I keep seeing this happen within the forum. Someone buys a T5HO fixture thinking the bulb that comes with it is a UVB bulb. This IS NOT always the case.
Now if you are buying a reptisun fixture they DO come with a 5.0 uvb bulb or 10.0 bulb (you want the 5.0 bulb strength). If you are buying an Arcadia ProT5 these come with the UVB bulb (choose the 6% bulb and DO NOT buy the shadedweller version). So I am not speaking to these fixtures with the coordinating uvb bulb they come with.
I am speaking about buying a brand that is not one of the two mentioned above. Such as vivarium electronics, SunBlaster, and VivoSun just to name a few. I have seen many different types on the market especially on Amazon. There are clues that they are selling a fixture WITHOUT a UVB bulb. Not only will they not specify that it comes with a UVB bulb. They may use words like grow light, 6400k, 6500k, and cool white. Please note these details specifically refer to bulbs that are good for plant growth that have NO UVB light wavelengths.
So what is happening is the chameleon is not getting any UVB at all. You will see health decline. Immune system can become compromised and the first signs are illness issues such as a respiratory infection, lack of appetite, and closing eyes during the day. These are some of the typical first signs. The longer they go without UVB lighting they then suffer from MBD. As they are not getting the lighting they need and their bodies start compromising the integrity of the bones trying to compensate for the lack of UVB lighting.
Please note not all T5HO UVB bulbs are created the same. I only trust the Reptisun and Arcadia brand of bulbs. These are proven to work the way we need them too. Also note off brand fixtures can have crummy reflectors on them making it so you get reduced UVI levels even using the correct UVB bulb. So if you see an off brand T5HO fixture or T5HO fixture with offbrand UVB bulb and it is cheaper please know this is not where you want to save money.
I have used vivarium electronics and vivosun T5HO fixtures with both Arcadia and Reptisun bulbs. These texted with a solarmeter 6.5 are proven to work as expected. But if you buy this fixture you have to additionally buy the UVB bulb. Because the bulb that comes with it is a plant grow light only.
A few additional details. For single bulb T5HO fixtures you want to buy your bulbs in the 2 inch length shorter than your fixture. So 24 inch fixture means a 22 inch bulb. Reptisun bulbs typically should be replaced every 6 mo while arcadia bulbs can be replaced every 12 months.
If you have any questions about UVB lighting please feel free to ask.
Now if you are buying a reptisun fixture they DO come with a 5.0 uvb bulb or 10.0 bulb (you want the 5.0 bulb strength). If you are buying an Arcadia ProT5 these come with the UVB bulb (choose the 6% bulb and DO NOT buy the shadedweller version). So I am not speaking to these fixtures with the coordinating uvb bulb they come with.
I am speaking about buying a brand that is not one of the two mentioned above. Such as vivarium electronics, SunBlaster, and VivoSun just to name a few. I have seen many different types on the market especially on Amazon. There are clues that they are selling a fixture WITHOUT a UVB bulb. Not only will they not specify that it comes with a UVB bulb. They may use words like grow light, 6400k, 6500k, and cool white. Please note these details specifically refer to bulbs that are good for plant growth that have NO UVB light wavelengths.
So what is happening is the chameleon is not getting any UVB at all. You will see health decline. Immune system can become compromised and the first signs are illness issues such as a respiratory infection, lack of appetite, and closing eyes during the day. These are some of the typical first signs. The longer they go without UVB lighting they then suffer from MBD. As they are not getting the lighting they need and their bodies start compromising the integrity of the bones trying to compensate for the lack of UVB lighting.
Please note not all T5HO UVB bulbs are created the same. I only trust the Reptisun and Arcadia brand of bulbs. These are proven to work the way we need them too. Also note off brand fixtures can have crummy reflectors on them making it so you get reduced UVI levels even using the correct UVB bulb. So if you see an off brand T5HO fixture or T5HO fixture with offbrand UVB bulb and it is cheaper please know this is not where you want to save money.
I have used vivarium electronics and vivosun T5HO fixtures with both Arcadia and Reptisun bulbs. These texted with a solarmeter 6.5 are proven to work as expected. But if you buy this fixture you have to additionally buy the UVB bulb. Because the bulb that comes with it is a plant grow light only.
A few additional details. For single bulb T5HO fixtures you want to buy your bulbs in the 2 inch length shorter than your fixture. So 24 inch fixture means a 22 inch bulb. Reptisun bulbs typically should be replaced every 6 mo while arcadia bulbs can be replaced every 12 months.
If you have any questions about UVB lighting please feel free to ask.
