Equipment Review and Discussion :: UVB light..need some help

[daredevilgirl013]

Ok it's getting colder out and I'm getting less time to take Mikey out for his sunlight so I'm going to get him a UVB light. I'm just wondering though..does it come in light bulb form instead of a light bar? I don't really have any place to put a light bar on his tank and I prefer to have another flood light kinda style instead of a bar. (even though the flood light doesn't clip onto his tank at all as it falls off, but that's why I have big sturdy glasses to hold the light up with)

So if anyone knows where I can get a bulb form of the UVB please let me know. I don't really know if my pet store has it or not. If they come in light bars..then I'm going to need some ideas quick on what to do cause there is no screen over his rubber maid and there's really no way I could get a screen over it, plus I'm not going to leave the light on top of the edges of the packer to possibly melt or damage the packer either or him for that matter too as it would be close to him.

So suggestions, help? Please.

[sonyj]

Mine is the coil light that you can get from petsmart and it will go in a regular clamp light.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 7995183612

[cam722]

That's the same one I use..

[daredevilgirl013]

From the way it reads it has a UVA output too in the bulb. Is that right? Cause if it is then I won't order another flood light.

And thank you for the link, that was what I was looking for was something besides a bar. Maybe when I get his new tank set up I can get a bar one.

[sonyj]

The UVA is minimal, and it isn't enough to produce any heat. It's florescent so it doesn't produce any heat whatsoever, so use a regular light bulb for a heat lamp.

[daredevilgirl013]

Thanks. I ordered it for him. Just like today I can't take him outside, it's too windy and it's only going to be 50 out. So I figure it's best to just order it as the days are getting shorter and colder.

Plus I'm hopefully going to get a new job today as I have an interview at the book store at the mall! *smiles* Which is right up my alley as I love books, so hopefully that'll help out with the turtle fund!

[cam722]

ahhh another bibliophile

I'm not sure what type of job would be my fav to have.. I think a bookstore would be up there though .. have to love the discounts..

Ditto what sonyj said on the heat .. just use a regular housebulb that will make your basking temp around 88-90. They are a lot less expensive than the heaters and are much easier to replace

[daredevilgirl013]

Yeah he's already got a UVA, I was just thinking that if I could just use that one bulb instead I would since it said it had UVA, but hey oh well. He's my little baby.

And yes the discounts..I can't wait for those if I get the job..especially with all the new Star Wars books coming out. *big grin* And the C.S.I. series! Too bad though the last Harry Potter isn't out yet...or else I would be jumping for joy right there!

[AlienShakespeare]

I recently rescued a red ear slider and have been struggling to quickly set up a nice habitat for him. I went to PetSmart and got this UVA lamp...

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 1382643636

and an ExoTerra Infrared Heat lamp. The pet store said that alternating these lights, between day and night time would be satisfactory for the turtle.
Was the pet store incorrect?

[sonyj]

Yes, the petstore was incorrect (no big shock they are 90% of the time). There should not be any type of light at night. Turtles need their lights on a day/night cycle. To keep the water at a constant temp use a water heater, and use a heat bulb and a UVB bulb during the day. The heat bulb (can be a normal household bulb - no need to spend extra money on one) and the UVB bulb(needs to emit 7-10% UVB rays) should be over the basking area and on for around 12 hours during the day but off at night.

The basking area should be a place where he can completely haul out of water and dry all parts of his shell under the lights(both the top and bottom of the shell). The best basking area that I've found is one that can adjust with the height of your water seeing as your RES needs as much water as the tank can hold without giving him room to escape. And remember 10 gallons per inch of shell is the tank size recommended to keep a happy, healthy turtle.

[butterfly]

Mine is the coil light that you can get from petsmart and it will go in a regular clamp light.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 7995183612

This is the same exact light I use too but I havent found what the percentage of UVB light output is on it. Do you happen to know?

[steve]

I can't find anywhere that states it either (not even on the ESU site), but it's probably 5% or maybe 7%

[sonyj]

I do believe that it is on the low side of emitting UVB rays like Steve said, so it needs to be replaced sooner than the other ones, about every six months. Next time I buy one I will definitly buy one that emits 7-10%.

[marisa]

The coil lamp in the link emits 3% UVB. (I'm using one with a painted hatchling currently.) It should be placed fairly close to the basking turtle (6-7 inches) and needs to be replaced after 6 months of use.

[steve]

Thanks for the clarification, I suspected that it was low but not that low. I wonder if that is a design flaw on compact coils compared to other compact fluorescent.