Megaray ppl in here

[jubjub2004]

I bought a ceramic socket fixture for the megaray SB, I've been using an old plastic socket dome for 2 months. The new one is rated up to 150 watts and 120 Volts. The SB megaray is 160W 120V. Is it safe to use, and ok for this expensive bulb? I have no idea of the old fixture's specs, so I figure it is probly worse than the new one. I couldn't find any fixtures at homedepot.com, I ended up going to petco and bought this Flukers 8.5" ceramic socket fixture for 15$. It also says on the box "for incandescent bulbs or ceramic heat emitters." Dunno why it would'nt just say for all bulbs.!? Anyone have this bulb what do you use?

[dominick]

Hi Jub Jub-

I also run Mega-Ray SB's and EB's. For the SB I use a standard ceramic-socket dome fixture just like the one you have.

Though the 150-watt rating is a bit low for the 160-watt SB, I have had no problems with it so far.

Of course, be safe: Make sure there is nothing flammable around the dome and never touch a hot bulb (LOL, inside joke).

Also, with the intense UVB emitted by the SB, it only needs to run for about 6 hours a day for them to absorb enough UVB to make the bio-photosynthesis happen. Be sure your iguana still has an alternate light source for the day/night 12/12 cycle.

Also, if you have any concerns be sure to contact www.reptileuv.com and ask the questions outright. They are very good about responding.

Good luck with it!

[jubjub2004]

haha i get the joke, but how can u not touch it to see how hot it is? . Thats great to hear u have the same one. I have 2 iggy's that i seperated a week ago due to more frequent fighting, so i've had one on it for half the day then the other one. I just ordered an EB Megaray and their HE, which will go in the other fixture (bought 2). I'm thinking they should have some UVA for that alternative light source. Do you guys use a UVA bulb with the megaray? And when I get the EB I should only run it for 6 hrs. too? thanks

[dominick]

Good question JubJub!

UVA and full spectrum light is just as important to providing for an iguanas health. It's just a lot easier to provide.

Light quality is a very important aspect of reptile husbandry. This encompasses the entire light spectrum, including visible light and the UVR range. Lighting quality goes to psychological health and well being.

The best recommendation for a great full spectrum lighting (in ADDITION to your UVB source) are the GE true lights.

I'm so glad you brought that up!

Happy holidays.

[prism_wolf]

I also use the same type for my EB as you and Dom have. Once you turn the EB off though, you will need an added light source to keep the iguana on the right photoperiod schedule. If have not done this part yet and have the EB on the whole 12 hours. As long as you have the 12 hours of UVA.

I also have the Mega-Ray heat projector. When I do get the second timer for the EB I will have the back up Reptisun's for UVA (and about 60 uW/cm2 of UVB) which are on now anyway. During this holiday break I will be tweaking his lights some....

[IguanaKing]

I run my EB for a full 12 hours too. I just discovered that I am using a 150W pet store ceramic fixture and hood with my 250W IR lamp (that I have been running 12 hours per day in said fixture for over 8 years), and my MegaRay EB is in a Lowe's 250W ceramic fixture and hood. I'm not sure exactly where the 150W rating comes from, but the fire risk comes from materials that are incompatible with heat, such as plastic, paper, and wood. If you have a ceramic fixture...really, the only limitation will be how much heat the wires to the fixture can withstand before melting.

Yes, definitely, you should also have "full-spectrum" lighting in your igs' habitats. I have always used these "full-spectrum" lights (Sylvania Sunsticks), and I have noticed that my igs don't seem to be prone to the same types of psychoses that I often read about in other peoples' igs on the internet. There have also been studies linking mental illness in human beings to the absense of certain wavelengths of light. I have a 9-year-old male who will occasionally get aggressive and try to bite me...for a whole 2 seconds before he gets that "oh yeah, I'm not supposed to bite dad" look on his face.

[prism_wolf]

There have also been studies linking mental illness in human beings to the absense of certain wavelengths of light. I have a 9-year-old male who will occasionally get aggressive and try to bite me...for a whole 2 seconds before he gets that "oh yeah, I'm not supposed to bite dad" look on his face.

I hope this isn't a 9 yr old child your talking about? *snicker snicker* ;D

[IguanaKing]

LOL, V...yup, it is...I occasionally have to put him back in the basement and feed him fishheads.

[SurvivorSteph]

We found that duct tape works well too... then you can keep them in their room so they don't look quite as ghostly when company's over. ;D

[Tesa]

HA! I'm sending my kids to visit ya'll! ;D

but how can u not touch it to see how hot it is?

Dom!! I'm not the only one with prevailing cuiosity!

[WillemsMom]

Hey, Sean, Just need to check something with you. Willie has the EB megaray, a 250 Watt IR bulb and (2) 4' T rex flourescents. All are on for 12 hours. Does he need full spectrum light as well. I'm trying to avoid psychosis at all costs. Also it's almost time to replace the t rex tubes. Maybe I should get the sunsticks you mention instead. ?

[IguanaKing]

It couldn't hurt. I'm assuming your T-Rex tubes were your first UVB source, so as long as Willy has his MegaRay to give him that, there shouldn't be any problem with replacing the T-Rex tubes with Sylvanias.

Now...please remember...my theory about full-spectrum lighting hasn't really been proven beyond all doubt. Heh...its a very weakly-supported hypothesis at best ;D. My igs' behavior may have something to do with how I raised them too. Anyway...too many factors to consider, but I have found a combination that works, and I'm sticking with it. My new girl, Audrey, is my best buddy also...she was hanging out with me last night while the new year came in. Yup...she stayed up late with daddy, its ok though, she got plenty of sleep yesterday and I let her sleep in today. I wish I had my own digital camera (I'll have to buy one soon)...she was so cute, she kept climbing onto my shoulder and then wrapping herself around the back of my neck. I would look at her, and she'd look right back at me...tilting her head from side to side. I'd put her down somewhere and sit down in front of the computer, then, not even a minute later, THUMP...out of nowhere, she flies through the air and lands on my back. She did this several times last night.

[WillemsMom]

How adorable! Audrey sounds very sweet and loving. Willie is not there yet, but we're working on it. He lay loose on my shoulder last night for about an hour while I watched the Jon Benet docudrama.
When I wrote my sister about watching TV with Will, she wrote back and asked if I ever had to wrestle the remote from him. hahahah That'll be the day when I lose.

I don't think you're far off about the full spectrum rays and mental health. When I find agiain what I read about it, I'll send it to you.

[WillemsMom]

Hi Sean,

I can't bring up the whole article about the benefits of full spectrum light, but here is the introduction to it...

"A variety of very serious health issues, several of which have now reached epidemic proportions, are due in significant part to American's lack of sufficient exposure to natural sunlight. These issues include the "winter blues"and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Read now about this "shady" epidemic and how you can overcome it, including my strongest product recommendation to those with winter blues!"

What they were trying to sell was a full spectrum light panel for $325.00. hahahaha! Nevertheless there is research that substantiates your hypothesis.