Urgent Care :: swollen/puffy eye (pic included)

[grey goose]

The last two links require Adobe Reader. Google and download it for free.........

[cam722]

Very interesting reading. Thanks Grey Goose

[marisa]

Pink/purple/violet light---pretty much the same to me (I think a while back I had this discussion with someone else about the color). For a heat source, I've always used a lightbulb that advertises itself as giving off "true-colored light". My turtles also get sunlight from a window on their tanks in the PM. Perhaps that's why they've never had any problems with the light.

Bigals only sells the 10.0 version. I don't know what color the 5.0 gives off.

[mkoby]

I've been using the Reptisun 10.0 since I got Rascal a week ago today. So far so good. I am worried though after all the posts! I have the bulb pointed straight down at the basking spot at least 12 inches away. It's not at an angle so she would have to look straight up to look at it. I hope I've taken all the precautions. I finally have a healthy turtle and want to keep it that way!

[grey goose]

I started out using the 5.0 compact when they first came out. It had a pinkish hue, the 10.0 is more purple/violet...I also just started using that highly reflective fixture with a 10.0 that is 2 months old (October). Makes me wonder......

[mkoby]

I swear that Rascal's lift eye looked puffy today. Only when it was closed though. I turned off the uvb and gave her eye drops just in case.

[narcolepticbeesh]

update: ive stopped using the drops, and my turtle has been doing great. he has been active and eating lots.

i have noticed that my turtle doesnt seem to like the reptisun all that much. i have moved that to at least 2 feet away from the basking spot, and it seems as though whenever the light is on, my turtle doesnt seem to bask. not sure if im reading into it too much or not though.


to everyone: thanks for all the support, and all the great information. maybe we should have a sticky warning people of the light? there seems to be a connection between this light and unhappy turtles.

[grey goose]

Call me crazy, but as soon as I got home I made some modifications to my UVB setup that should drastically reduce the UVB until the bulb burns in.

First I switched out the old but very shiny hood (I actually polished it, thinking the more reflection, the better) for a less reflective, stainless hood.



The new hood......



Then I attached a piece of cardboard with a small cutout to the new hood with clothespins.



I took this shot without a flash. That 10.0 looks way too intense. The amount of light that gets thru now is reflected on the screen.



Since I started using that shiny hood (the bulb is 2 months old) I've noticed all three turts have become noticeably darker...maybe they got a sunburn?

[narcolepticbeesh]

cool new hood. keep us informed if the turtles seem to like that better.

[marisa]

The burn rate on the Reptisun compact flourescent is supposed to be disappointingly fast...

[grey goose]

I started out using that bulb with a clamp lamp that had a white reflector on my old tank since early October. I can't recall exactly how far away from the basking area it was, but I know it was more than 12", probably more like 14-15". When I moved them to the new tank, I switched to the chrome hood. About 3-4 days later the eye problems started......at first I blamed the conditioner (changed to Reptisafe), then the substrate (tiles, also removed and replaced with aquarium rock) The only thing left is the that hood.
I'm going to make the cutout a little larger each week and watch them closely. I've also noticed that as they shed around the legs and neck, the new skin is lighter. I have a feeling that lamp is just too intense, even at 12" away....

[marisa]

The use of a reflector with a shiny interior to reflect rays is supposed to something like double the strength of the bulb.

[grey goose]

Also the bulb is positioned horizontally, which exposes more of the bulb's surface to the kids....

[steve]

I think this topic has convinced me to buy a UV meter.

[grey goose]

It's the only way to know for sure.....Too bad they cost so much!