Habitat - Indoor :: Basking lightbulb BROKE!

[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.

[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?

[momerath42]

At least 6 inches...

[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.

[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.

[momerath42]

It was a ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Lamp, 100w I have used these bulbs for 3 months now with no trouble until now!

[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.

[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. (:

[Daniel3507]

ive had to do the potato thing and it does work. i actually learned about it from watching home improvement. haha

[PcBuilder14]

Me 2! LOL. That's the first time I saw that. Of course he didn't do it right and got hurt.LOL!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[PcBuilder14]

One of my bulbs was $8 and the other was $13. Mine were cheap, and I haven't had a problem with them.

[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!