UVB doesn't sound logical. In nature they can absorb UVB from filtered light, even in the shade. Artificial lighting does not provide that option (according to my solarmeter).
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