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Hi, Everybody,

I recently installed a Zoo Med 5.0 CF over my turtles' basking spot (at about 12 or 13"); they haven't seemed overly interested in basking since I did so. They did once for about half an hour, and I haven't noticed any puffy eyes, lethargy, or loss of appetite.

I looked up some discussions about this bulb online, but most of the results from this forum and others were several years old. I was wondering if there is a web site, etc., where I could find updated reviews/discussions about the Zoo Med CF safety levels? Any current knowledge you guys could share here would be equally helpful.

Thank you, in advance!

I am interested in this too

Are you still using a regular lamp for basking?

Not sure about any new info but I have been using exo Terra CFL's for almost 2 years with no I'll effects.

Steve--I am still using a spotlight basking bulb for UVA and heat. It's a little close to the basking spot, but it's also pretty old (I basically use it for heat). It's by All Living Things.

For now, I have just turned off the CF--but they still aren't basking. Their appetites are still healthy, though, so a couple of times a day I just place them in some old (dry) kiddie pools with a warm incandescent bulb (which they are happy to warm up under). After they have dried off for a while, I put them back in. I like to think of it as pseudo-dry-docking...I really don't want to repeat any fungal episodes, if I can help it.

I apologize for double-posting, but I have a quick update: The Zoo Med bulb is still off, but the other heat bulb is on. They just came out to bask! Should I turn on the UVB bulb and wait to see if they avoid it? Or just "count my blessings" and let them bask without it?

You do want some form of UVB. I would try it again. If they stop basking once again, perhaps look into another bulb.

I used the zoo med 10 about a year ago without issue. I've since switched to a mercury vapor bulb for both heat and UVB.

I do believe they are all safe. They all don't put out a lot of uvb however. You want the best for your pet? Buy a Mega Ray.

Thank you all for the advice--I was thinking about a MegaRay or other kind of MVB, but I had heard there was a big recall. Also, both of my Uromastyx had been avoiding their MVB's for a while, so I ended up switching them to Interheat "bathroom bulbs" (which is actually what the breeder I bought them from uses). Since then, they have returned to regular basking (the lizards, not the turtles).

From what I gather most mvb's aren't worth the box they come in and i dont think there was Ever a recall on mega rays. You must be thinking about some other bulb.I just looked up infrheat bulbs. They are sold to pig farmers for heat. Infrared lights. Not uvb.Use what you want but for me I will cook my pork on the grill.

Does that mean that infrared includes yellow light? I thought it was just red (I'm just asking because my Interheat puts out yellow light). There's a stickied discussion that mentions the MegaRay recall near the top of this forum section. Back to the topic at hand, though, I will try "re-hiring" the Zoo Med CF, tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

I was not aware of a recall. My bad. The bulb your using must be the clear heat lamp?
http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail. ... d_id=85682

Yes, that would be the one. So apparently, it's used for cooking lamb, too?

And chicken!!

Instead of a spotlight, look into floods. Mega-Ray has had numerous issues over the last several years but it looks like they are back on track. I'd personally wait a little longer to see how they do.