Equipment Review and Discussion :: Which UVA/UVB and Heat lamp would be best?

[planet.caravan]

Time for a new bulb since its been about a year!
I cannot remember which kind I bought last year so now I am wondering:
Which of the two brands would be best for a UVA/UVB and heat bulb (all in one, cause thats what my turtle has always had)

ZooMed's Power Sun Uv Flood Lamp
OR
Exo Terra's Solar Glo Bulb
??????

Anyone have any experiences with any of the two?
Which brand has a better reputation and would be best for my baby?

[papoopeepoo]

i wouldn't go with either when you have the choice of Mega-Ray.

http://www.reptileuv.com

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Well when I had my turtles, I used this UVB light. I"m pretty sure it has UVA & UVB in it.

[freshprince2146]

Well when I had my turtles, I used this UVB light. I"m pretty sure it has UVA & UVB in it.

Im pretty sure that it doesn't give off uva. Somebody correct me if i'm wrong.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Well, I'm not completely sure either. But your turtles don't have to have UVA. UVB is the one that really helps. From what I've read, the UVB is the main on you need out of the 2.

[adam85491]

UVA is heat. You can use a regular 60 watt bulb for this. Don't waste money on a ten dollar reptile bulb.

UVB comes specifically from UVB bulbs, which are quite expensive and need to be replaced every six months. The Zoomed Repti Sun 5.0 and the Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 are the most recommended bulbs for this.

This means you need both bulbs, unless you use an MVB bulb which will do the job of both. However, you need a high rated clamp lamp, and a tank of at least 55 gallons to use these bulbs.

[papoopeepoo]

UVA is NOT heat. Heat can be given off in many forms. The coil UVB bulbs DO emit UVA & B, but not heat. The best for your turtles is infra-red, but the heat from lightbulbs works just fine.

UVA is necessary for normal activity in your turtle, such as eating habits and basking habits.

The difference between UVA and B, infra-red, and the light humans can see is simply wave lengths. A good example of UVA light is a "black light," which may or may not emit heat at all.

[adam85491]

A simple incandescent house bulb will supply your turtle with sufficient UVA rays while meeting the requirement for heat.

[V Lou]

A simple incandescent house bulb will supply your turtle with sufficient UVA rays while meeting the requirement for heat.

I hope this is helpful:
Incandescent light bulbs do not emit UVA, or we would all have skin cancer from sitting indoors at night with our incandescent light bulbs turned on.

10% of light given off from an Incandescent light bulb is from the Visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light ranges from red (lower frequency) across the rainbow of colors to violet (higher freqency). It allows us to see colors. Visible light has lower frequencies and longer wavelengths than UVA/B.

The remaining 90% of light emitted from an Incandescent bulb is from the Infrared portion of the em spectrum (below red, below the Visible light range with even lower frequencies/longer wavelenghts), as heat. Infrared light is useful as a heat source. This is why Incand. bulbs get so hot.

Ultraviolet light is not visible (black/dark) to us (ultraviolet means above/beyond violet on the em spectrum; in other words, above the Visible range) and has dangerously high frequencies, which can cause skin cancer. UV gives off a small amount of heat.

Light emitted from UVA and UVB lamps are not safe to look at directly, just as you should never look directly at the sun (it can blind you), so be careful when installing and using your UVA and/or UVB light sources.

Glass and plexiglass both block UVA/B light. (The glass of the UVA/B bulb itself is designed to not block that UV light, of course.) Water blocks about 50% of the light. You can protect your eyes if you position glass or plexiglass between you/your eyes and the UV source.

You might check out this url to read about light: http://www.answers.com/topic/light
Very well done. About a quarter of the way down, you will find information on incandescent light.

[V Lou]

I also recommend spending some serious time perusing all over this Website:
http://www.reptileuv.com/

[marisa]

UVA rays are NOT heat.

UVB bulbs also emit some UVA rays.

[papoopeepoo]

freshman chemistry classes are useful in the care of reptiles.

[munkly]

i am using exo terra same bulb tht turtlelover has recommended u and it provides UVB and its harmless to yr turtle`s eyes whereas some ppl have complained fr reptisun tht it damaged turtle`s eyes! swollen eyes i mean! so ill say get reptiglow =)

[questionnone]

seems like this thread did not really finish so it left me with questions as well.

So both UVA and UVB rays are required ideally?

Which brand would you recommend and what type (What decimal 5.0, 10.0, or percentage 5%)? is 5% UVB and 30% UVA a good combo?

I heard reptisun is better than the reptiglo?

I was trying to decide between buying another dome lamp and just buying bulbs to replace or buying what the clerk suggested (the long tube).

I have a red heat lamp right now but I am pretty sure it does not give out any rays, I bought it for that reason since I have it on 24/7 so I didn't want the turtle to be over exposed.

Aside from the light situation I also wanted to ask about lights being harmful for your turtle's eyes. I read somewhere that uv bulbs can actually be as bad as looking into the sun so is it a good idea to be clamping that lamp where the basking area is?

[TurtleKid199]

placing a uvb bulb near your room may cause one skin cancer?
My mum asked though