Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Fireside, while I use mercury vapor, in smaller cages I have found a 10.0 works very well less than 12 inches off the sand substrate. I cureently have some very healthy fringe-toed sand lizards under a 10.0, I find the UVB from these mercury lamps at that close not to be my first choice. In a 40 gal. cage I do use both or either is it may be. I totally understand your perspective, but I am not at all convienced that mercury vapor should always be the choice, given my experience with small southwast lizards under a 10.0 bulb which i can give you a list, I have never had a problem with raising Hls or any other under a good flourescent. I understand that Lesters 9 year horned lizards were primarily raised under flourescents as well, that doesn't amke it right or wrong, just a whole lot of people such as myself that does see the flourescent having good application especially with smallwer cages. I have seen the comparisons back and forth and the arguements both ways, I'm cool if thats what you recommend, but for the samller cages a 10.0 works just fine, I have never had a problem, and before 10.0 was available I used ESU 7% approximately 10 or less inches from the substrate, all my baby chucks, horned lizards and others did fine under such a bulb. So I am not going to be dogmatic myself and feel comfortable with the flourescents, In my 2 x 2 x 4 cages I use mercury vapoer as well as in my 36" cages, so it's not like I don't use them, but I have found that correct tempretures is just as important as to whether you use a mercury or flourescent. Its the whole thing. Obviously you are more comfortable with the mercury and thats cool. I prefer to use the T-Rex because of the light and heat it puts out compared to some others offered on the market, including the short neck bulb as well which I prefer.........Cheers!!!
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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I would agree that a flourescent would be more effective in a smaller tank, but I'm always recommending 40's anyway. Just for the reason that most HL's people are coming by are wild, and they really need the extra space to not stress out. A young HL, in a small tank until it grows, may be fine with a flourescent...and it may be easier to achieve temps that aren't too high. Of course I would just recommend moving the vapor back a bit if you can, and I think it may be easier to just go with the larger tank and better lighting in the beginning, rather than having to upgrade later. But that is matter of preference...providing that a person replaces the UV lighting when they should, or has a true UV meter....which we all know most do not do, or have.

Flourescents just don't put out as much UVB to start with, and while both mercury vapors and flourescents burn out and degrade almost exponentially within months...flourescents just start out with less to begin with. They have to be very close to contribute useable UVB. Some are insufficient right out of the box. And without proper levels of UVB, we know all the problems that can create. I just take the stance that anytime they're kept indoors, it's a good point to assume they are getting inferior UVB with almost anything as compared to the sun, so I advocate just springing for something with better numbers. I'm open to the notion that HL's "maybe" have an advantage given their surface area during basking....

I find it noteworthy though that not many professionals, and no zoo's I have seen, use flourescents for UVB anymore. I think that really says something. Granted they are usually larger enclosures they keep their herps in, but there's a good reason for that too. You will note from the links below just how terrible flourescents are in their measured UVB levels. Given that they wouldn't seem to come close to the irradiated UVB levels in microwatts of the sun, even in the mid morning or afternoon, you have to wonder just how long a reptile would have to stay under the typical flourescent just to get what it would in maybe an hour basking time in the sun. Even running a flourescent 24/7 you might not catch up on the dose of a basking HL in the wild.

www.uvguide.co.uk/zoolamps.htm
www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/enclosure/files/lightuvlight.pdf
www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Researchmain.html
www.carolinapetsupply.com/uvb_output_of_bulbs.htm
www.uvguide.co.uk/links.htm

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"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

I have an idea I've been mulling over for a while now and this seems like a good time to bring it out.
A good UV meter is somewhat expensive, but seems like it could answer a lot of questions for us all.
I am thinking it would be cool if a small group of us could get together on a purchase of a really nice meter and just share it. It's not something you need every day. This way we could all do some research and put together our findings. I'd be happy to post the results on phrynosoma.org for the benefit of all.
I will make the offer of managing the project.
Any takers? Email me. cable_hogue(at)phrynosoma.com

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