Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've noticed the topic of regular uv bulbs compared to the mercury vapor. Which is better? I'm using the new 8.0 thing (can't remember the name right now, but got it at petsmart. It was the best thing I had seen there as far as uvb and uva. What's the downfall to the mercury vapor. my beardie likes the bulb that he has now. he eats well, but seems to have trouble being regular with his bathroom breaks. so what are the pro's and cons. what can i do to get him regular...doesn't except greens right now, but still trying. is there any exlax that i can give him. he will go if he is in a warm...warm bath.

I prefer the mercury vapor bulbs. They cost a little more initially but are cheaper in the long run. They last up to 2 years without losing their UV. The flourescent tubes need to be changed every 6 months because they lose their UV output. The MVB also provides the heat so you dont need a separate spot bulb. The downfall would be that they get really hot so you cant sit them on the screen top. They have to hang above. ZooMed makes an adjustable lamp stand that you can get for about $20. It works great! If you have small children or free roaming cats that could touch the bulb and get burned you may want to stick with your current setup. If not go for the MVB.