UVB Tube and How to do so?

[ISA my Veiled]

Hey guys, I take my chameleon outside nearly everyday for an hour-hour and a half at a time and just chill with her. But As my schedule keeps getting a little more busy, I am concerned about UVB, my girlfriend had to take my UVB light for another one of our reptiles when I moved into my parents house (we are still together ) and I have some spare money right now to possibly go out and buy a tube, but the holders are so effing expensive at Petsmart!! omg they are like $40 dollars which we all know is a rip off. I did hear on the forum that some people use the 10 dollar tube holders from like lets say Lowes or a similar store. Can anyone confirm hat for me and where to look in the store lol
Thanks guys!

 

[Olimpia]

Yes, use the first linear fluorescent fixture you find at Home Depot/Lowe's and they will work. They only have a few that are plug-in ready (others you have to build together yourself) but they should have 18", 24", and a 48" fixture in stock. I think I have gotten all 3 sizes before, with the 48" one being the most expensive at about $25.

I haven't gotten a fixture from a pet store in 4-5 years, there's just no point. The ones available at these home improvement stores work just as well. For incandescent bulbs for heat spots, just watch the wattage on the fixture because you don't want to pick the wrong fixture!

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Yes, use the first linear fluorescent fixture you find at Home Depot/Lowe's and they will work. They only have a few that are plug-in ready (others you have to build together yourself) but they should have 18", 24", and a 48" fixture in stock. I think I have gotten all 3 sizes before, with the 48" one being the most expensive at about $25.

I haven't gotten a fixture from a pet store in 4-5 years, there's just no point. The ones available at these home improvement stores work just as well. For incandescent bulbs for heat spots, just watch the wattage on the fixture because you don't want to pick the wrong fixture!

going off of what you said, I do only get all my lamps now from Wal-mart, 6 bucks for a good lamp and if it breaks its another $6.00 so no big deal. But anyway I have a repti-breeze 2ftx2ftx4ft, should i get the 24 inch fixture or...? and how do I get that to stay in there... I heard they if you put it on top of the screen it takes away from the amount of uvb that gets through and I don't want to much to go to waste for the cost.

 

[Nate135]

going off of what you said, I do only get all my lamps now from Wal-mart, 6 bucks for a good lamp and if it breaks its another $6.00 so no big deal. But anyway I have a repti-breeze 2ftx2ftx4ft, should i get the 24 inch fixture or...? and how do I get that to stay in there... I heard they if you put it on top of the screen it takes away from the amount of uvb that gets through and I don't want to much to go to waste for the cost.

Yes, a 2 foot fixture is good for a 2 foot cage cuz u want the uvb's to have full coverage across the cage. A lot of people just put the light on top of the cage

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Yes, a 2 foot fixture is good for a 2 foot cage cuz u want the uvb's to have full coverage across the cage. A lot of people just put the light on top of the cage

so can I set it up inside the top of the cage?

 

[Nate135]

so can I set it up inside the top of the cage?

I've never done it that way so i'm not sure. I will say that if u do it that way then make sure u monitor ur cham. If the light is too close it might be too much for him/her. Also if u do it that way, use a 5.0 light rather than an 8.0 or 10.0 becasue the 5.0 isnt as intense. I'm not saying its a good idea tho cuz i've never done it. Maybe someone thats done it that way will answer ur question better

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Well I know that my beardie is getting one and you set those up inside the cage for them. I just want to make sure it would be alright and maybe someone could show me the way theirs is set up

 

[Olimpia]

I wouldn't, just because I'd be afraid of the chameleon climbing the fixture, getting a nail to come into contact with something and ZAP! Or getting it wet and having it fizz out. You'll get very different opinions on this, but putting the 5.0 on top of the cage will still be fine as far as UVB. I, however, through some research have just decided to buy the 10.0 bulbs and lay them on the screen. I see no issue with using the higher UVB output bulbs, and this way I make sure that the amount getting through the screen is a good amount.

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Yeah I was pretty set with getting a Repti-Glo 10.0 until i can get a better tube. But I think after what you said obviously I don't want her climbing on it lol would not be good to have a fried chameleon so I think I will put it on top.

 

[Nate135]

I wouldn't, just because I'd be afraid of the chameleon climbing the fixture, getting a nail to come into contact with something and ZAP! Or getting it wet and having it fizz out. You'll get very different opinions on this, but putting the 5.0 on top of the cage will still be fine as far as UVB. I, however, through some research have just decided to buy the 10.0 bulbs and lay them on the screen. I see no issue with using the higher UVB output bulbs, and this way I make sure that the amount getting through the screen is a good amount.

Olimpia is correct, there r many mixed opinions on 5.0, 8.0, or 10.0 UVB lights. 5.0 is most commonly recommended. Some people say that 10.0 is too powerful and others actually use 10.0. I personally went in the middle and use 8.0. U'll figure out wut is best for ur cham by trying out a light and seeing how ur chameleons reactions

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Olimpia is correct, there r many mixed opinions on 5.0, 8.0, or 10.0 UVB lights. 5.0 is most commonly recommended. Some people say that 10.0 is too powerful and others actually use 10.0. I personally went in the middle and use 8.0. U'll figure out wut is best for ur cham by trying out a light and seeing how ur chameleons reactions

Yeah its all trial and error so we will see. I may possibly order off of amazon but i am worried about it breaking on the trip...

 

[ISA my Veiled]

OH yeah, does wattage really matter? I see they have a 15 or a 20 watt tube

 

[Nate135]

OH yeah, does wattage really matter? I see they have a 15 or a 20 watt tube

The fixture will have a specified wattage on it and u want to buy a bulb with the same wattage. As for buying lights online, I bought one from ebay and it was shipped really well

 

[ISA my Veiled]

So like a regular lamp, would getting a lower wattage affect the tube or the fixture?