Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was reading a few posts, and read that UVB is not needed. I never knew you didn't NEED a UVB for a monitor. I do have one for mine... Is it useless? I was told I'm suppose to replace it every year, beacause the bulb STOPS emmiting uvb rays, something like that? Is this true? Is it necessary to change it? Or should I just use the bulb until it burns out? Should I ever even buy another uv bulb? UVB's are kinda expensive... I always ASSUMED, reptiles NEEDED uvb lighting. A short explanation will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Se7en,

Useless????? As tits on a tom cat

Truth is they aren't useless, just not necessary for monitors. Most people seem to use banks of low watt incandesants.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Thank goodness monitors and beardeds and geckos and chams do not need it. As Those bulbs(reptile UV bulbs) Are mostly useless buy their own instructions. Most only emitt what is said to be effect within a few inches of the bulb. Then normally stop doing that within a month or so.

I would research those bulbs if I were you. Not research if its needed, but research the bulb itself. Maybe buy a UV meter. If you did that, you may find out those bulbs are no so effective.

I have raised more monitors from the egg then about anyone in the world(an educated guess) I never used UV bulbs or the sun with babies. A quickly growing baby has more need for placed calicum then at any other time in their lifes. I do not have calicum problems with them or any monitor.

I have also done that with chams, torts, turtles, beardeds, all manner of reptiles.

Is it useless, if you said you use it because it made your animals look brighter, then theres a use. Actually You would be better off with two florescent bulbs, One grow bulb(red) and one sun(blue) that would duplicate the sun very well. And its far far cheaper.

The other use is, Petshops got to make money somewhere. Cheers

Cool, now I know. Thanks for the info!

Se7en,

>>Thank goodness monitors and beardeds and geckos and chams do not need it. As Those bulbs(reptile UV bulbs) Are mostly useless buy their own instructions. Most only emitt what is said to be effect within a few inches of the bulb. Then normally stop doing that within a month or so.
>>
>> Is it useless, if you said you use it because it made your animals look brighter, then theres a use. Actually You would be better off with two florescent bulbs, One grow bulb(red) and one sun(blue) that would duplicate the sun very well. And its far far cheaper.
>>
>> The other use is, Petshops got to make money somewhere. Cheers

As a worker in the pet shop I will say that this hype goes deep. I TELL people that UV bulbs are a waste of money. Heck, these folks pay $7 for one of ZooMed's 'Daylight' bulbs. I tell them to use a household bulb if that is the wattage that works but to save the other $6.50 for something else. THEY BUY THEM ANYWAY! Talk about sheep! My boss hates that I tell folks this but they don' t listen, so she isn' t too too upset. I don't get it.
I just say, take your photogrey eyeglasses and hold them near the darn bulb....do they change???? The only bulbs I see even a bit of output from are the lights sold to grow corals in marine systems. Get an Actinic and a 20,000 k bulb or just a 50/50 and go with that. They are cheaper than the herp ones too.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny