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

[steve]

I'll have to research different models first... any recommendations out there?

[Kallistos]

I don't know, this little test strip is made for humans, it checks if the UVB is high, low or moderate.
http://www.shop.com/op/~UV_Intensity_Me ... sourceid=3

It's only $5, I'm assuming every reptile bulb will show High.


Those really nice UV meters cost around $450...I've wanted to get one.....
Does anyone here know how many MicroWatts/cm2 is good for turtles. I know the T-rex MVB gives off 50 MicroWatts/cm2. I'm curious what the Reptisun 10.0 gives off.

[SpotsMama]

Try a search on ebay. The one that popped up on top was a buy-it-now for $135. It would ship from GB.

[Kallistos]

hmm intersting. I have no idea acutally what to look for in a UV meter though. I think we should contact Repti-sun and see if they have any explanation...I doubt it's coincidence.

[grey goose]

Well, I didn't think too much about it at the time, but Zoo-Med says the 10.0 is for "desert reptiles". I think that says it all. RES are definitely NOT found in the desert, not so much for lack of water, but because there is no clouds or foliage to act as a filter....ALSO there seems to be some who think RES, and other captive reptiles in the same order don't need ANY UVB. I've seen some discussion on this @ ATP, I'll try to get a link.

[Kallistos]

This post is making me worried/aggravating my paranoia

Alright so I have a T-rex active UV heat 160 watt at about 2 feet away and there's a 1/4" mesh between the basking area and light. Are they gonna get this "UV" poisoning or are they getting enough UV?

[SpotsMama]

The T-rex is a mercury vapor bulb (MVB). The ones in question are flourescent, which is a different type of bulb.

Actually, the t-rex - especially the 160 watt lamp - is far more powerful than any flourescent. You are right to keep yours a large distance from the basking turtles because the MVBs are so strong. I use a MVB and really like it. Spot likes it too.

The flourescents are supposed to be rather weak compared to an MVB or, expecially, to the sun. The concern is that recently several turtles are having problems with their eyes or have been reluctant to bask when they've been exposed to a reptisun compact flourescent (I THINK all the reports of problems have been from the compacts as opposed to the long tubes). That's very puzzling because the floursecents are supposed to be so weak.

Is it just a coincidence that the turtles with concerns have been recently exposed to reptisun compact flourescent? Could be - eye problems and reluctance to bask are pretty common turtle complaints. On the other hand, there have been so many it's starting to be worrisome. Also, anpparently these compacts are putting out an odd colored light. Maybe it's not too much UVB but something else that's causing problems for the turtles.

At any rate, are your turtles having problems with their eyes? Are they suddenly reluctant to bask? If so, it's overwhelmingly likely that the problem is something else, not your MVB bulb.

[grey goose]

That's the problem! How do you know if your guy is getting too much UVB? Or not enough UVB.... A UVB meter (and the education to interpret the results) should be the way to go...But a lot of people on this forum are struggling to afford the right tank size, filter , basking ramp etc. I may be called a "purest" when it comes to caring for my turtles but I just want them to be comfortable and happy in the environment that I provide them. Overkill is the word that comes to mind in this case.
Go with the 5.0 (compact or tube) and keep them at least 12" away from your prized possession......

[Kallistos]

Well on the T-rex website it says the MVB provides 50 microwatts/square cm. According to them this is ideal for reptiles ,but there's no way every single reptile requires the same amount of UVB output. I'm curious as to how many microwatts/square cm is ideal for red ear sliders. The UV meters, I THINK measure the UVB output in that measurement.

[SpotsMama]

If someone on here (for example, Steve) should happen to get a meter so he can independently verify what the manufacturers are saying, and he's willing to share his experience with the rest of us, then that would be really nice since we can't all, as you say, go buy a meter ourselves.

That said, the only bulb I've seen where alarm bells have been raised is the reptisun compact flourescent - both the 5.0 and 10.0 - unless I've missed something along the way. And....the sort of concerns that are being raised are pretty serious, if they are true, for what's supposed to be a weak bulb. Marisa said turtle experts generally say to put flourescent bulbs 6" to 8" from the turtle because they are so weak. It would be nice to put the questions about the reptisun compact flourescents to rest.

RESowner34 already has a nice MVB bulb. If he's not currently having any problems with it, I don't think he should change. I'm happy with my MVB too!

[steve]

If I do get my hands one one, I will definitely pass on the info. (though that means I would need a new Reptisun, which I don't plan on buying again) However, there are a couple of good sites with this kind of readings. My suspicion is really that a handful of bulbs just put out too much UVB, so I can't independently verify everyone's bulb... though I would like too!

There are also concerns that MVBs are too strong as well, but that's a whole different topic

[Kallistos]

Wow, well it seems someone has attempted to measure the output of almost all the popular bulbs!

Here's the link

http://russiantortoise.org/uvb.htm

This information could be utilized if we knew how many microwatts/cm² Red Eared Sliders need...

[marisa]

Someone once posted about buying one and what surprised her was how many bulbs were NOT emitting the UVB they said they were---some even were giving out virtually none.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Wow, well it seems someone has attempted to measure the output of almost all the popular bulbs!

Here's the link

http://russiantortoise.org/uvb.htm

This information could be utilized if we knew how many microwatts/cm² Red Eared Sliders need...

Thanks for that link! That was amazing information. As a result, I just upgraded to a Powersun Mercury Vapor floodlamp (100W) today for Sheba. It looks like it should do the trick for her.

Marisa or Steve, is there any way that UV output link can be added to the lighting sticky?

[steve]

Actually, that link and a couple of other UVB links are in the new lighting/basking section, but has not been uploaded. We do plan on integrating more of the content into the stickies for a bit of redundancy.