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Post by Tesa on Aug 11, 2004 5:50:52 GMT -8
OK...I'm gonna retract my statement (somewhat) about flourescents being the safest way to go.
Apparently the new Mega-Ray bulbs are the single most effective AND safest way (aside from natural sunlight) to provide the animal with necessary uvb exposure. I hesitate to outright promote them simply because I have not personally tested them. I'm from the Show Me State.... I wanna SEE proof. ;D As Dom mentioned, it's not a simple matter of measuring the total amount of uvb emitted by a bulb. UVB in the 290-300 nm wavelength is actually usable by the iguana. The blood hydroxy level is used as an indicator of sufficient (or insufficient) absorption of usable UVB.
I do still believe tho, that a flourescent tube is safer for beginners than a regular Merc Vapor.
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Post by dominick on Aug 11, 2004 6:39:39 GMT -8
Hi there Iguanaking- I've posted ot the meter group in hopes of getting some hard facts on the UVB output of: 40 watt 48" T12 Designer 5,000K Sunstick Rapid Start Fluorescent Light Bulb (Sylvania F40/SUNSTICK 24713)Let's see what we get. I'm curious to see where they fall in the scheme of things. I don't doubt that your Igs are in excellent health and the light is certainly a part of that. But, given your excellent husbandry, it's hard to say if the light is doing enough, or if the bone density is a result of the three factors of health that iguanas require, those being Light, heat and a high calcium/low phosphorous diet. So, I'm curious about these lights and their level of UVB output. Will advise what I find. Thanks for the support from you and everyone else on the Quit. After almost 30 years of a 3 pack a day habit, it's been a bit difficult, but not unbearable. The great health I feel (being able to actually breath deep is a REAL benefit) is a great motivator!
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Post by dominick on Aug 11, 2004 6:47:55 GMT -8
Indeed Tesa, you are completely right.
Those new lamps are much safer than some regular MV lamps. Some MV lamps produced by unscrupulous manufacturers who believe more is better are produced to emit 2,000+ micro-thingys which is unsafe for reptiles and humans alike. These lamps are produced in China under little to no quality assurance tests, so light bleeds are everywhere and it makes them downright dangerous.
The other lamp is designed to focus the proper (and safe amount) of UVB at the target spot with little light bleed outside the targeted area. They are produced under strict QA guidelines, making them safer than some other MV lamps. Of course there are "safe" MV lamps that produce a lower-level UVB, but are unstable and burn out quickly.
Thanks for the additional input.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 11, 2004 11:48:47 GMT -8
Yup, that would be the correct model Dominick. Thanks for checking those out on the UV group, if they turn out to be junk, I'll be trashing them and getting MegaRays. ;D
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Post by WillemsMom on Aug 11, 2004 15:58:49 GMT -8
IguanaKing, I just wanted to say God Bless you, your little brother and his family. Every day the situation over there brings me sadness. Deep in my heart I don't understand it, and I can't just accept it. You and your loved ones will be in my prayers.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 11, 2004 16:42:19 GMT -8
Thank you very much WillemsMom for the kind words.
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Post by dominick on Aug 11, 2004 18:27:53 GMT -8
OK IK- First off, I too will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I am remiss for not mentioning it sooner. I have several close friends over there and they are in my thoughts and prayers everyday. You are a good man for taking care of your brother's family while he performs an important duty to our country. God Bless you all and I pray for his swift and safe return. In re-reading the thread, I happened to actually notice your signature line this time. I LMAO and actually snorted the water I was drinking through my nose! That is one of the funniest ones I've seen. Well done! Now, onto the business of this thread. Once again, in my quest for knowledge I exposed myself and my ignorance to the Meter Group and received the answers I was looking for. The slight stinging will eventually subside. LOL Just kidding. Here's the response I received from Bob Mac, probably the most informed person we have available right now for reptile UV information, in it's entirety. ________________________________________ Dominick my friend, this is just SOP. Do a search on the lamp. If it is designed for human use, it is useless for reptiles. Why, you ask? Simply because "they" (bulb manufacturers) don't want to flood their clients with UVR.(Can you guess why?) A few years ago I had a conversion with Hershel Allerhan (Westron Lighting) about lamps that allow UV radiation through (this is before I really knew him). I was trying to find out why they couldn't design a MV FLOOD lamp that would allow more UVB through. He said to me "Bob, you people are the only NUTS that want UVR. Nobody else does." The Feds keep a close eye on the amount of UVR emitted from commercial type lamps. This "full spectrum" 5,000K Sunstick tube is a great addition to give a "natural" lighting condition to basking reptiles and will help the emotional aspect of many creatures suffering from depression due to lack of natural light (not to be confused with "bright" light). Many times I have seen reptiles that the owners have claimed to be just the calmest and most docile of creatures that have had "poor" lighting. Once put under higher UVB and better lighting, they became a bit less personable. They simply started acting as they would have under better living conditions. The subject of "specialty" commercial lamps has come up many times on this list. The answer will always be the same. Lamps sold for commercial human use to improve lighting conditions will not emit any real usable UVB. Not to be confused with photo therapy lamps or photography lamps such as the Sylvania BL lamps. I hope this helps, BobMac www.candgpaint.comwww.reptileuv.comwww.thegreenhouseinny.comgroups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/If you do nothing else today, visit and join the "International Iguana Society" at www.iguanasociety.org________________________________________ So, as I suspected all along, even though the Igs seem to be thriving under these lamps, it may not be the best source of useable UVB for them. I hope that this clears this issue up for now. I'm still investigating the blood hydroxy levels thing. I think we all need to learn more about that and how it relates to UVB exposure. Now, where did I put that link to ReptileUV?? ;D
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Post by Tesa on Aug 11, 2004 18:34:56 GMT -8
I am so sorry to hear that your brother was deployed to Iraq. I understand his duty and the importance of our efforts there, but it still is sad that he has to leave his family behind in such scary circumstances. I'm so happy to hear you are taking care of his wife and family in his absence, it proves what a great and caring brother you are. My family and I wish him a safe and speedy return to the states. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers until he comes home.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 12, 2004 5:15:34 GMT -8
Thank you to everyone for the words of support.
Well, it looks like I have a lot of 'splainin' to do to my igs. I definitely value Bob Mac's research on the subject and everyone else's help and input. So, since he mentions the behavioral changes in his post as well, I guess I won't throw them away, I'll just use them along-side the MegaRays. Some day I'll have a UVB meter and I'll measure the sun stick output to see just how bad they are, but I'll be getting MegaRays right away.
Thanks again. ;D
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Post by dominick on Aug 12, 2004 7:16:05 GMT -8
Hi IK-
Glad to hear you are making the switch to that other lamp.
I'd love to hear some feedback from you when you get them set-up and running. I know I saw a tremendous difference in Rex within a day of using them. Debbie also experienced a huge difference in color and behavior, and I'd like to hear what you experience.
Another interesting point I just read on the Meter Group.
"I don't know if this is accurate in reptiles.....but in humans there needs to be at least a 30% loss of bone density before it visible on plain film x-rays"
If this is true for reptiles also, that would explain some of the x-ray results. But I certainly don't think your Igs are suffering any ill health.
My best to you.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 14, 2004 18:26:29 GMT -8
Hi Dom and everybody,
I just ordered my Mega Ray EB from Carolina Crickets. So far its a pretty smooth transaction and they have great communication about order status. I looked into the Mega Ray Zoo kit also, but its just a little too powerful for my situation. I want to give them good UV, not cook them, LOL! I guess their power is the reason their sale is restricted only to people who own a UV meter. ;D
Sean
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