Compact Fluorescent lighting - Damaging to Reptile Eyes

[Mikoh4792]

I've read in the "products dangerous for your pets" thread that these bulbs can be damaging to the eyes of our reptiles. I also did some searching elsewhere and heard that this was the case for the first bulbs that came out for reptiles years ago and that now the bulbs have been improved to be safe. On another forum a member has e-mailed these reptile product companies and he goes on about how they have also said the problems were of past products.

For anyone who uses or has used these compact fluorescent bulbs, can you please comment on this issue?

http://i41.tinypic.com/j0cxev.jpg

[Danimal]

I have been using the 10.0 bulbs (2 ea) in 3 exo small compact light fixtures on 3 BD tanks for years, all my bearded dragons are healthy. I cannot tell you how many years. Its been long enough that I can no longer remember, fairly sure that I have been using them as long as the oldest one has been around, over 10 years but , again , I can't be certain.

[Mikoh4792]

I have been using the 10.0 bulbs (2 ea) in 3 exo small compact light fixtures on 3 BD tanks for years, all my bearded dragons are healthy. I cannot tell you how many years. Its been long enough that I can no longer remember, fairly sure that I have been using them as long as the oldest one has been around, over 10 years but , again , I can't be certain.

Have you used them for snakes? Or at least reptiles that don't really bask in direct sunlight? I've heard ball pythons have very sensitive eyes compared to other snakes since they are adapted to living in burrows underground where they don't receive sunlight most of the time.

[Terranaut]

Do they still emmit uv after that long? I replace my 3'tube every 6months with my beardies am I doing it to often?

[Mikoh4792]

Do they still emmit uv after that long? I replace my 3'tube every 6months with my beardies am I doing it to often?

I think it's supposed to be a year for most tubes. Do you check with a uvb/uva meter?

[jarich]

Generally you should replace the tubes every 6 months, unless you happen to use the really high end T5 High Output type. The UV meters have come down in price quite a bit, and are only about $200 now. It might be worth getting one to check your lights and save yourself some money. So far Ive found that many of mine last around 8 months but sometimes less than 6. If you have multiple lights, over the years you will get your $200 back.

As for the CFLs the OP asked about, there were a couple of problems with them. When they were first released and used for reptiles, the manufacturers (and everyone else) wasnt really aware of the fact that these bulbs emitted a lot of short wavelength UV light due to the cheap glass being used. This short wavelength UV would cause problems with eyes (conjunctivitis) due to the rather destructive nature of the radiation. This was exacerbated by the fact that the bulbs were often poorly placed and too close to the animals. CFLs by their nature shine in a very concentrated way; the coils being wound like that emit a concentrated beam in a small area. So when people would place them close to the basking spot, there would be a tremendous amount of short wavelength UV light in a small spot. Often they were placed on the back wall of an enclosure, where the natural adaptations to shield the reptile's eyes from above was useless.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that they are produced in such a way that they do not emit much of the short wavelength UV light anymore, and that we are generally more aware of placing the bulbs now. They still are generally the lowest level of UV in the smallest spread you can get out of any bulb, but they are no longer dangerous if placed correctly.

[Danimal]

Have you used them for snakes? Or at least reptiles that don't really bask in direct sunlight? I've heard ball pythons have very sensitive eyes compared to other snakes since they are adapted to living in burrows underground where they don't receive sunlight most of the time.


No snakes. 4 bearded dragons and 1 water monitor is all I have these on.

And I replace mine every 6mos as well.

[Mikoh4792]

I ask because I am using the CFL's to light my snake enclosures. Not for uvb, but just for lighting. I am using a red light hooked up to a thermostat 24/7 so I don't want to keep switching out a daylight and a nightlight bulb. I'm glad to hear they aren't as bad anymore but would it bad for arboreal/semi-arboreal snakes that stay up in the canopy most of the time?

This is my carpet python's enclosure and he is always perched up somewhere at the top and I'm afraid being that close to the light may be bad for his eyes. I am using the reptiglo 2.0(the weakest I think? but brighter than the 5.0). I might switch to the 5.0 since the site says the 5.0 is designed for a tropical habitat with less light output.

http://i40.tinypic.com/352omzr.jpg

[Danimal]

I ask because I am using the CFL's to light my snake enclosures. Not for uvb, but just for lighting. I am using a red light hooked up to a thermostat 24/7 so I don't want to keep switching out a daylight and a nightlight bulb. I'm glad to hear they aren't as bad anymore but would it bad for arboreal/semi-arboreal snakes that stay up in the canopy most of the time?

This is my carpet python's enclosure and he is always perched up somewhere at the top and I'm afraid being that close to the light may be bad for his eyes. I am using the reptiglo 2.0(the weakest I think? but brighter than the 5.0). I might switch to the 5.0 since the site says the 5.0 is designed for a tropical habitat with less light output.

http://i40.tinypic.com/352omzr.jpg
If you don't need the UVB and you are just trying to be efficient, why not use led for light? thats what I am going to do in my monitor enclosure

[Mikoh4792]

If you don't need the UVB and you are just trying to be efficient, why not use led for light? thats what I am going to do in my monitor enclosure

I've never used led and don't know any that I can buy to light up the enclosure. What would you recommend?

[Terranaut]

Generally you should replace the tubes every 6 months, unless you happen to use the really high end T5 High Output type. The UV meters have come down in price quite a bit, and are only about $200 now. It might be worth getting one to check your lights and save yourself some money. So far Ive found that many of mine last around 8 months but sometimes less than 6. If you have multiple lights, over the years you will get your $200 back.

As for the CFLs the OP asked about, there were a couple of problems with them. When they were first released and used for reptiles, the manufacturers (and everyone else) wasnt really aware of the fact that these bulbs emitted a lot of short wavelength UV light due to the cheap glass being used. This short wavelength UV would cause problems with eyes (conjunctivitis) due to the rather destructive nature of the radiation. This was exacerbated by the fact that the bulbs were often poorly placed and too close to the animals. CFLs by their nature shine in a very concentrated way; the coils being wound like that emit a concentrated beam in a small area. So when people would place them close to the basking spot, there would be a tremendous amount of short wavelength UV light in a small spot. Often they were placed on the back wall of an enclosure, where the natural adaptations to shield the reptile's eyes from above was useless.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that they are produced in such a way that they do not emit much of the short wavelength UV light anymore, and that we are generally more aware of placing the bulbs now. They still are generally the lowest level of UV in the smallest spread you can get out of any bulb, but they are no longer dangerous if placed correctly.

I have 2 on my beardies and they are T5.

[Danimal]

The big box stores are starting to carry a variety of LEDs, rope lights, bulbs, tubes and small strips like for under cabinets, they use less wattage than cfl and florescent. They last for a very long time too. I was planning on using a rope or large string because I have an 8 foot enclosure, you should go look and see what might work for you and your enclosure.

[jarich]

I ask because I am using the CFL's to light my snake enclosures. Not for uvb, but just for lighting. I am using a red light hooked up to a thermostat 24/7 so I don't want to keep switching out a daylight and a nightlight bulb. I'm glad to hear they aren't as bad anymore but would it bad for arboreal/semi-arboreal snakes that stay up in the canopy most of the time?

This is my carpet python's enclosure and he is always perched up somewhere at the top and I'm afraid being that close to the light may be bad for his eyes. I am using the reptiglo 2.0(the weakest I think? but brighter than the 5.0). I might switch to the 5.0 since the site says the 5.0 is designed for a tropical habitat with less light output.

http://i40.tinypic.com/352omzr.jpg

It's fine. Keep using the lights you have without worry.