UVB Question

[haleygreer]

Hey forum. My bearded dragon’s Mega Ray mercury vapor bulb just went out, and she was acting sluggish just before it went out, and now. I also use a Reptisun T5-HO that covers her whole enclosure, so the mercury vapor bulb is just so that while she’s basking in the heat, that same spot is providing UVB. When the mercury vapor bulb went out, I replaced it with another I had on hand. It was an off-brand questionable amazon “Tekizoo Super Sun Reptile Lamp” which I bought to test out because I have a SolarMeter I can measure the UVB output with. I will attach pictures of the Mega Ray box, the Tekizoo box, and the UVB readings at different parts of the enclosure. My question is, is there anything other than UVB that these bulbs put out that is required for beardies? Is a UVB meter suitable for deciding when to replace the bulb? For instance, the T5-HO tube UVB has been in use for over a year, but the SolarMeter is showing that it still puts out sufficient UVB. Is that an adequate way to measure it, or is there some other reason that bulbs should be replaced every six months?

 

[Sadie]

Hey forum. My bearded dragon’s Mega Ray mercury vapor bulb just went out, and she was acting sluggish just before it went out, and now. I also use a Reptisun T5-HO that covers her whole enclosure, so the mercury vapor bulb is just so that while she’s basking in the heat, that same spot is providing UVB. When the mercury vapor bulb went out, I replaced it with another I had on hand. It was an off-brand questionable amazon “Tekizoo Super Sun Reptile Lamp” which I bought to test out because I have a SolarMeter I can measure the UVB output with. I will attach pictures of the Mega Ray box, the Tekizoo box, and the UVB readings at different parts of the enclosure. My question is, is there anything other than UVB that these bulbs put out that is required for beardies? Is a UVB meter suitable for deciding when to replace the bulb? For instance, the T5-HO tube UVB has been in use for over a year, but the SolarMeter is showing that it still puts out sufficient UVB. Is that an adequate way to measure it, or is there some other reason that bulbs should be replaced every six months?

Please change out the uvb bulb pronto those solar readers can be off- regardless of what it's reading please get a new one- the off brand uvb do not provide adequate uvb - I would get another mega ray or a regular clear solid bright white basking bulb

 

[haleygreer]

Please change out the uvb bulb pronto those solar readers can be off- regardless of what it's reading please get a new one- the off brand uvb do not provide adequate uvb - I would get another mega ray or a regular clear solid bright white basking bulb

Okay!! Ordering them tonight, do you have any rec’s for good basking bulbs?

 

[Sadie]

Okay!! Ordering them tonight, do you have any rec’s for good basking bulbs?

I use Exo Terra intense basking bulbs or repti basking bulbs - you can try some Walmart indecanscent bulbs regular house hold bulbs but they must keep your surface basking temps to what you need- I tried them didn't work so I had to stick w/ the exo Terra-- you don't want any daytime bulbs they have a coating on them called neoydium harmful to the eyes

 

[haleygreer]

I use Exo Terra intense basking bulbs or repti basking bulbs - you can try some Walmart indecanscent bulbs regular house hold bulbs but they must keep your surface basking temps to what you need- I tried them didn't work so I had to stick w/ the exo Terra-- you don't want any daytime bulbs they have a coating on them called neoydium harmful to the eyes

Thank you!! I already have an Exo Terra intense basking bulb that I used once but it’s 150W and turned out to be WAY too hot, i’ll get a lower voltage—along with a new tube bulb. Thanks again for your help

 

[Sadie]

Thank you!! I already have an Exo Terra intense basking bulb that I used once but it’s 150W and turned out to be WAY too hot, i’ll get a lower voltage—along with a new tube bulb. Thanks again for your help

Test that solar meter when you get the new bulb and let me know if it is given different reading- I am going to look on another forum of solar readers that are recommended-- I will let you know

 

[haleygreer]

Test that solar meter when you get the new bulb and let me know if it is given different reading- I am going to look on another forum of solar readers that are recommended-- I will let you know

I will! And apologies, I had one more question. The 36” hood that is mounted in the enclosure has a 34” Reptisun T5-HO 10.0 bulb, but I also have a 30” hood that holds a 22” bulb… could I add that one to the enclosure with the T5-HO 5.0 bulb for an extra boost in areas the UVB doesn’t reach as well, or do you think that would be too much UVB?

 

[Sadie]

I will! And apologies, I had one more question. The 36” hood that is mounted in the enclosure has a 34” Reptisun T5-HO 10.0 bulb, but I also have a 30” hood that holds a 22” bulb… could I add that one to the enclosure with the T5-HO 5.0 bulb for an extra boost in areas the UVB doesn’t reach as well, or do you think that would be too much UVB?

One uvb is sufficient- you do not want to over uvb her- keep the fixture that has the 10.0 bulb that's the 36" ?make sure your distance is 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor- how big is the tank? She needs to be able to get out of those uvb rays w/ out hiding from the uvb

 

[haleygreer]

One uvb is sufficient- you do not want to over uvb her- keep the fixture that has the 10.0 bulb that's the 36" ?make sure your distance is 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor- how big is the tank? She needs to be able to get out of those uvb rays w/ out hiding from the uvb

Gotcha... The cave directly under the mercury vapor bulb is the main basking platform, so using that as a reference I will have to move the tube bulb from inside the enclosure to on top, more towards the front where the cave is just below. The hood fixture is currently at a tilt, so the UVB rays are weaker towards the front. It's a 4x2x2 enclosure and most of the back side of the enclosure has caves, vines, and a hammock that she can go underneath, or climb on top to get more UVB. I'm struggling with heat bulbs at the basking area because if I keep a heat bulb over the basking area, it will block part of the UVB fixture once I move it over the basking area. The fixture I currently have is the 36" fixture. Would you say that Arcadia T5's are better than ZooMed, or vice versa?

 

[Sadie]

Gotcha... The cave directly under the mercury vapor bulb is the main basking platform, so using that as a reference I will have to move the tube bulb from inside the enclosure to on top, more towards the front where the cave is just below. The hood fixture is currently at a tilt, so the UVB rays are weaker towards the front. It's a 4x2x2 enclosure and most of the back side of the enclosure has caves, vines, and a hammock that she can go underneath, or climb on top to get more UVB. I'm struggling with heat bulbs at the basking area because if I keep a heat bulb over the basking area, it will block part of the UVB fixture once I move it over the basking area. The fixture I currently have is the 36" fixture. Would you say that Arcadia T5's are better than ZooMed, or vice versa?

No both are good -- I will post a pic of my 4x2x2 in the morning - if you want change the uvb fixture out - it's going to be easier to hang the fixture inside- I will help w/ that - my pics of the tank may help you - he's not getting enough uvb- for one-

 

[haleygreer]

No both are good -- I will post a pic of my 4x2x2 in the morning - if you want change the uvb fixture out - it's going to be easier to hang the fixture inside- I will help w/ that - my pics of the tank may help you - he's not getting enough uvb- for one-

That will help a lot! When you say change the UVB fixture out, do you mean get a whole new hood?

 

[Sadie]

That will help a lot! When you say change the UVB fixture out, do you mean get a whole new hood?

No use your 30"

 

[Sadie]

The basking side is back left -- 2 basking bulbs one 100 watt now and one 75 watt - w/ the weather the 75 has been on and off being used - summer only the 100 watt is used and winter a 150 watt goes in it gets below zero here in the winter -- I also have the two tanks in a warmer room - temps run from 90's on the floor to different temps on the basking piece directly under the lamps- the center lamp behind the UVB is a 75 watt second basking spot temps run in the 90's on the rock -- he basks in both spots -- I have 3 gauges for temps 2 digitals and one stick on for ambient temps -- I also use a IR gun for spot checks --

 

[haleygreer]

The basking side is back left -- 2 basking bulbs one 100 watt now and one 75 watt - w/ the weather the 75 has been on and off being used - summer only the 100 watt is used and winter a 150 watt goes in it gets below zero here in the winter -- I also have the two tanks in a warmer room - temps run from 90's on the floor to different temps on the basking piece directly under the lamps- the center lamp behind the UVB is a 75 watt second basking spot temps run in the 90's on the rock -- he basks in both spots -- I have 3 gauges for temps 2 digitals and one stick on for ambient temps -- I also use a IR gun for spot checks --

This visual helps a lot, the new Reptisun T5 10.0 will be here Monday, and I’m going to the pet store today after work for an Intense basking bulb. I will post a pic once I have it rearranged, to see if it’s better. I’ll also need to get a probe thermometer and an IR gun, now I just use a regular temp gun

 

[Sadie]

This visual helps a lot, the new Reptisun T5 10.0 will be here Monday, and I’m going to the pet store today after work for an Intense basking bulb. I will post a pic once I have it rearranged, to see if it’s better. I’ll also need to get a probe thermometer and an IR gun, now I just use a regular temp gun

Is this the solar meter your using?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076GXJFJG

what is regular temp gun?

 

[haleygreer]

Yes that’s the Solarmeter I'm using, I’ll also show a pic of the temp gun i’m using, I assume there are better ones than the one I have so I just referred to mine as “regular”. I’m looking to get a better one though, just not sure what to look for. The replacement tube bulb won’t arrive until monday, but I bought a 100W intense basking spot to put where I previously had the mercury vapor bulb, along with a 75W in the middle. I will monitor temps and raise the domes as needed. Here’s a pic of the change and UVB on the middle cave and at the very front of the enclosure

 

[Sadie]

Yes that’s the Solarmeter I'm using, I’ll also show a pic of the temp gun i’m using, I assume there are better ones than the one I have so I just referred to mine as “regular”. I’m looking to get a better one though, just not sure what to look for. The replacement tube bulb won’t arrive until monday, but I bought a 100W intense basking spot to put where I previously had the mercury vapor bulb, along with a 75W in the middle. I will monitor temps and raise the domes as needed. Here’s a pic of the change and UVB on the middle cave and at the very front of the enclosure

Temp gun is fine - that 91 is w/ or w/ out the intense basking lamp?

 

[haleygreer]

Temp gun is fine - that 91 is w/ or w/ out the intense basking lamp?

It’s w/the 100W basking lamp, it’s all warmed up now (I had just got home and put the bulb in) and now the same spot measures about 103°

 

[haleygreer]

Quick update—new bulb came in a few days ago, and I measured the old bulb (6.8) and then the new bulb in the same spot (13.8). After a few hours I measured the new bulb again (8.5)— I guess it regulated or balanced? I’ve also been monitoring the ambient temp with the new heat bulbs. it’s been low 80’s on the cool side and high 80’s on the warm side for ambient, but for a few of the days they’ve been skewing high with cool side in the high 80’s and warm side in the mid 90’s. Not sure if I should turn off a bulb or raise one up or something to fix this, but those measurements are from battery-powered ambient thermometers. I still need to get a few probe thermometers, any recommendations?

 

[Sadie]

Quick update—new bulb came in a few days ago, and I measured the old bulb (6.8) and then the new bulb in the same spot (13.8). After a few hours I measured the new bulb again (8.5)— I guess it regulated or balanced? I’ve also been monitoring the ambient temp with the new heat bulbs. it’s been low 80’s on the cool side and high 80’s on the warm side for ambient, but for a few of the days they’ve been skewing high with cool side in the high 80’s and warm side in the mid 90’s. Not sure if I should turn off a bulb or raise one up or something to fix this, but those measurements are from battery-powered ambient thermometers. I still need to get a few probe thermometers, any recommendations?

It sounds like the temps are all good w/ the higher mid tank in the 90's
Zoo Med digital probes seem to be the most common used