UVB Coiled Bulb- no for babies??

[ReptileLove18]

I'm gonna be ordering a new baby veiled within the next couple days so im researching (again!) and seem to be finding alot of people here on the forum talking bout UVB bulbs possibly being harmful to baby veileds if you dont get the right one. i currently have a zoo med reptisun 10.0 UVB mini compact flurescent 13w AC120v / 60Hz. it has 2 coils. any thoughts on if i should get a different one before i get my new baby would be sooooo appreciated, i dont want to use one thats gonna harm him!!!!

 

[Dano650]

Coils might hurt their eyes..over time. Tube fluoros are usually a better choice. And can I recommend a 5.0 instead of 10 for the chameleon?

 

[ReptileLove18]

any recommendations are highly appreciated!! i think i will switch to the 5.0 for him as a baby and then when i move him into a larger cage ill get a tube fluoros. thanks for the advice

 

[ChameleonMom]

I have used coil UVB bulbs since I became a Cham mom 6 years ago and have never had a problem with them. I would recommend using the 5.0/26w bulb however, as they are best for desert chams such as veileds! Good luck!

 

[ReptileLove18]

thanks chameleonmom!! im definally gonna get the 5.0 then cant wait to get the new baby in the house!! super excited!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I suggest you do not use brand new bulbs (tube or coil) on babies
Better to use a tube (or coil) that has burned in for a month or two

 

[ReptileLove18]

okay sandra ill start burning it some of the day before we get the new baby so that it is burned out some by the time we get the new baby

 

[camimom]

i use a 5 month old coil bulb on my veiled hatchlings, and they are just fine.

as sandra said, use a month old bulb or os and it will be better.

 

[ReptileLove18]

okay so should i start running the 10.0 bulb thats been used 2 months so far to burn it out some more? or should i get a 5.0 bulb like some have recommended and start running it?

 

[camimom]

get a 5.0

the 10.0 will def be too harsh on baby eyes

 

[ReptileLove18]

okey dokey ill get that today like i planned and start running it down before i get him home! thanks

 

[sandrachameleon]

okay so should i start running the 10.0 bulb thats been used 2 months so far to burn it out some more? or should i get a 5.0 bulb like some have recommended and start running it?

5.0 is better but an old 10.0 raised a little further away from the cage would do.

 

[Dr O]

or stop guessing and buy a 6.2 Solarmeter. they’re being advertised currently for about $175. not only will it pay for itself over time, there is NO MORE GUESSING OR ASSUMING!

i will never understand why people will go crazy over specific ingredients that their bugs are eating and how often or where they buy their wheat germ from, but just completely have zero idea at all about what their lamp is doing. you will learn so much about bulbs, distance, the sun, shade and all to your cham’s enormous benefit. and since most bulbs do not just die at 6 months, monitoring allows you to keep the bulb until it really poops out, thereby saving yourself a lot of money within just a year or two.

 

[sandrachameleon]

or stop guessing and buy a 6.2 Solarmeter. they’re being advertised currently for about $175. not only will it pay for itself over time, there is NO MORE GUESSING OR ASSUMING!

i will never understand why people will go crazy over specific ingredients that their bugs are eating and how often or where they buy their wheat germ from, but just completely have zero idea at all about what their lamp is doing. you will learn so much about bulbs, distance, the sun, shade and all to your cham’s enormous benefit. and since most bulbs do not just die at 6 months, monitoring allows you to keep the bulb until it really poops out, thereby saving yourself a lot of money within just a year or two.

^^^ THIS
couldnt agree more.

 

[ReptileLove18]

ill certainly look into the solarmeter!! ive read about it several times, havent looked at the prices yet! any specific places i should look for it online? it'll take some doing but i could probably manage to get it asap

 

[ReptileLove18]

my question with the solarmeter is how do i know what is optimal for my chameleon? i understand what it does but how do i know where it should be for the cham? im slightly confused! im new to the solarmeter

 

[Dr O]

my question with the solarmeter is how do i know what is optimal for my chameleon? i understand what it does but how do i know where it should be for the cham? im slightly confused! im new to the solarmeter

you will learn quickly. if a new bulb reads 20ish and in 6 months is still 20ish, it doesn’t need to be thrown out. you will get readings like 15-20 12” from a 5.0 compact, 0-5 24” away which helps you figure out how to structure and shade your cage, 350+ in direct sunlight which shows just how minimal these bulbs even work and how beneficial actual sun is, etc. this page has all sorts of links to ways to measure and use it. Powersun UVB’s tend to go up towards 40-70 6-12” from the bulb.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/usinguvmeter.htm

and one of the main sites has an ad just a few days ago for the 6.2 at that price.

 

[ReptileLove18]

i'm getting prepared for bringing home our new baby, and while at petco looking for vines i found a Zilla Calcium Supplement spray. what i used with the last baby was reptivite with d3 and calcium with d3 everyday until i read that too much d3 can be harmfu. so i got this spray to use everyday along with the reptivite and calcium dusts once or twice a month. has anyone else used this calcium spray? my thought was that it would stick better to the food and it doesnt have d3 in it