What is the best type of thing to get for UVB. THe mercury vapor bulbs sound good, but I dont need a heat source, I already have "Pearlco" ceramic heating bulb. Besides I heard if you get any moisture on the bulbs, they burn out, and in a humid chameleon enclosure, I dont see how I could keep moisture away from the mercury vapor bulb. I have always used florescent for my reptiles UVB source, but they dont seem to last very long.I also heard that the UVB rays from florescent only go a foot or two down. Are their other options for UVB? SHould I stick with florescent, and if so, what is the best brand? Any help with this is appreciated. Thank you in advance, jrbl
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Help with UVB
jrbl
Aug 27, 2003 03:50 AM
Replies (2)
dank7oo
Aug 27, 2003 08:18 AM
ok ... iguana bulbs tend to be a favourite for just UVB and UVA lighting for cham owners ... they are about 25 dollars, and well worth their cost!
thats what i would do 
-----
Jason
f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/dank7oo
1.0 maroantsetra panther chameleon
0.2 dwarf panther chameleons
jsinger_jimt@hotmail.com
chimbakka
Aug 27, 2003 11:33 AM
If you only need UVB than you probably should go with flourescent. I would use Zoomed, I think they are the best. The strength you get will depend on what species you have. I would go 5.0 for panthers, and even 8.0 for veilds. The bulbs come with a guide. The lower #s are for more aboreal species of lizzards that naturally get little sun, and the higher are for dessert species that are in the sun all day long. If you are worried about the distance the UV reaches you can get the longest rods you can find, and mount them vertically instead of horizontally, or even on a diagonal. Depending on how large your enclosure is, you may want two diagonals, one on each side. If you only have a 2' wide enclosure, you're probably ok with just the one. I definately wouldn't use one horizontally on top. The only UV that will get to your cham is when it is in the top foot basking. If your cham doesn't usually stay close to the top than it probably won't get enough. BUT, if you can get your cham in natural sun for an hour a day, this is ok. Eight hours under artificial bulbs = about 15 min of natural sun, or something like that. i can't remember the EXACT ratio...
~Lindsay
~Lindsay
