Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Most of you know I have been posting here for 4 years or so.

Most of the time there is peace and good solid time tested husbandry advise is dispensed.

Every so often someone pops out of nowhere and tries to take over with their uninformed advise.

Remember the days of substrate debates. I remember a poster telling me that I was slowly killing my dragons by keeping them on sand. lol.

Then there was the temperature debates. The so called "modern husbandry" was going to disprove 30 years of experience in bearded dragon husbandry. Never mind that it's primary proponent didn't keep dragons and believed UVB was unnecessary because it didn't fit in well to the temperature only equation.

Now we have posts promoting Mercury Vapor at 8". When manufactures recommend a minimum of 12" even on the lowest watt bulbs. They disregard the manufacturers decades of testing and experience in favor of their own. That would be fine if they only risked their animal. But, they have to promote it here at the risks to other long before any results positive or negative can be observed.

If Kevin Dunn posted on here that he had been experimenting with UVB at closer distances or high basking temps. over the last 5 years I'd stand up and take notice. Why because I respect his opinion as I do most others on this forum.

Dragon have relatively long life spans if well cared for. Lets keep them well cared for with good tested husbandry.

The moral of my story is check the source before taking any advise. Research them on this forum and see how long they have been posting. Be careful that by taking the wrong advise you may be doing more harm than good.

Also, there are many readers that don't post. Start posting. Post what works for you. That way a question gets answered by many rather than just 2 opposing. This will make it a lot easier for the poster to make a decision.

"advice"

Temp under the bulb is 128 degrees, surface temp directly beneath the bulb.

The dragons I have in that enclosure are the healthiest I own.

Ravenous healthy vibrant eaters with seemingly bottomless pits. They were recently treated for internal parasites and now provide me with clean fecal floats and smears.

I have measured with my 6.2 meter and they are not receiving high levels of UVB.

They readily bask in the light and are not on the other side gaping mouthed. they have plenty of hides.

Two female sisters in a 4 foot by two foot high bu 3 feet wide enclosure with the powersun 125 watt.

Once again your right... I should run a 25 watt incondescent bulb in there.

Keep churning buddy... you're quite good at it.

Get back to us in a few years and let us know if any legions, skin cancer or other problems develop. Those darn manufacturers warnings certainly shouldn't be taken into account.

My two dragons bask in the light for maybe two hours while the bulb heats up then they are never directly under it anymore during the day.

Always off to the side etc.

Directly under the bulb the light has the uv output of 65-100 nano meters of light intensity. Surface temp of 126 degrees.

When the bulb is warming for the first three hours it has 50-65nm. This is what they love to bask in.

The sun is far more intense. They have opaque skin made for desert conditions. They have an innate sense of internal regulation and have three hides in a four foot enclosure. I have put my arm and hand under the bulb where it sits and it nothing. Not even that hot. Perfect

thanks for your concern though

Im done with this topic, unless you have something constructive to share.