I do recommend the Mercury Vapor UVB Bulbs for heliothermic reptiles. For UVB lighting, they are the next best thing to the sun. We have some rescued chuckwallas which have had a remarkable response to these bulbs. They had an increased appetite and started breeding like crazy. The 5% UVB fluorescents did not even compare to these. They may be overkill for nocturnal geckos. We have no Phelsuma (yet!). Has anybody tried these bulbs on Phelsuma? How did that work? One should avoid eye contact with these bulbs. This can be done by a proper set up. They are also very fragile, so treat them gently. We got the best deal on these bulbs from the Bean Farm.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh Klavir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 9:39 AM Subject: RE: [Gecko] UVB lighting > Percentages in UVB bulbs is referring to the amount of UVB radiation that is > being emitted for each watt of power being used. For example, if you have a > 20watt fluorescent bulb with a 5% UVB output, you will know that 1watt of > power is used for UVB radiation, while the other 19 watts is pushing UVA and > light in the visible spectrum. (Not an exact science.) > This does not mean that buying a higher wattage fluorescent tube will yield > more UVB output, since increases in wattage usually coincide with longer > tube lengths, and hence, the bulb needs the increased wattage to push UVB > radiation over a greater area. > This becomes more interesting when looking at the newer Mercury Vapor UVB > Bulbs. These bulbs also rate around 5%, but are available in 100watt, and > 160 watt sizes, so that 5% translates into a much greater amount of UV > radiation. > I just want to qualify that these percentage terms are a construct of > marketing, and not science. > Using percentages is not always the best way to do comparative bulb > analysis. Check out the spectral analysis graphs on the bulb packages. Look > for the graph that shows the tallest spike between 290nm and 310nm. Now you > can see the differences by design, but not necessarily which bulb is the > best performer in real life application. It really takes usage and > experience to show you which bulb has the highest quality components and > quality of craftsmanship. Not all bulbs perform the same, even if they were > designed to do so, and that can be a big issue in regards to longevity. > > cheers, > josh > > -----Original Message----- > From: Russel Traher [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 2:30 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Gecko] UVB lighting > > > Josh, do you have an explanation for marketing term 2.0%, 5.0% reptisun > etc.. What is it a percentage of? > > Russ > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Josh Klavir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, 5 February 2002 3:53 > Subject: RE: [Gecko] UVB lighting > > > > Hello all, > > > > Just wanted to clarify a couple of things that seem to lead to confusion > > when looking at lighting products: > > > > Full Spectrum: A term used in the marketing of light bulbs to indicate > that > > the bulb emits a balanced spectrum of visible light. Full Spectrum does in > > no way indicate any UV radiation will be produced by the bulb. > > > > Broad Spectrum: The term used in marketing a light bulb that emits some > > degree of balanced visible spectrum light, and will emit some UV > radiation. > > > > These terms may be debated in their meaning by scientists, but these are > > pretty clear cut definitions used in sales and marketing (the folks who > > write the copy that goes on the bulb box). > > > > Finally, a Vita-Lite should be considered a 1% UVB bulb > > > > cheers, > > Josh > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Doug Johnston [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 1:46 PM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [Gecko] UVB lighting > > > > > > Barbie... > > > > The main drawback of the Reptisun 5.0 bulbs is the cost. If you can go > > in with someone else (or can afford to buy a case(12) on your own) you > > can usually find better prices than the ridiculous ones charged by most > > pet stores. Look around the net... lllreptile usually has periodic > > sales. Others, too. You can usually find them for about $20 each that > > way. If you buy enough, you can sometimes get them to waive shipping, > > too. Some folks let you mix and match bulb sizes, some don't. > > > > Barbie Heid wrote: > > > > > > >The few comparisons I've seen rate Vitalite at about the bottom of UVB > > > > producers. Reptisun 5.0 produces 3-4 times more. Many successful > herpers > > > > have used Vitalights for years, but they just don't produce much UVB. > > > > > > I didn't know that. I'm just a creature of habit, been using them for > > > years - but I think this time around I'm going to try that Reptisun. > > > > > > Barbie >^,,^< > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > http://members.tripod.com/barbieheid/ > > > > > > > > > ########################################################################### > > > THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV > > > WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ > > > The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings. > > > > > > ########################################################################### > > > > -- > > Doug Johnston > > ---------------------------------------------------- > > Sign Up for NetZero Platinum Today > > Only $9.95 per month! > > http://my.netzero.net/s/signup?r=platinum&refcd=PT97 > > > > >
