WARNING! T5HO fixtures, NOT ALL come with a UVB bulb

[Beman]

I keep seeing this happen within the forum. Someone buys a T5HO fixture thinking the bulb that comes with it is a UVB bulb. This IS NOT always the case.

Now if you are buying a reptisun fixture they DO come with a 5.0 uvb bulb or 10.0 bulb (you want the 5.0 bulb strength). If you are buying an Arcadia ProT5 these come with the UVB bulb (choose the 6% bulb and DO NOT buy the shadedweller version). On the package it will say exactly what bulb strength which is also important information. So I am not speaking to these fixtures with the coordinating uvb bulb they come with.

I am speaking about buying a brand that is not one of the two mentioned above. Such as vivarium electronics, SunBlaster, and VivoSun just to name a few. I have seen many different types on the market especially on Amazon. There are clues that they are selling a fixture WITHOUT a UVB bulb. Not only will they not specify that it comes with a UVB bulb. They may use words like grow light, 6400k, 6500k, and cool white. Please note these details specifically refer to bulbs that are good for plant growth that have NO UVB light wavelengths.

So what is happening is the chameleon is not getting any UVB at all. You will see health decline. Immune system can become compromised and the first signs are illness issues such as a respiratory infection, lack of appetite, and closing eyes during the day. These are some of the typical first signs. The longer they go without UVB lighting they then suffer from MBD. As they are not getting the lighting they need and their bodies start compromising the integrity of the bones trying to compensate for the lack of UVB lighting.


Please note not all T5HO UVB bulbs are created the same. I only trust the Reptisun and Arcadia brand of bulbs. These are proven to work the way we need them too. Also note off brand fixtures can have crummy reflectors on them making it so you get reduced UVI levels even using the correct UVB bulb. So if you see an off brand T5HO fixture or T5HO fixture with offbrand UVB bulb and it is cheaper please know this is not where you want to save money.

I have used vivarium electronics and vivosun T5HO fixtures with both Arcadia and Reptisun bulbs. These texted with a solarmeter 6.5 are proven to work as expected. But if you buy this fixture you have to additionally buy the UVB bulb. Because the bulb that comes with it is a plant grow light only.

A few additional details. For single bulb T5HO fixtures you want to buy your bulbs in the 2 inch length shorter than your fixture. So 24 inch fixture means a 22 inch bulb. Reptisun bulbs typically should be replaced every 6 mo while arcadia bulbs can be replaced every 12 months.

If you have any questions about UVB lighting please feel free to ask.

 

[janjan20]

Great info!! Thank you for this detailed explanation !

 

[Beman]

Great info!! Thank you for this detailed explanation !

Thanks I keep seeing this issue come up and it is such an unfortunate error that causes so much damage. It is hard being new and not understanding all the in's and out's.

 

[nightanole]

Id also like to point out there are lot of bulbs(even from zoomed and arcadia) that look like UVB but are not. The below is just a 6500k bulb, no uvb.

 

[Beman]

Id also like to point out there are lot of bulbs(even from zoomed and arcadia) that look like UVB but are not. The below is just a 6500k bulb, no uvb.

View attachment 362077

Yes, very important information! Thank you!

 

[nightanole]

Yes, very important information! Thank you!

Some even list "High UV -A" or LOLZ 2% because they legally have to say it puts out something. And they look really close to their metal halide UVB bulbs.

 

[Dexter.]

I keep seeing this happen within the forum. Someone buys a T5HO fixture thinking the bulb that comes with it is a UVB bulb. This IS NOT always the case.

Now if you are buying a reptisun fixture they DO come with a 5.0 uvb bulb or 10.0 bulb (you want the 5.0 bulb strength). If you are buying an Arcadia ProT5 these come with the UVB bulb (choose the 6% bulb and DO NOT buy the shadedweller version). On the package it will say exactly what bulb strength which is also important information. So I am not speaking to these fixtures with the coordinating uvb bulb they come with.

I am speaking about buying a brand that is not one of the two mentioned above. Such as vivarium electronics, SunBlaster, and VivoSun just to name a few. I have seen many different types on the market especially on Amazon. There are clues that they are selling a fixture WITHOUT a UVB bulb. Not only will they not specify that it comes with a UVB bulb. They may use words like grow light, 6400k, 6500k, and cool white. Please note these details specifically refer to bulbs that are good for plant growth that have NO UVB light wavelengths.

So what is happening is the chameleon is not getting any UVB at all. You will see health decline. Immune system can become compromised and the first signs are illness issues such as a respiratory infection, lack of appetite, and closing eyes during the day. These are some of the typical first signs. The longer they go without UVB lighting they then suffer from MBD. As they are not getting the lighting they need and their bodies start compromising the integrity of the bones trying to compensate for the lack of UVB lighting.


Please note not all T5HO UVB bulbs are created the same. I only trust the Reptisun and Arcadia brand of bulbs. These are proven to work the way we need them too. Also note off brand fixtures can have crummy reflectors on them making it so you get reduced UVI levels even using the correct UVB bulb. So if you see an off brand T5HO fixture or T5HO fixture with offbrand UVB bulb and it is cheaper please know this is not where you want to save money.

I have used vivarium electronics and vivosun T5HO fixtures with both Arcadia and Reptisun bulbs. These texted with a solarmeter 6.5 are proven to work as expected. But if you buy this fixture you have to additionally buy the UVB bulb. Because the bulb that comes with it is a plant grow light only.

A few additional details. For single bulb T5HO fixtures you want to buy your bulbs in the 2 inch length shorter than your fixture. So 24 inch fixture means a 22 inch bulb. Reptisun bulbs typically should be replaced every 6 mo while arcadia bulbs can be replaced every 12 months.

If you have any questions about UVB lighting please feel free to ask.

 

[Dexter.]

Quick question on the Reptisun. My fixture has the uvb bulb (with it's own switch) and then the other light bulb (LEDs I think?) that consists of the switch going on/off/on. The two "on" motions are one with the white bulbs and one with both red and white. Which should I be using? Is the red light bad for my veiled cham? The whole thing (all lights) are off 12 hours a day, but I'm referring to the daytime when they are all on. Thanks for your help!

 

[ehdee6]

@Dexter. The red (also blue) light is harmful to their eyes, so you'll want to use the white one only.

 

[Dexter.]

@Dexter. The red (also blue) light is harmful to their eyes, so you'll want to use the white one only.

Ugh! Why do they sell that light for chameleons then? Poor Dexter. I’ll make sure it’s off from now on.

 

[ehdee6]

Ugh! Why do they sell that light for chameleons then? Poor Dexter. I’ll make sure it’s off from now on.

Uniformed people just wanting to make money, unfortunately.

There's a good article explaining why it's bad, and how light spectrums that are unnatural affect the cham here:

https://www.chameleons.info/l/the-f...lor-change-understanding-and-lighting-choice/

 

[nightanole]

Quick question on the Reptisun. My fixture has the uvb bulb (with it's own switch) and then the other light bulb (LEDs I think?) that consists of the switch going on/off/on. The two "on" motions are one with the white bulbs and one with both red and white. Which should I be using? Is the red light bad for my veiled cham? The whole thing (all lights) are off 12 hours a day, but I'm referring to the daytime when they are all on. Thanks for your help!

https://zoomed.com/reptisun-led-uvb-combo-terrarium-hood/


If you are talking about these, they are not harming your cham. No light short of non terrestrial UVC from 20+ year old cfls are going to harm your cham. The extra red leds mimic dawn and dusk. 6500k is the magical color temp that only happens during noon sun in summer. In winter its bluer (7000k+). In the morning and at dusk its warmer (4000k-5000k).

If anything is messing with a chams light perception, its turning it on in the morning at 6500k, for 12 hours, every day, 365 days a year.

Plus if you want to go into a deeper dive, T5HO's and LEDs etc, cant even make white light. They have 3 phosphors that are red green blue (and one for UVB) that your brain interpets as white light, just like on your tv set. White LEDS are the same way. They are really blue or UVA or Blue leds with a yellow phosphor that combines to make white.

 

[ehdee6]

I didn't even know this reptisun product existed. I was picturing the dome light...

While on the topic of lights... I was just wondering if anyone knows if there has been any studies on how the 6500k plant lights might damage cham eyes too? I mean, I look at them for too long and feel blinded sometimes... I've even considered getting a dimmer for the jungle dawn. Is there a point where there's just too much light?

 

[nightanole]

I didn't even know this reptisun product existed. I was picturing the dome light...

While on the topic of lights... I was just wondering if anyone knows if there has been any studies on how the 6500k plant lights might damage cham eyes too? I mean, I look at them for too long and feel blinded sometimes... I've even considered getting a dimmer for the jungle dawn. Is there a point where there's just too much light?

Lets do a thought experiment. I cant keep anything other than a potho alive with "just a UVB T5HO". A potho is a low light indoor plant, it doesnt even need direct window light. If you leave it outside in direct sun, even northern sun, it dies.

I have Several plants that i can barely keep alive with an additional 6500k T5HO and a bonus halogen basking bulb. And yes like many folks, the plants actually creep towards the light, not away from it.

So by going by that logic, we are faaaaaaaar from hitting even medium light output. We can barely keep outdoor shade plants alive in our cages with 12 hour direct light.

That being said, we are human. Im pretty sure we are not happy starring at the the sun at noon every day. Also these are 6500k bulbs, humans dont like them. Go ahead and load up your house with 6500k daylight bulbs, even in the bathrooms and dark hallways. Its gonna hurt your eyes. Humans want 2500k-3500k light indoors. If its pinpoint light, us shaved apes want campfire light, not the new 6500k car headlights.

 

[Dexter.]

https://zoomed.com/reptisun-led-uvb-combo-terrarium-hood/


If you are talking about these, they are not harming your cham. No light short of non terrestrial UVC from 20+ year old cfls are going to harm your cham. The extra red leds mimic dawn and dusk. 6500k is the magical color temp that only happens during noon sun in summer. In winter its bluer (7000k+). In the morning and at dusk its warmer (4000k-5000k).

If anything is messing with a chams light perception, its turning it on in the morning at 6500k, for 12 hours, every day, 365 days a year.

Plus if you want to go into a deeper dive, T5HO's and LEDs etc, cant even make white light. They have 3 phosphors that are red green blue (and one for UVB) that your brain interpets as white light, just like on your tv set. White LEDS are the same way. They are really blue or UVA or Blue leds with a yellow phosphor that combines to make white.

Ok, so that red light is NOT harmful? That's good to know then. Which "on" should I use? The red/white or just the white? Does it matter? Should I alternate which I use?

Also, I am a high school science teacher, so all of this plays into our curriculum, which is awesome. We haven't reached our Light Unit yet, but it is super fun to bring Dexter into the conversation when we discuss light.

 

[nightanole]

Ok, so that red light is NOT harmful? That's good to know then. Which "on" should I use? The red/white or just the white? Does it matter? Should I alternate which I use?

Also, I am a high school science teacher, so all of this plays into our curriculum, which is awesome. We haven't reached our Light Unit yet, but it is super fun to bring Dexter into the conversation when we discuss light.

As the video goes, its up to you. With both colors off, its 6500k pure white light. With all the colors on, its a bit warmer 5000k.

Technically with both colors on the plants will grow the quickest. But we are splitting hairs.

Personally if i had to stare at the cage all day, like it was in my home office, i would have the red lights on and the blue lights off. This would created a warmer lights for humans for indoor use.

Now depending on the age of your victims, you may be able to roll the colored leds into a plant growth lesson. In high tech hydroponics, the leds are red and blue, and the leaves appear almost black. This is because plants reflect green because it is not a useful color for them. They absorb usefull colors. Red and IR for warmth, and blue/UV for photosynthesis.

 

[Dexter.]

As the video goes, its up to you. With both colors off, its 6500k pure white light. With all the colors on, its a bit warmer 5000k.

Technically with both colors on the plants will grow the quickest. But we are splitting hairs.

Personally if i had to stare at the cage all day, like it was in my home office, i would have the red lights on and the blue lights off. This would created a warmer lights for humans for indoor use.

Now depending on the age of your victims, you may be able to roll the colored leds into a plant growth lesson. In high tech hydroponics, the leds are red and blue, and the leaves appear almost black. This is because plants reflect green because it is not a useful color for them. They absorb usefull colors. Red and IR for warmth, and blue/UV for photosynthesis.

There is no blue. It’s white lights or white and red. Those are my two options.

And yes, we do plant growth lessons in biology class. I teach high school. Physical science, biology and earth & environmental science. Dexter is talked about a lot!

 

[nightanole]

There is no blue. It’s white lights or white and red. Those are my two options.

And yes, we do plant growth lessons in biology class. I teach high school. Physical science, biology and earth & environmental science. Dexter is talked about a lot!

Sorry. Round here we have to spray the neighborhood for 8 year olds every year, they seem to come out of the wood work. This year we found out one has a beardy and one has a leopard gecko.