Repti-glo vs Reptisun?

[Peachypink]

I remember seeing something about this a while back but I can't remember where. Exo Terra Repti-glo T-8 fluorescent or the Zoo Med Reptisun T-8 fluorescent.....Does anybody know if one is better than the other?

I'm finding Exo Terra is cheaper and since I have to buy 2 at a time that would be great.

 

[oneillchameleons]

I remember reading a report a while back indicating that reptisun bulbs put out a significantly higher amount of UVB. I started years ago using reptisun and since I haven't seen any detrimental effects and my chams have always been in great health I've just always stuck with them. I'll try to find the report for you when I have a minute.

EDIT: here is the link but unfortunately they are updating the UVB output survey with a new spectrometer. Still an interesting read though.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/fluorescenttubes.htm

 

[KLowery88]

The two brands I hear recommended are the Reptisun and Arcadia. I think Repti-glo are not as good. Don't put out as much UVB, like oneillchameleons said, and they don't last as long.

 

[Remkon]

The Dutch chameleon club recommends the arcadia d3 uvb compact for most chameleons... According to their test it should provide sufficient uvb for about 1.5year in the ideal spectrums.

I'm using a Reptech 26w spiral lamp.. I think Reptech is a Dutch brand so it may not be available in the US. It's similar to solar raptor in performance.

Generally reptisun, exoterra and zoomed lamps are frowned upon on the Dutch forums according to their tests they don't perform to well... Which is strange since almost every pet store has it as their only brands... Also it seems a populair brand on these forums... (Maybe different lamps?)

 

[KLowery88]

The Dutch chameleon club recommends the arcadia d3 uvb compact for most chameleons... According to their test it should provide sufficient uvb for about 1.5year in the ideal spectrums.

I'm using a Reptech 26w spiral lamp.. I think Reptech is a Dutch brand so it may not be available in the US. It's similar to solar raptor in performance.

Generally reptisun, exoterra and zoomed lamps are frowned upon on the Dutch forums according to their tests they don't perform to well... Which is strange since almost every pet store has it as their only brands... Also it seems a populair brand on these forums... (Maybe different lamps?)

The linear tube Zoomed Reptisun bulbs are the best of the pet store brands available here in the US, but Arcadia is better. The problem is that getting Arcadia bulbs can be difficult here in the States. There are only a few people shipping them in from Europe, one of them being Todd from lightyourreptiles.com, who I bought my quad fixture and Arcadia bulb from.

Exoterra and Zoomed are the largest makers of reptile products and they have the North American market on lock. I haven't seen any other brand bulbs in stores and even at online stores like Amazon.

 

[Remkon]

The linear tube Zoomed Reptisun bulbs are the best of the pet store brands available here in the US, but Arcadia is better. The problem is that getting Arcadia bulbs can be difficult here in the States. There are only a few people shipping them in from Europe, one of them being Todd from lightyourreptiles.com, who I bought my quad fixture and Arcadia bulb from.

Exoterra and Zoomed are the largest makers of reptile products and they have the North American market on lock. I haven't seen any other brand bulbs in stores and even at online stores like Amazon.

ah ok... That sucks...
Guess my animals are lucky that I have plenty to pick from...

I will probably buy the arcadia after my reptech needs to be swapped out... It's slightly more expensive than reptech but it should be ok to swap out every year instead of 6 months so it's cheaper in the end.

 

[Peachypink]

The linear tube Zoomed Reptisun bulbs are the best of the pet store brands available here in the US, but Arcadia is better. The problem is that getting Arcadia bulbs can be difficult here in the States. There are only a few people shipping them in from Europe, one of them being Todd from lightyourreptiles.com, who I bought my quad fixture and Arcadia bulb from.

Exoterra and Zoomed are the largest makers of reptile products and they have the North American market on lock. I haven't seen any other brand bulbs in stores and even at online stores like Amazon.

Thanks for the info on this. I looked up the Arcadia's...they don't look too bad, about $5 more than the Repti-suns, especially if they last a year. Can they really last that long? I have a vet who told me that in actuality the Reptisuns and Repti-glo's only last about 3 moths as opposed to the 6. I need to do a bit more research on that.

 

[Carlton]

I have a vet who told me that in actuality the Reptisuns and Repti-glo's only last about 3 moths as opposed to the 6. I need to do a bit more research on that.

If I were to choose between info I got from this forum and from a vet, I'd go with the forum info. We have top notch sponsors who offer the most updated products. A vet's info could be outdated.

 

[Peachypink]

If I were to choose between info I got from this forum and from a vet, I'd go with the forum info. We have top notch sponsors who offer the most updated products. A vet's info could be outdated.

True...however, I do like to try and do my own research too because let's face it, nobody's perfect. He was our zoo vet but retired from that a while back and now works only when needed for exotics. He's great. But like you said, who knows how long ago he learned that.