Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a ZooMed Repti Basking Spotlamp and it says it produces the needed UVA for reptiles. I was wondering how important it is that I switch to something that has both UVA and UVB, like a ReptiSun 5.0. Just to let you know I dont have a dragon right now, just my set up. I dont really know much about this UVA/UVB thing though. Thanks for the help, I dont want to do my dragon any harm once I get him.

What you have now is really no different than the spots/floods that you can pick up at walmart for 1/2 the price. UVB when absorbed by your dragon produces D3 which enables them to metabolize calcium. You really need to get a UVB light source like the reptisun or a MVB bulb.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

I was planning on it, I just wanted to know what it was going to do different. I should just be able to buy a new bulb (ReptiSun or similar) and screw it into my lamp right?

The repti sun is a UVB flourescent tube, it does not screw into a standard fixture.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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edited signature file; oversized graphic [phw 12/13/04]

Nope, reptisuns are flourescent so you'll need a fixture for them. In addition to them keep using your basking light and when it blows out I'd go with a normal spotlight or floodlight in its place. The MVB's are closer to a regular light, most self ballasted ones will screw into a normal socket but in the long run you're better off buying one where the ballast is external.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

Hi,
what everyone else said- the reptisuns are flourescent bulbs, while your zoomed light is incandescent (regular, normal screw-in lightbulb type). so basically, you will need two different types of fixtures, one incandescent fixture for your zoomed bulb, which gives off heat, and one flourescent fixture (long, tube ones) for your reptisun for the UVB since flourescnets do not give off heat.

I know reptisun actually makes compact flourescents now, which screw into an incandescent fixure. either way, you would still need two fixtures. UNLESS you went with a mercury vapor bulb, which gives off heat and UVB in one incandescent bulb. hope this helps!
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~Melissa~
1.3.2 Leopard geckos
1.1 Bearded dragons
1.0 Hog Island Boa
0.1 Western hognose
0.1 Coastal carpet python
0.1.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Savannah Monitor
1.1 Ferrets
0.1 Chinchilla
1.0 dwarf hamster
2.0 kitty cats

Melissas Menagerie

Thanks everyone. This is my first reptile and I want to be sure I do it right.