Plant Grow Light Bulbs....

Kevin McRae · 08-22-04, 11:47 PM

Does anyone use these for there lizards that need UV light?

I have used them one mine and they seem to work very well.

The lizards I have that are very rapid growers get a reptisun 5.0

Anyone use these?

Matt.B · 08-23-04, 12:05 AM

The plant lights dont give off enough UV
Matt

Kevin McRae · 08-23-04, 12:25 AM

well they work good....

Matt.B · 08-23-04, 01:04 AM

Well they dont....

JeffT · 08-23-04, 01:42 AM

Yeah Im not so sure if the ones designed for a plant would give the same type of output as ones for real living animals.

Kevin McRae · 08-23-04, 01:45 AM

well they do......lol

There is no proof that UV is a need for lizards

Every lizard I have used a plant grow light bulb on is still thriving, thats about 6 and for a couple years.

Matt.B · 08-23-04, 01:46 AM

well you ask a question you get an answer if you are to ignorant to exept the answer then oh well.
Matt

JeffT · 08-23-04, 01:53 AM

uhh, yes, there is proof it is needed. Why else is it essential for iguanas, BTS, lots of monitors, and even many exotic geckos.

A friend of mine was telling me he had a female G. Vorax basicly on her death bed, laying on the ground, not eating, so he just lowered the UV lighting right up against the screen, and within a couple days, she was completely fine and healthy with no medical aid what so ever.

I think thats proof enough.

hhw · 08-23-04, 03:49 AM

There is no evidence that UV lighting is necessary for monitors. As for other lizards, I have no idea.

lifeline · 08-23-04, 05:42 AM

I know my friend has an iguana that has never had a UV light. It thrives living in his finished basement. Basking in the windows of his house. It is over 4 feet long not sure of its age. I am sure some herps need UV lighting depending on there situation. If kevin has been using them for couple years now and his herps are thriving with no ill effects. There is some evidence it works for his herps.

thanks mike and cheryl
leopardgecko.ca

Invictus · 08-23-04, 08:43 AM

hhw is right. It's a highly contentious issue for monitor lizards, but for many others, there is PLENTY of proof. Take bearded dragons for example - one of the top causes of death for them is Metabolic Bone Disease, which is caused by a defficiency in vitamin D - something their bodies cannot absorb from their food without, yup, you guessed it - UV LIGHTING.

As for the plant bulbs, what is their UV output? Less than 5% UVB, scrap it.

Matt.B · 08-23-04, 08:57 AM

The average plant bulb gives out like 1% uv.
Oh and BTW the person who has the iggy that basks in the windows. That is how it gets UV.
Matt

latazyo · 08-23-04, 09:50 AM

UV light bulbs put off such a negligible low amount of UV, and the herps have to be so close to the light source...this is definitely an area of the hobby that needs great improvement, just because the light touches the animal doesn't mean it gets enough radiation....natural sunlight is best by far

corr · 08-23-04, 10:07 AM

Plant grow bulbs transmit some UVA but VERY little UVB (which is what we need here).

A lizard "thriving" for a couple of years is no indication that all it's requirements are met. I had a reptile manager tell me once that Iguana's didn't need UV because a friend of his kept one for 8 YEARS before it died with D3 supplementation alone! But aren't they supposed live 20 years or more!!

Kevin McRae · 08-23-04, 11:48 AM

Thanks for your comments.

Matt.B - I was only joking thats why it s ays"lol"