Reptile & Amphibian Forums

John I just went through a long discussion with some of the people on the horned toad forum, with respect to Mercury Vapor bulbs. I think Melissa Kapalans site has good info on the subject, I have used both, but I think there is enough issues with the mercury bulbs that at the minimum a caution should be considered. I have noticed that some of my lizards (Angel Island Chucks and Uromastyxs) for some reason will sit on the outside of the bulbs lighting paramiter but hardly ever sit righ under it. Where as a zoomed basking bulb they will lay right under it. I know that many horned lizard enthusiast use them, but I still use a 5.0 or greater flourescent for all my lizards, and as a reference would rather use the flourescents. Although there is much that have been extoled about the mercury, too much UVB can also effect the animals and has a reflex posibility of creating the same thing your trying not to get MBD. Also it seems that there has been some written about this light effects the eyes of the animals as well and should be taken into consideration, so I like the ease of using, but I'm still looking into this and am on the fringe about these bulbs even this late in the game. I have been criticized because of this, I have been told my animals will eventually end up with problems for using flourencents, in all fairness I also understand the flourescents use mercuy in them as well. So scince I'm not a bulb expert the issue may not be the mercury but the type and intensity of the light. I think there should be a lot more study on these bulbs...I think a good reading of Malissa Kaplans site is at least worthy of consideration.............Thanks!!!

Listen I totally understand what you've just responded to me with, but let me suggest that all of the actions you were describing are also the same type of actions many of my lizards do as part of their antics. I have Orcutti Swifts which I would say do a lot of the same, and here's my take on your response...I believe all of this is related to proper temprature. For instance on a 86 degree day the sand or ground may be as high as 102 degrees. Most Texas horned lizards will not eat properly until it gets to a certian temp ususally in the high 90's ground tempreature. I suspect that the mercury bulb provided a temprature gradiant that was not there before including ambient temprature as well. But one way or another, this still doesn't answer the issue about the health of the mercury bulb. I would suspect that if you could match the same ambient temps with a zoomed basking bulb (perhaps a 100watt or 150) and a flourescent, you'd find the same antics such as my Regal Horned Lizards also do under the "old lighting system". Cheers!!!

I havn't been online in a few days but I didn't see any recent discussions in the horn toad forum about merc vapor.
Also, I notice some blank spots after some posts about this subject in this forum. Were there some flaming posts that got deleted by kingsnake that I missed seeing?
JohnStyner

was fine ! Your not supposed to say hey look at my web site, its against the TOS.

But you can have your web addy in your signature !

Just thought you may want to know, as I had seen your last post!
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Eve

oh, did not know that... thanks...

well heres a picture then, cause we all like pictures right?

and another sunny day basking shot of FrogDog... (he's got a new signature too)

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www.lizardlab.com

pic up top for everyone to enjoy of Froggie, hehehe LOL
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Eve / PHEve

and awesome clarity on this little Cutie!

How come you dont post pics more?
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Eve / PHEve