How do I decide the wattage....

[mjt36]

Hey guys... How do I decide what wattage of UV light bulb I need? Does it go by enclosure size? Thanks for the info!

[IguanaKing]

UVB bulbs actually come in a pretty limited range of wattages and their UVB output isn't necessarily a function of wattage. The most important factor in deciding which UVB lamp is right for you is the distance from the basking area to where you plan to put the lamps. Most lamps available in pet stores require that you place them between 6 to 8 inches of your ig. Others, such as the MegaRay and Mystic would be harmful to your ig at that short a distance, but they're great for situations where its impractical to get them within 6 to 8 inches. I'm not sure what the minimum distance is for the MegaRay, but with the Mystic it is 10 inches...meaning the ig should NEVER have the opportunity to get closer than 10 inches from the lamps. Another consideration is whether or not there is the potential for the lamp coming into contact with combustible cage materials due to your ig's activity. Fluorescent tubes are the safest in that department because they generate far less heat on their surfaces. Mercury vapor lamps generate more heat, so their mounting needs to be 100% secure. Also, with some lamps like the Mystic, you MUST also provide a good source of visible light since it puts off a very low level of visible light and can disturb the iguana's photoperiod, along with possibly causing eye damage due to the need for visible light to get the pupils to constrict properly.

[mjt36]

I've been researching the mystics, and I think they seem to be the "best" around right now... am I right? So in order to properly supplement the UV lighting, what type of lighting would provide the proper visible lighting?

I'm still designing my new enclosure, and im thinking I'm going to get a fluorescent mystic bulb to mount at the top front of the enclosure, lighting a "shelf" at the top of the enclosure that will be Zig's basking spot. I want to have it tall enough for her to climb down to the bottom to thermoregulate. Does that make sense? Sound good?

[Marie]

I haven't used Mystics so I don't know them.

I used an hour or more of unfiltered sunlight.
I have used Reptisuns 5
I have used the ZooMed Powersun.
I now use Reptile UV MegaRay EB Flood.

I have two 13 year old iguanas. One of them was deformed by MBD when I got her 11 years ago. I originally took them outside for their UVB daily until I got promoted and was working daytime. I got the ZooMed Reptisuns and used them for many years. But I could tell the lights weren't doing as good as them going outside. When the PowerSuns came out I decided that they seemed to be what I needed. At that time they made claims that their bulbs gave good UVB even at 6'. The ZooMed representative repeatedly pointed that out to me on the phone. I got it because Dragon didn't climb well and so needed it to reach further. In Octoberr of 2004, I accidently found myself on the Green Iguana Society message board. They were talking about MegaRays and how good the UVB was from them. Well I started to wonder if they would be better than the PowerSuns. So I gave Reptile UV a call and talked to a "salesman" named Bob. He was as enthusiastic as the salesman from ZooMed. I got on the message board and asked about the salesrepresentives of Reptile UV. Told them I talked to a salesman named Bob. Ask about the companiy's integrrity. Well I was told that I had talked to the owner that there was no other Bobs there. Was told he was as good as they come. So I decided I would probably change. Then Baby fell and fractured her back. So I decided I needed to change my UVB lighting. Also Dragon WBC was high also. When I posted about my iguanas I was contacted and told to talk to Bob since he was an excellent rehabber. So I called and he gave me a lot of advice. When we got to UVB, he told me the PowerSun was a good bulb if I changed how it was set up. I told him I had already talked to him about the MegaRays and wouldn't they be better he told me he thought so. So I bought one kit. I was going to use the PowerSun as a second basking spot. Once I set up both basking spots I noticed neither Baby or Dragon would bask under the PowerSun. They seem to perfer the MegaRay. Also they were basking more than they ever did before. That was all the recommendation I needed so I got them both a MegaRay. Baby's back healed so much quicker than the vet said it would take. Also seemed to be less nerve damage than what he said their would be. But iin March 2005 Dragon WBC was up again and we couldn't figure the cause. An xray was done it didn't show a cause but Dr Cecil said he was also concerned because Dragon's ribs were brittle. I was having my doubts if UVB was helping Dragon's bones like it did Baby's. Well after that Dragon started to get stronger and more active and then started to eat on her own in December. Well again Dragon went off food in mid June. Other than that she was still doing great. She was even climbing up on Baby's higher shelf. I made an appointment though. Well the day before the appointment she fell and I got scared for her ribs. So when I took her in I had blood and xrays done. Well the blood showed her WBC was up again. But the xrays showed no breakage from the fall. I told my vet how concerned my vet in California was concerned about her ribs. Dr Wendt said they looked pretty good now. I feel the MegaRays was a big contributor to both Baby's and Dragon's bone improvement. Now if I could figure out how to correct the WBC. I won't use anything else but MegaRays now.

Sorry for the long post.

[IguanaKing]

So far, the Mystics are looking good...but...I have not gotten blood tests on my iguanas yet since starting to use them in October 2005. That being said, however, I have noticed an increase in both appetite and activity levels. Audrey is so active now that I can't bring her to work with me in the summer like I used to be able to (I can't get her to sit still for more than a few minutes. The rest of the time she's trying to explore my instrument shop.) Both igs consume an enormous amount of food in a week. The MegaRay, on the other hand, does have a great deal of medical evidence behind it to insure that they will be beneficial to your iguana.

For supplemental visible light, alongside a lamp such as the Mystic, you can basically use normal household lamps in a seperate fixture. If you decide on the Mystic, I recommend that you buy two of them and get a 48" fixture with a stainless steel hood on it.