Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What everyone using.

Which do you like best and why?

Where's the cheapest place to get them?

I can't decide between the zoomed 10.0,5.0. or just going back to vita-lights.

I've been out of herps for a while just getting back in.

You had me nervous at first. Sorry, but I just don't understand with the amount of knowledge out there on care and maintenance, why people have such a hard time researching before the make a purchase of an animal. Don't mean to be rude or direct this towards you, just that at first I wasn't sure where you were coming from. I just see a lot of animals suffering and even pass because of careless and uninformed owners.

Anywho, I personally use Repti Sun 10.0 but many hobbyists and professional breeders use Repti sun 5.0 successfully. LLLreptiles is the establishment I purchase off of. There does not seem to be any price difference between lengths of tubes. I find that convenient due to the fact that I use 4 foot fixtures. Local shops do charge a ridiculous overhead. 18" Repti Sun 5.0 - $32 ! Crazy.

Thoughts and wishes to Steve's Family. His memory will live on

My wife had some health problems associated with child birth. I've been out of the herp loop for a few years. I used vita- lights b4 and just wanted to know what everyone else was using. If a better product has come along. I've kept herps since 1981. I still have my first fat tails from 1981.

When you look online and compair all you can find is how each company claims there product to be the greatest.

I just wanted to know of keepers real life experences and what works for them.

I understand. Like I said, not trying to sound rude or direct towards you at all. Don't know how much cash you want to rap up into lighting systems but there are also mercury vapor bulbs with hood systems available as well. I found it more efficient and easier to maintain the separate fluorescent fixtures and have portable clamp basking lights. More fixtures equal more wires and clutter but one good day of setting up everything should take care of that problem for a while. Let me know how you made out. Exactly what are you looking to house/how many?

in my post. it breaks everything down for you - think you'll find it helpful.

Personally I use the reptisun 5.0 and a 10.0 in my dragon tank because it is deeper. I used a ZooMed powersun MV bulb on my (now deceased) veiled. They are strong and need to be at least 18" from cham. The 100w blew on my 3x and the 160w eventually did, too.

Beautiful Dragons website also has a UVB project listing outputs, distance, reliability, etc.

hope this helps
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
1.1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan and Stan Jr.!
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

I use Repti Sun 5.0 and a regular 40 watt bulb for basking. You can get killer deals on the UVB lights sometimes at big apple herps. Locally they want like 25.00 bucks per light, but I've gotten mine for like 15.00 plus shipping. I usually order like 6 at a time.
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TFFF
(Tootie Freakin' Fruity Feenie)

Locally they want like 25.00 bucks per light,
our local chain stores want $36!!! even for the 18"!
I have found deals at reptiledirect and lllreptile, too.

chad - here is a site that might help you decide
Link

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
1.1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan and Stan Jr.!
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

that's at the "cheap" store. LOL, it's amazing how much the mark up is on most of these products. I'm setting up my big saltwater tank and they wanted 86.00 for a Hydor 201 out of tank heater.... found it online for 40.00. The Maxi Jet 1200 power pumps.. locally 46.00 for one, bought 2 new ones on ebay for 39.00 shipped, 16oz of Purple up for algea growth, locally 22.oo, online for 12.00. OHH and Chemi-clean for red-slime algea locally is 32.00 for 1 oz., Only 8.00 online. Some body is making some serious money!!

I say shop around and don't be in a rush to buy. The deals are out there, you just gotta find them.

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TFFF
(Tootie Freakin' Fruity Feenie)

definitely buy in multiples!
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
1.1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan and Stan Jr.!
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

bought 6 from big apple $14 each