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 #1718704


Antecanisiv
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 Lighting

hey everyone,
my question is: i need a good (like really good) UV floresent light for my chameleon cage and i dont know were i should buy it or what to buy because everytime i buy a cheep one from a pet store i seem to pay more than i need for something that isnt all that special... any know of a good place to buy quality uvb and uva exposing light? btw my cage is 18x18x24high...
-thanks, will



04/28/08  06:56am

 #1718717


Julirs
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   Message To: Antecanisiv   In reference to Message Id: 1718704


 Lighting

The online stores like LLLReptile.com and BigAppleHerp.com have the highly recommended Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 linear flourescent tubes (don’t use compacts) for $13.99-so for under $20 you can have them shipped to your door and this is usually far cheaper than what Petstores sell them for. I use WalMart undercounter fixtures for $6-$8 bucks to put them in. That seems like a small cage for the Veiled you are holding there.
04/28/08  07:12am

 #1718724


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1718717


 Lighting

Why not using compacts?
Ive used compacts exclusively from the time they started to hit the market. I find them having many, many, advantages compared to linear tubes.
04/28/08  07:48am

 #1718736


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1718724


 Lighting

Many, many reports on them causing conjunctivitis, burns, and death.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

Also some keepers that I know personal experiences.
04/28/08  08:08am

 #1718774


Antecanisiv
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1718736


 Lighting

oooppps! i meant 24x24x48 cage lol sorry about that... i was thinking about his first cage when i wrote that (when he was 3 months lol)... but anyways thanks for the advise! i am still reasurching and i will post when i am completed his knew setup
04/28/08  09:23am

 #1718780


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1718736


 Lighting

The same problems could be found in many different tubes, even linear. It seemed to be caused by a change of the type of phosphorus used in the tubes. Maybe you should read the articles on the site you link to. The compacts are fine as long as you furn off a few hours and/or extend the distance to the animal the first period of time you use it.

I would definitely recommend a compact tube. Exoterra now also sell a quite good and cheap reflector for them.
04/28/08  09:27am

 #1718859


Antecanisiv
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1718780


 Lighting

hey what do u guys think about this? Link
04/28/08  11:22am

 #1719044


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1718780


 Lighting

Jonas-you do love to argue and prove your point do you not? I would not recommend compact bulbs to new users and I would not use them myself. It is not worth the risk. If you read the latest update they are still recalling and testing.



04/28/08  03:31pm

 #1719077


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1719044


 Lighting

I dont "love to argue" and I hardly think its a crime to try to prove ones point?

I dont know what "new" update youre refering to, but I cant find anything there I havent already read.
I just dont understand why you would give such onesided advice. It is obvious that the problem exist among "your" type of tubes as well, so why are you complaining about just the compacts?
It is also clear that even the "bad" ones can be used after a initial burn-off time.

I totally agree that this is a good thing to warn about, but I dont see a point in just warning about one but not another product...
Inform about tha warning and lookouts and let people make their own choise.
04/28/08  03:59pm

 #1719124


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1719077


 Lighting

Jonas-where do you get out of the article they are fine after a burn off period?

Anyone can make their own choice-there is warning literature placed in all of the boxes.
04/28/08  04:27pm

 #1719149


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1719124


 Lighting

It is in there. The output from these lamps is exponentially higher in the beginning, some companies even claim to pre-burn their lampt before use for just this reason.
04/28/08  04:41pm

 #1719154


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1719149


 Lighting

It does say the output is stronger in the beginning, it even says after an inital burn you can move them closer, but no where does it say they are "safe" once they are burned in.
04/28/08  04:45pm

 #1719186


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1719154


 Lighting

But thats just semantics. They are still sold, so they are safe enough to pass that version of "safe". I could question the safety of the older versions of these lamps or any other UV-lamp at all. Its not safe to be in the sun under certain conditions. Its not safe to drink too much water. Oxygen is toxic in its concentrated form...
04/28/08  05:00pm

 #1719206


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1719186


 Lighting

I love semantics. However if the companies feel the urge to place warning literature in the box, it certainly sends a caution statement to my mind. My animals mean too much to me to chance it.
04/28/08  05:08pm

 #1719239


Jonas77
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1719206


 Lighting

BUT THE SAME CAUTION SHOULD BE STATED ABOUT THE TUBES YOU USE TOO!!?!!

Thats the whole point, why do you just warn about compacts when regular tubes are not safe either?

Like I said, Ive used compacts as long as they have been made, Ive raised more than a hundred of chameleons using them.



04/28/08  05:29pm

 #1719240


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1719239


 Lighting

Jonas-where does it say that linear flourescent tubes are not safe?
04/28/08  05:30pm

 #1719245


Julirs
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 1719239


 Lighting

Antecanisiv-I don’t like the fixture in your link because you sometimes need to adjust your basking lamp to achieve the right temps and that fixture makes it difficult to do that. A regular household bulb in a clamp lamp works great!



04/28/08  05:35pm

 #1719733


LunaC
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   Message To: Antecanisiv   In reference to Message Id: 1718859


 Antecanisiv ...

I have to agree with Julirs. For basking, a regular (I personally prefer clear glass) houshold bulb in an inexpensive clamp lamp works just fine.

As for your link to the stainless steel fixture (and tube vs. compact) I’ve always used ZooMed ReptiSun 5.0 and 10.0 tubes for my UVB and the aforementioned household bulbs for heat/basking.
I have read and am aware of the reported problems of the compacts, but I’ve never used them anyway and probably never will. I simply prefer the light and UVB spread out across the cage tops with separate heat/basking bulb placed in a back corner of my cages.



04/28/08  11:01pm

 #1723925


TBShot
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1719733


 Antecanisiv ...

build your own ive never tried it but it sounds good
05/03/08  09:54am

 #1725158


Antecanisiv
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   Message To: TBShot   In reference to Message Id: 1723925


 Antecanisiv ...

ugh i think i did the smart thing... ask my dad lol (he has a masters in elctition engineering lol i cant spell) he is looking into it for me for the right uv light and he found a place called colonieal electric that offerst a good selection of hight quilitly balisks and fixtures and bulbs... thanks for the advise again!
05/04/08  06:50pm


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