Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anyone got one. i am going to use it on a 260 gallon rep. is that cage big enough. ive heard good and bad but want to get some in-depth opinions fron people. does it give enough heat? anything about them i would love to know.
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1.2 veiled chameleons(Rocket, Jenevive, and Sally)
1.0 pacific tree frog(Kermit)
want to get a diego suarez( which I would name Tommy)

Check out these previous posts:
forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=599167,599167
forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=593295,593295

I'm not sure how big that size retarium is in feet, but I'd say if it's shorter than 4ft tall, dont use a MV.
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

I've never used the MV bulbs, so I can't comment on them. However, I have used the reptariums before, and I'd recommend a screen cage over them any day. When I first started using the reptariums, I loved it. But it didn't take long for the zipper strings to start snagging up. Then I noticed holes in the corners where crickets had chewed through them. I hoped my chameleons hadn't eaten any nylon mesh gutloaded crix.
My $.02,
Cricket

I purchased one to use on my cham's screen cage. However, I was given some advice that for smaller enclosures, they can be too much. As my cage is 2'x2'x3', I opted for fluorescent. The reptarium 260 stands almost 6' tall, so I think one would work well for such an enclosure. I am selling the light I bought and didn't use on Ebay right now, so if you still want one after looking at reviews, check it out or email me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4332717806&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
-Oz

If you do use one i would suggest angling it so that the uv only goes in one corner of the cage. that way your cham can regulate his uv in take. Also, you will likely want to use a spotlight for basking, esp for a veiled. I found my mv (which i no longer use and didn't like btw) didn't give off enough heat for my panther to bask in. ALSO if your cham has a separate basking area away from the uv, then he can regulate his uv intake and heat separately, and not over heat while trying to get uvb or get toom uch uv while trying to warm up.
My old set up had a mv, and my panther had a prob with her one eye (the one that faced up most of the time while she basked). She has since improved in not only her eye, but overall. I can't say if it was the bulb or the set up change, but i can't help but wonder. I personally don't think there is enough info about them with chams to want to use one now... i'm going to wait until there is more concrete info.
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~Lindsay
0.1 panther chameleon (Orion)
1.2 r. brevicaudatus chams (unnamed)
0.1 leopard gecko (Acadia)
1.0 pictus gecko (Raine)
1.1 parakeets (Bongo/Citron)
1.1 cats (Tigger/Bonzai)
1.0 dwarf hampster (Chico the monster)
someday will have 1.1 great danes (will be Osiris and Solaris)

I'm not sure what you mean by angling. Powersun UV (MV) lamps have to be perfectly level or they will not work correctly. But you could mount it in a corner of the cage (this is how mine is) so that you get a gradient of UV.

I use a another light (normal incadescent) to achieve the right heat. The Powersun gives off a lot of heat, but since you have to keep it 1foot away from the cage there is not much getting to the basking spot.

They say MVs are helpful to plants, too, but I haven't noticed any amazing mutant growth with my plants. I'm disappointed.
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

so u guys think i should just get a reptisun 5.0. I'm just worried he won't get enough UVB if the cage is six feet tall and he only goes to the top to bask. even if it does still provide rays down to a foot.
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1.2 veiled chameleons(Rocket, Jenevive, and Sally)
1.0 pacific tree frog(Kermit)
want to get a diego suarez( which I would name Tommy)