I think I'm ready to purchase a MegaRay

[george]

I think I am ready to purchase a MegaRay light. Or if there is a similar product I may be interested in that as well?

Anyways, does anyone have experience with the self ballast type (the ones you can screw into a incandescent lamp socket)? It seems that out of all of the posts that I have read everyone that has one has the separate ballast and lamp. I am not opposed to getting the separate ballast and lamp but was wondering if anyone has compared the two, or had good results from the self ballast lamp. What do you all recommend?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for wattage size if I was planning on having the light approximately 15 inches from my lizards back. I guess what I mean is would the 100 Watt MegaRay be way too hot at this distance? I am sure that these things put out a lot more heat than a standard incandescent.

Thanks for your help.

[Marie]

The reason I perfer the EB kit is
1) the bulbs are warranteed for 1 year but the SBs are warranteed for 6 months. The price for the bulbs is about the same. So once you pay the initial investment for the ballast you pay i/2 the money for bulbs by buying 1 a year instead of 2. Of course if you have a meter you can keep the bulbs longer. I have had one bulb for 20 months and it is still doing good. I have read that the SBs internal ballast more fragile to jostling.

2)With the EB the heat is seperate from the UVB. So if it gets colder you just need to change the wattage of the heat or move the heat closer without effecting the UVB. And the reverse is true. If it gets too hot you just need to reduce the wattage, turn off the heat, or move it further without touching the UVB.

The newer version of Trex Active UV is manufactured by Westron using Bob MacCargar's (Reptile UV) design. It is basically the MegaRay SB's. But with Reptile UV MegaRay you can call them and tell them your set up and they will let you know which bulb will work out best. Also if you need the UVB to reach further they will special rate a bulb that will reach the distance you need. Dragon is 2 feet from her basking lamps so they always send me a higher rated bulb. She's special. LOL jk. They do that for anyone that needs it.


Maybe someone else will have more information on the SBs.

[prism_wolf]

I've used SBs, but not the MR brand. For the reasons Marie already mentioned...I prefer the EBs for better temperature control without compromising the amount of UVB needed the temps get too warm and needing to move the lamp away. I prefer the longer warranty, too.

[george]

Thanks for the info. I guess that the EB only comes in 60W. so that is the one that I will get.

Thanks for your help. I will probably order on Friday so let me know if there is anything else that I should consider.

[Marie]

Yes the EB only comes in 60watt because it is similiar to fluorescents in that they require supplemental heat and an external ballast.

[flyinlizard1]

George u will not be un-happy with the megaray 60 EB its a great setup, I also can recommend there heat emitter also

[george]

Thanks for the input everyone,

Unfortunately I had some unexpected things come up that make me financially unable to purchase the MegaRay now. Hopefully I will be back on track in 2 weeks when I get paid and I can order then.

It has been very warm and sunny outside lately so Dino has been outside soaking in some good rays for a hour or so a day for the last couple of days. I hope this continues until I can get the lamp.

Thanks again

[Marie]

Sorry to hear. But natural unfiltered sunlight is the best UVB source there is. Just inconsistant sometimes. Even if it is cloudy he will get good UVB especially close to noon. As long as it is warm outside and not storming you can take him out. I've gotten pretty good readings on cloudy days. Water (clouds) don't seem to block all the UVB. Try to get him out between midmorning and midafternoon. Too early and too late the readings can get low. It was real sunny and bright at 7 the other day and I still only got a 3 due to the angle of the sun (has to go through more atmosphere). I don't think it will get cool anytime soon here in Ohio. I'm in Cleveland and it will stay hot just to spite me. LOL

[george]

Hi Marie,

I did not realize there was another person from OH on here. Over the weekend it was right at noon that we were outside each day, but unfortunately during the week I cant get Dino out until 5:30pm at the very earliest. The good news is that I am taking next week off ;D I will be spending the whole week with Dino (I'm sure that will aggravate him) but he will get to go outside everyday during the good hours and then next Friday hopefully I will have some cash for the MegaRay. Anyways, it has been hot here too. I kind of think that it is funny that I am cranking up the Air conditioner and at the same time I am producing well over 500 Watts of heat and light in Dino's cage....Oh well, I guess it is true that us humans become our Lizard's slaves

[Marie]

Well I have no A/C. But my electrick bill is great. Patrick & Denise who lives upstairs has air though. They have 3 green & 1 rhino. They are members here too but don't have much time to post. So there are at least 4 Ohio people on the forum. Probably a few more.

[george]

I ordered the Mega Ray on Sunday. I can't wait to get it!

I thought it was strange though that I had not really received any confirmation of my order so I called the company up. I spoke to Bob and he said they had received it but that they were out of stock. He assured me that it will be shipping (to me) early next week. We then had a 10 -15 minute chat about the light and how it should be set up in the enclosure along with the other lights. He seems like a very nice guy.

Well anyways, i can't wait to get it. I think Dino is going to love it.

[prism_wolf]

Bob is one of those guys who really cares to make sure you have exactly what you need and makes sure all your questions have been answered. He is definitely for the igs. Just ask his kids where their allowance goes instead of in their pockets...;-)

[george]

Well, the light has still not shipped so I am getting a little frustrated, but staying patient.

I have had a tracking number since Sunday but it still says "billing information has been received" but it has not been picked up from the shipper yet. Seems strange because the same happend when I was waiting to get my repaired xbox360 back from MS last week. The 3 day shipping took 6 day from the time I received my tracking # to the time I received my box. Not sure where the problem is here but I find it hard to believe it is UPS.

I'll keep you posted.

[prism_wolf]

If you have a tracking number than it's already in the hands of UPS. Sounds like a UPS problem to me...

[george]

Ok,

Well I got the MegaRay last friday (I have had it for a week now). So far Dino goes back and forth between the basking spot with the UV and another without UV dividing his time about 50 - 50. Sometimes he shows more markings and coloration but not to often. The thing is, is that he has almost completly stopped using his swimming pool for pooping and he is not eating as much as before the lamp. He is still eating pretty good but he is not a pig right now. He is really staying under his Mega Ray when he poops, so when he basks there he is laying in or near it. He is also pooping smaller amounts of poop but a lot more frequesntly. There are usually 2 droplings, when I get home from work that he is laying on or near. The temp where the megaray is shining is 97.7 degrees F and the mega ray is 13 inches from his back.

Dino is also showing more and more signs that he is a male. Not only is he showing his hemopenal after poos but he is also developing brain bumps now and his femoral pores are sticking out between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch.


Any clue why he is having less apitite and all of the small more frequent poos and not using his water to poo in? Could the MEga Ray be contributing? Or could the changes to manhood be causing this?

Thanks