Habitat - Indoor :: Is 10.0 UVB so bad?

[VanishingReality]

Well I will have to replace his UVB bulb soon. He currently has a 10.0 UVB exo-terra that is about 10 inches away. It never bothered his eyes before even when it was new. He does have a regular reptile screen top so it does block some of the UVB.

He has had a hard time shedding his first layer since he was fed poorly at the store so he needs as much UVB as he can get.

So should I stick with the 10.0 or switch to the 5.0?

[meltedspork]

You need to ditch the screen top and replace it with eggcrate or something else... a screen blocks too much UVB, especially if he needs as much as he can get.

[megcornell]

Once you get a proper screen, the 10.0 will be a little strong.
I'd downgrade to the 5.0.

[Fuzzy Hamster]

Don't forget to make sure that he is also getting enough vitamin E to encourage shedding.

[PcBuilder14]

I use the exact same 10.0 UVB you are and I don't have anything between the bulb and basking area except one layer of chicken wire and I've never had a problem with mine hurting my turtle's eyes at 10 inches away. So you can get either one it doesn't metter, you just have to keep one farther away than the other.

[imderanged]

I switched to 100w MVB a while ago. I actually do not know how that compares with the tubes rated 5.0 and 10.0(does anyone know ) but the MVB seems stronger than the 5.0 I used to have. Pickle basks more and finally shed.

[rjfsnf]

I have a screen on the top of my tank also. Does anyone know if the 5.0 bulb should be 13 watt or 20 watt? My tank uses the coiled type.

[PcBuilder14]

mine's a 26 watt, a 13 watt is to small.

[MTski]

random question about the screens and egg crates that meltedspork talked about.
Is this okay to have as a top to my tank?
http://www.petco.com/product/4357/Four- ... reens.aspx

[VanishingReality]

He loves sweet potato and gets it once a week.

But is the eggcrate going to be enough to hold out my cats? I was always a little unsure about how to put it on the tank so it stays.

[Daniel3507]

MTski, that screen will block out alot of the UVB. the holes should be 1/2'' which makes egg crate perfect to use.

you can cut the egg crate so that it fits snug inside the rim of the tank. i cut mine so it fits pretty tight.

[MTski]

Thanks Daniel where can i get this egg crate?

[Daniel3507]

hardware stores have it. its usually in lighting. well thats where it was at home depot

[MTski]

sounds good thank you

[Daniel3507]

forgot to mention that its really called light diffuser. might help you find it.