Lighting Information
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Following on the lighting thread, one of the most interesting and useful posts on this always controversial subject appeared in May on the WCT list. Take note of the equivalent times suggested below as being equal to a minute of sunlight! The James Ball article asserts that manufacturers have been reluctant to sell high UVB bulbs to the general public because of the potential dangers of high UVB output for humans. Thus, he set out to measure the UVB output of common bulbs sold for reptiles and found them to be very low in UVB output. This convinced me to get my adults outside as often as possible for a bask in patio tubs! Todd Lori — according to information presented by Jamkes C Ball PhD (now somewhat dated but still good to know) at: http://www.anapsid.org/jamesball.html”Commercial full-spectrum light sources, such as the Duro-Test Vita-Lite, have UV-B light irradiances about 100 times lower than natural sunlight”While he matches it against the old Vita Light which was weaker than the Zoo Med lights or especially the Active UV bulbs – in this case at 6 inches above the animal 7 hours were needed to equal 5 minutes of sun at the equater.There is a graph which helps in the artical – while this is not the information exactly you are looking for it – it will give you a feel for what you need to know.Other sources which will help :Spectral Character of Sunlight Modulates Photosynthesis of Previtamin D3 and Its Photoisomers in Human Skin at: http://www.users.mis.net/~pthrush/lighting/scsmp.htmlThe following artical compares both UVA and UVB in commonly used reptile bulbsTest results from SA Fish and ReptileConducted by UVP – Ultra Violet ProductsRegistered Laboratory, South Australiahttp://www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/enclosure/uvlightingtestsa.phpAccording to the UVB Heat web site the Sunlight at the equater is 265 microwatts per square centimeter in Germany it is 175 (much like Long Island I assume ) A Reptisun 5.0 gives 10 microwatts per square cmhttp://uvheat.com/measure.htmlSo get them outside – if only for 5 minutes.D-=-Darrell SennekeDirector – World Chelonian Trust – http://www.chelonia.org TSA – Communications Advisor / Webmaster – http://www.turtlesurvival.orgIUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group- memberIUCN / TSA Indotestudo elongata Taxon Management Group Point Person Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL – Now only $29.95 per month!
Hello, I joined this group awhile back, but haven’t posted until now. I keep three diamondbacks in a 55 gal. tank, and use the Zoo Med Powersun UVB/heat lamps. I like them, and the turtles love them, and bask under them when they won’t come out of the water for a regular heat bulb. My only problem with them is that they burn out much faster than they’re supposed to. They’re guaranteed for a year, and of the four I’ve had, one died in a month, the second in three months, the third in three months, and one is still burning after six months, but shuts on and off occasionally for no apparent reason. I do use 10″ ceramic-base fixtures that are rated for the wattage. I bought two bulbs originally, and Zoo Med has replaced them both, but I haven’t yet tried to get the replacements replaced. I’m a contributor to the rec.pets.herp newsgroup, and this subject comes up over there quite often. May I copy this post over to them? Thanks, Cindy
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