I am familiar with the generic 18" recommended distance listed on the website and was referring to the more in depth details on minimums based on situation (basking spot temperature and type of animal) as Bob discusses on the FAQ portion of his website.

I agree with you Torey on the need to abide by minimums and stressed the fact that it would be a good idea to use a reliable uvb meter even when playing around with minimums. The uvb output of Mega Rays is above that of many other bulbs but I think Bob backed off a couple years ago on the uvb levels he was requesting from the company so the level on the average bulb today (those not ordered with specific level) is lower than those four years ago. I remember when the level was typically 300 uW/cm2 at 12”.

Rosebud, I know Bob and have had discussions with him on his Mega Ray including discussions on minimum distance. I was using and promoting Westron uvb bulbs when Bob was still tweaking his Mega Ray with the company.
No one is suggesting that you cannot continue to use whatever minimum distance you want with your animals. I merely pointed out that your factually stated minimum numbers conflicted with the website of the person who owns and sells the product. If you feel that Bob’s website is out of date or inconsistent with his beliefs, you might want to contact him to change several areas of his website regarding minimum distance so that it follows along with his verbal recommendations and your claims on this forum.

I have been using westron SB bulbs at 10-11 inches for years and have not witnessed any issues with any of my animals. Then again, I typically do not use brand new bulbs in these enclosures (have enough enclosures that I rotate) and have a reliable uvb meter to validate levels at specific distances so I am not flying blindly in the dark and I am able to choose a specific level of uvb. While I would not hesitate to use these bulbs at this distance for a uromastyx, bearded dragon, or chuckwalla, I would not use the same setup for too many other reptiles. Again, the situation is somewhat dependent on the animal.

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