Thanks for the input. Kevin
----- Original Message ----- From: "Russel Traher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 1:01 AM Subject: Re: [Gecko] UVB lighting > I agree the self ballasted mercury vapour UV lamps need to be used with > caution. With that said, I've used them extensively for the past 5 years > and they are in a sense "the next best thing to the sun" (considering the > sun rarely shines in Melbourne). They are very useful in large enclosures > with sun loving herps, even including some diurnal sun loving amphibians > (Litoria raniformis). The OSRAM ULTRAVITALUX that I use has a very narrow > spread of UV.....as you deviate for the exact centre of the bulb, centimetre > by centimetre the output drops significantly......if you are 30cm from the > centre of the bulb, the UV level is almost zero. The main benefit over the > fluorescent lamps, is they throw UV up to meter away. At 45cm from an > unexposed bulb the UV output is comparable to a Melbourne summer day between > 8-9:00am. I have had no problems using them.......they were used to fill a > deficit that the fluorescent lamps couldn't fill. The behaviour, and > associated microhabitat needs to be researched and the enclosure set up to > mimic it, such as places to get away from UV etc.. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Magnus Myklatun" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, 6 February 2002 10:53 > Subject: Re: [Gecko] UVB lighting > > > > > > Hi > > > > >For UVB lighting, they are the next best thing to the sun. > > > > Now I hate to argue, but I don't agree with the argument that this is such > a > > good thing. It's true that these lamps do create more UV than others, but > > reptiles in the wild are not exposed to the UV from the sun constantly. > They > > spend time in and out of the shade, and some diurnal reptiles spend the > > hottest part of the day (which is when the UV output is the greatest) > hidden > > away from the sun. > > Secondly, usually the figures that are used to compare UV output from a > lamp > > to the sun is numbers taken at noon when the UV radiation from the sun > would > > be the greatest. It's not noon all day, so the UV numbers from the sun can > > be misleading. The effects of increased UV radiation without the shade > that > > reptiles can escape to in the wild, may include the same problems as > > excessive UV exposure in humans. > > These UV bulbs are probably very effective in large, zoo-type exhibits, > but > > in my oppinion, to strong for the average reptile enclosure. > > > > >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. > > > > This sounds more like a benefit from added UVA, not UVB... > > > > >One should avoid eye contact with these bulbs. This can be done > > >by a proper set up. > > > > But they are ok for a reptile's eyes??? > > > > > > Magnus > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at > http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. > > > > > ########################################################################### > > THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV > > WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: > [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ > > The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings. > > > ########################################################################### > > > > >
