Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read so much about MV Bulbs, UV output, brands, how much light to use, etc., but I'm still a little confused. Most of the MV bulb talk surrounds the hotter climate species.

I currently have three Reptisun 5.0 bulbs on my Jackson's (from everything I've read so far these are the highest rated tubes). I also have a regular Zoo-Med
"daylight" bulb for his basking site. Should I replace the Zoo-Med daylight bulb with one of these much-discussed MV bulbs? Is the regular Zoo-Med bulb enough since I already have the tubes providing UV?

Most talk about the MV bulbs surrounds the hotter climate species. For the mountain species, who prefer cooler temps, do I even need to bother with the MV bulb?

Also, how much UV is too much? Should I put as many tubes on him as I can, or can I over do it?

thanks

I use a 100w daylight bulb and 15 w 5.0 uv tube during the day which gives me a basking temp of about 80-85 which they seem t o love...they run around alot now that i got a new uv tube...at night i turn both off to get a 65-70 temp....my jax seem to enjoy it

i usually use just one per cage but my cages are 38 gal reptariums 18"X18"X36" i use one 5.0 reptisun and a normal incandesent 40watt bulb some times i use a 60W bulb.

but if you need the extra lighting i would either uses the bulbs ou have or use some coil florecent lamps since the give off tons of light and little to no heat. but those are only good for lighting dark places and plant growth(outstanding growth)

Not all "mountain" species will like the same temp and light intensity as jax. I usually use a double ReptiSun 5.0 or two for each large cage. You can't overdo the UV produced by bulbs as it is so much weaker than real sunlight. For a basking bulb I use an ordinary house lightbulb or a GE halogen floodlight to give more general light. Also, to help my plants stay leafed out more evenly I often hang a "regular" fluorescent tube vertically on one side of the cage. The chams tend to use more of the cage this way instead of just sitting in the top.

See the response I just posted to "veiled Chameleon Help" where I talk about the controversy & problems of the MV bulbs.
Ed