uvb and tank placement?s

[cybercat]

I have 2 questions here on lighting.

1) Is using the zill desert series 50, 20 watt fluorescent coil OK on top of screen till I need to replace with better bulb? I know I read they are linked to blindness for long periods. But I thinking for a short time here, month or two at most.

2) I have south facing windows that get good light in. Would it be OK to place BD cage in front of them to take advantage of natural sun? Not in winter but rest of the year.

thanks
Tamara

 

[Fliehigh]

Hi Tamara

1) Coil UVB are not recommended for the reason you stated above and the fact that UVB output does not seem to be stable in the UV range a dragon needs, it is "usually" too high or too low.

2) Natural sun through glass does nothing but increase heat. the Glass filters out the UVB from the sun so all you will be doing is creating a glass oven for the dragon which can raise the temps too high.

Can you give us more of a description of your VIV:

Size
Heat lights
etc

Thanks

 

[Germ]

I am not a fan of compacts either, but many have used certain brands quite successfully.

1-2 months is not a 'Short' time if the Particular bulb is known to cause problems. I know the Zilla lamps were known to cause problems a few years ago, but understood that they had since rectified the problem. But I also haven't been keeping up on them lately & possibly they are again having problems or your source of info may be from older results. I also question your source, as Blindness is really not generally the issue, although a serious eye irritation similar to us receiving a Welder's Flash, causing the animals to keep their eyes closed, called Photo-Kerato-Conjunctivitis, is.

A good read on the subject ...
UVGuide

Totally agree with #2 of the above post, placing an enclosure in front of a window can cause serious/dangerous heat spikes when the sun hits it, with absolutely no UVB benefit & is susceptible to possible cooler drafts in colder weather causing unwanted fluctuations in the enclosure temps.

 

[cybercat]

Interesting report. Based on it all the bulbs are safe now if used at the required heights. Since they all have been reworked and redesigned I do not see why all the fuss. But never mind for most newbies they would not know about safe distance of bulb height.

OK in front of window is out special since they are double panned. It was just an idea to cut down on eletricity and better uvb for animal. I do not have one yet still looking. Thanks.