Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been using a 5.0 UVA/UVB light since i got my cham, he is about 7 mos old now and his body is about 3 and half maybe 4 inches and i was wondering if i should uprade to an 8.0 or does it really matter?
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~Christina

I'd just go with a 100w Power Sun bulb, it provides UVA/UVB and heat. They're about $45 each, but they can last up to a year, so you don't have to use 2 different lights. Besides you have to spend about $24 every 6 months replacing the 5.0 lights anyway, so it evens out.

If you have a smaller enclosure it's not a good idea to get one, though. I have a 2x2x4 screen cage and the only light I use is the PowerSun and it works just fine. My cham spends all day basking under the thing.

If, however, you do have a smaller cage, I'd just stick with two Reptisun 5.0 tubes and a 75w heat lamp. There's no real need to upgrade to the 8.0. Most of the people here use the 5.0. And for the basking bulb I'd recommend the "tight beam" heat lamps from Exo-Terra, which I used to use and have never had to replace (I used it for 9 months before I discovered the PowerSun.) They're good because they heat up just a smaller basking area, rather than the rest of the cage like most heat lamps.

The ZooMed 5.0 flourescent bulbs claim to last a year as well... They do cost a few dollars more ($40 at a pet store, as little as $14 at a show or online), but they have a greater range (more than the ReptiSun's 6" & a longer life... I just got one tho, so we'll see how I feel in 4 months when the other one would have to have been replaced.

the maximum range of the ReptiSun 5.0 flourescent tubes is only 18-24 inches while the PowerSun can penetrate up to 4 ft . . .

Thanks for the tips guys, i will keep them in mind, right now i have a small cage so i guess i will stick with the repti 5.0, i am planning to build a bigger cage soon though so i will give the power sunn a try =)
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~Christina