I Thought that i was supposed to be looking for a lamp that gives off UVB rays ? All i can find is UVA, so i bought that, what is the difference? And is UVA fine, ro do i need to find UVB blubs?
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Heat Lamps
mcnugent
Jul 31, 2005 02:23 AM
Replies (3)
dragonsbynature
Jul 31, 2005 02:31 AM
UVA and UVB are totally different. The UVA will help with certain things, but the UVB bulb is needed for calcium. ReptiSun 5.0 are good bulbs or MVB bulbs as well.
brandon
-----
Dragons by Nature
bleedthefreak
Jul 31, 2005 10:40 PM
Ditto on everything said. The best flourescents for UVB output are Repti-sun 5.0, as mentioned, the Repti-Sun 10.0 (I LOOOVEEE this bulb!!), or Repti-Glo 8.0. Those are the 3 good ones. You could also go with a Mercury Vapor Bulb, that produces both heat and UVB. Although, you would need large size cage to use one of them, they need to be further than 12 inches away from the dragon. Not sure what size your tank is. They cost a good bit more than the flourescents, but they do last longer. I just use the tubes myself.
-Nicky
-----
Stare at me with empty eyes and
Point your words at me
Mirror on the wall will show you
What you're scared to see
I can see, yeah, wish I couldn't see at all
I can feel- Wish I couldn't feel at all
Hate to see- Wish I couldn't see at all
Hate to feel- Wish I couldn't feel at all
So climb walls,
Thin my blood now
And I crawl, back to bed now
-Alice In Chains
2.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo, Layne, & Chiquita
2.4 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki, Delilah, Sadie & Cheyenne
1.0 Betta: Mr. Purple
PHLdyPayne
Jul 31, 2005 11:58 AM
UVB is required by the bearded dragon to produce vitamine D3 which allows their bodies to process calcium. Without it, they can't use the calcium in their food and will die from Metabolic Bone Disease.
Most petstores that have reptiles or sell reptile supplies will have UVB tubes. They are more expensive but for the health of your dragon, a much needed component. Unless you want to be bringing your dragon outside for an hour 5-6 times a week. (on difference days). Though in some areas, this is very possible, but where it gets cold in the winter, it isn't possible. Filtered sunlight through windows is no good either.
-----
PHLdyPayne
