Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyones bearded get all hissy and puffy when someone new comes near its cage?Mine always does.Also do normal bulbs give off uva?I was thinking of using only halogen lights because stupid basking ones blow out every 2 months or will I need a bulb that does give off uva if the normal ones don't.

thanks

I assume you have a UVB bulb already? Not sure if normal bulbs give off UVA or not. I know they don't give UVB though. Plus, I think most UVB bulbs give some UVA, and UVA is more related to appearance (I'm guessing quite a bit because I am not 100% sure)? Either way, UVB is more important. Go ahead and invest in a mercury vapor. Heat UVA UVB at a lower yearly cost:

2 years incandescent UV tubes = $10x8(1 every 3 months) $25x4(tubes need replacing every 6 months)=$180

2 years mercury vapor=$50

The MVB's are warantied 2 yrs at 12 hrs use per day. Give or take a few bucks on the incandescent UV tubes combo depending on size/wattage and how long the heat bulbs last for you. Either way, I love MVB's and you can see a little investment saves a bit.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
1.0.0 Jackson's Chameleon
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

redatoryLizard@Yahoo.com">PredatoryLizard@Yahoo.com

I don't use uvb because I feel they are a rip off I bought a MVB and it lasted for 3 months good eh?I don't feel like sending back a bulb 4 times a year and having to wait just because they cant produce a piece of crap that works.They should just make a bulb that lasts for a year instead of having to send out 3 or 4 replacemens to each person.So instead I dust his food with calcium supplement and vitamin supplement.I have seen no change in his behavior since I got rid of the uvb so I gonna stick with regular bulbs and dust.Thats why I was wondering if he would be fine with two regular bulbs (which I am not sure if they give off uva or not or if he needs uva)

Puffing up with new people around the cage is normal for a bearded dragon. For a basking bulb you can just use regular household bulbs. I do recommend having a UVB producing tube though. They should be replaced every 6 months to ensure UVB is still being produced in sufficient numbers. The mercury vapour bulbs need to be mounted straight up or down or they tend to burn out right away.
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PHLdyPayne

I agree, they really need the special bulbs. Give him the extra calcium is good, but he needs the UVB light to help him process the calcium. By the time you see symptoms it may be to late. I recommend that you replace the household bulbs immediately.

Symptoms of what may I ask?Certainly not MBD seeing as how he gets calcium and vitamin d3 supplements along with multivitamins......

I was primarily referring to MBD.

Several experts state that D3 supplement is not that effective as a replacement for UVB.

"Ultraviolet light (UV) is important in the production of vitamin D3, which is necessary for calcium metabolism. Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin with exposure to UV light (from sunlight). While vitamin D3 can be supplemented in the diet, it appears some reptiles, such as iguanas, make better use of vitamin D3 produced within their bodies than that provided in vitamin supplements."