Compact bulb okay for a couple days?

[Ironlung]

As of now I'm using a compact bulb to produce the UVB rays. Money is a little tight and I wanted to know if my cham will be okay for a couple days until i can get the reptisun?

 

[PantherVeileD]

I think it should be ok. But get the reptisun asap.

 

[skeeta]

Probably better to go without the compact for those "couple of days" and try to get your cham out into the real-and-true sun. (but get the tube as quick as you can)

 

[spatulars]

Throw the compact away tonight.

 

[Ironlung]

Well I'm going out of town for two days and if I get rid of the light wont it be worse if she doesnt get any UVB rays as apposed to the rays from the compact?
I'm having a friend mist and feed her while I'm gone and I'm going to order the reptisun now if its that serious.

 

[ChromaChameleons]

It would take weeks and not days for your cham to feel the effects of UVB deprivation. I agree with Skeeta.. toss the CF. The Cham will be fine without UVB for a few days.

 

[Ironlung]

OK will do. I just ordered the reptisun and a fixture. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

It would take weeks and not days for your cham to feel the effects of UVB deprivation. I agree with Skeeta.. toss the CF. The Cham will be fine without UVB for a few days.

Throw the compact away tonight.

Probably better to go without the compact for those "couple of days" and try to get your cham out into the real-and-true sun. (but get the tube as quick as you can)

I agree, better off without it

 

[adam1v]

I take it people are talking about the exo terra compact bulb:

Im not using one, and havent seen these around much, but why are they not preffered?

 

[dodolah]

just noticed that you are in Florida.
Why not toss the compact and take him out to enjoy the real sun?

 

[Jordan]

I take it people are talking about the exo terra compact bulb:

Im not using one, and havent seen these around much, but why are they not preffered?

It actually produces the best wavelengths for a reptile to properly absorb calcium. The real issue is it also boost wavelengths under this point. It borders on producing UVc which does not naturally occur on Earth. It is normally filtered out by the atmosphere. If mounted to close it could produce a number of problems from eyes to skin.

 

[Tygerr]

Im not using one, and havent seen these around much, but why are they not preffered?

This is why: A problem with some of the new high UVB output fluorescent compact lamps and tubes

 

[adam1v]

do you think its ok to use with a reptarium mesh tank? i.e slightly better for penatrating the mesh?

The report from that link doesn’t really tell me much as a chameleon owner.
What it does however is reiterate that some turtle and bearded dragon owners have placed a high UVB bulb too close to their animals, most likely the same distance as to where they had their 5.0 bulb which should not be the case.

If placed at a safe distance in your vivarium I think it should be ok.
Each bulb/tube has recommended distances.

 

[Tygerr]

I think it's just a waste of money. Linear tube flourescents like the ReptiSun 5.0 have earned their reputations by serving chameleon keepers well for many years. I don't know why anyone would want to deviate away from a successful formula.

If you're worried about UV penetration into a dark mesh reptarium, rather invest in a UV meter (or find someone with a UV meter) to determine what sort of levels you're getting in there. If it does prove to be inadequate, I would first experiment with a 10.0 linear tube before I moved to any other type of lamp (and that includes MV bulbs as well).

 

[Brad Ramsey]

do you think its ok to use with a reptarium mesh tank? i.e slightly better for penatrating the mesh?

The report from that link doesn’t really tell me much as a chameleon owner.
What it does however is reiterate that some turtle and bearded dragon owners have placed a high UVB bulb too close to their animals, most likely the same distance as to where they had their 5.0 bulb which should not be the case.

If placed at a safe distance in your vivarium I think it should be ok.
Each bulb/tube has recommended distances.

No!
There are multiple documented cases where these lights specifically hurt chameleons.
Why would you even want to argue taking that risk?

-Brad

 

[adam1v]

Dont get me wrong, If theres a high risk I wont be using one, but that website doesnt appear to detail any risk to chameleons, there's also no eviedence to suggest its the bulbs fault but the owners instead, in particular my favourite is:

we have heard of a few isolated cases; usually these have been following the positioning of an especially high-UVB lamp (such as certain types of mercury vapour lamp) particularly close to a species that does not normally bask in sunlight.

this indicates stupidity and not a bulb problem.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

There have been cases with chameleons (addressed on these forums) where the bulb was used per manufacturer's recommendations and eye issues developed. Caught in time these issues were corrected by simply removing the cf bulb.
It is my understanding that having gone through a "burn in" period (150 hours is a guess) the light would be less harmful. .... However .....
Using the Repti-Sun 5.0 linear fluorescent tube has served me well and I highly recommend it. It has surpassed all other options (save the real sun) in controlled tests and in overall general use.
Personally, I don't understand why anyone would use anything else to provide UVB rays to an interior chameleon enclosure.

-Brad

 

[Tygerr]

Dont get me wrong, If theres a high risk I wont be using one, but that website doesnt appear to detail any risk to chameleons, there's also no eviedence to suggest its the bulbs fault but the owners instead, in particular my favourite is:
this indicates stupidity and not a bulb problem.

There have been owners on this forum that have reported having problems with their chams due to compact bulbs. The issues clear up once the bulbs have been replaced.

There have been no such reports of problems with the recommended linear UV tubes.

So you say that it is not a bulb problem, but the way I see it: with a linear flourescent = no risk of getting it wrong; with a compact flourescent = risk of causing harm to your cham. That to me represents a bulb problem, no matter what the level of skill or experience the keeper may have.

As I said, why mess with a successful formula? As far as chams go, if you have to use a compact flourescent for your enclosure, because there is no room for a tube light, then there must be something wrong with your setup (it's probably too small, or you've over-complicated it).

If these big reptile specialist supply companies are going to manufacture products like this, we as herpetologists shouldn't have to change our methods to get the products to work safely. The manufacturers should learn more about how the animals are best kept, and how their customers will be using the products, before they go out and market potentially dangerous products like this.

 

[adam1v]

thats fair comments.
Im quite new to this board and have not come accross any discussions on the compact bulb before, and the only mention ive seen of it is from that website which isnt particurly clear on the details.

I certainly wont buy a compact bulb myself, but the linear horizontal tubes are ok in 10.0 ?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I have used the Repti-Sun 10.0, and I know keepers who use reptariams or flexariums, seem to prefer the 10.0 due to the density of the mesh on these enclosures.
I think the 10.0 is fine.

-Brad