Equipment Review and Discussion :: Life Expectancy of a Reptisun 5.0

[TheOneCalledRed]

I've had this bulb for six months now and even though its on I remember hearing something about it no longer emitting UVB light after six months. Should I go out and buy another one or just stick with this one till it burns out?

Plz respond soon, thank you.

[jenaero]

there's a spot on the bulb where you can write the date you started using it (pretty helpful actually) and it's recommended that you change them every 6 months to 1 year. I assume the uvb output decreases over time but I dont know how much

[SpotsMama]

I think you should change it out at the six month point. The UV output declines over time and by 6 months it's probably too weak to be of much more use.

[DavidY]

The compact flourescent bulbs are supposed to last a little longer than the tube flourescents. Tubes should be replaced every 6 months but you may be able to get away with 9 months with a CF bulb. The UV levels do drop over time but they still emit some after that amount of time. The question is, at what point is it considered not enough? For optimal health you should replace the bulbs sooner. If money is really tight, you could probably get by with a couple of extra months, but you might be risking your turtle's long-term health the longer you wait.

[marisa]

I've changed the compact flourescents every 6-8 months (closer to 8 months most times) and haven't had any health problems with my turtles. If you do wait longer than 6 months and the bulb is further away from the turtle (around 8 inches or more), you might move it an inch or two closer.

Since you're in Florida, if you can supplement regularly with unfiltered sunlight (bring your turtle outdoors) on a regular basis, you should be able to go longer without replacing the bulb.