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Basking lightbulb BROKE!
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:10 amby momerath42
While I was out this evening, the basking light for my turtles BROKE. As in the actual LIGHT BULB broke and the glass went into the water! It is a wonder the turtles didn't cut themselves! I have no idea how it happened, but now I am going to have to buy a new light fixture! I tried to get the threaded portion of the broken bulb out with pliers but couldn't do it.
Has anyone else had this happen before? I am puzzled.
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:12 amby Nettle
I've never had it happen to me, but I heard that getting enough water splashed on it can cause it to explode. How far away was it from the water?
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:16 amby momerath42
At least 6 inches...
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:28 amby Nettle
The website says for the repti-glo 5.0 that it's effective up to 30 cm (12"), but I'm not sure what minimum is.
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:55 amby Chrisbarnett
I think its the heat bulb that broke...? relatively cold water on a very hot bulb will most always burst the bulb.
You should look into one of those splashproof halogens, If they get splashed with water, they do not shatter. Ask Site Admin steve about them, he has the halogens.
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:43 amby momerath42
It was a ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Lamp, 100w I have used these bulbs for 3 months now with no trouble until now!
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:54 amby imderanged
I have heard that you can stick a potato in the light socket (unplugged of course) to unscrew the broken bulb. Maybe you could try that to save the fixture.
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:54 amby Sarah89
My Uro's hood came with a busted fixture, it had half a bulb still stuck in the fixture. I got it out pretty easy with a pair of needle nose. the potato thing usually works too, just cut it in half and stick it in and twist. Make sure the fixture is not plugged in tho, as the potato does contain moisture. (:
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:05 amby Daniel3507
ive had to do the potato thing and it does work. i actually learned about it from watching home improvement. haha
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:37 pmby PcBuilder14
Me 2! LOL. That's the first time I saw that. Of course he didn't do it right and got hurt.LOL!
Posted:
Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 pmby momerath42
Thanks for the idea guys! I think in the meantime I will buy another fixture, it won't hurt to have a back up.
Posted:
Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:51 amby Bumby's Mom
Yep. A bit of water splashed and hit the bulb. It will immediately shatter. I got one of those "Turtle Tuff" bulbs that are water proof and haven't had a problem since. It is a halogen bulb.
Posted:
Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:46 amby taylor_a
I had one of those ceramic heat lamps....the first broke because of my own clumsiness but why the replacement broke I have NO idea. I'm going to assume it was because the socket I put it in from the previous bulb was damaged.
Now I'm not buying such expensive bulbs haha.
Posted:
Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:15 pmby PcBuilder14
One of my bulbs was $8 and the other was $13. Mine were cheap, and I haven't had a problem with them.
Posted:
Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:35 pmby momerath42
I got the zoomed deep dome socket and the reptisun 5.0 compact bulb. The bulb was expensive but has UVB and is *supposed* to last for a year. We'll see! I am still going to try to get the damaged bulb out of my other socket to use as a heat lamp. The reptisun bulb is suspended from a plant hook well above the tank for burn in. Thanks again everybody!