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#2087711
Iggor
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 UVA vs UVB? difference? help me?
in every bit of research i have done it seems UVB is just a more hard core version of UVA and outputs more vitamin D and such, whats the difference as far as reptiles go??? I have a solar glo exo terra light that is a self ballasted mercury vapour bulb and puts off high amounts of both, 125 Watt. but it made a strange smell when i had it on (first mercury vapour wasnt sure if it was normal) so i went and picked up a 100 W UVA light... is the UVB what I need or UVB specific? i was trying to find a heat/light source in one bulb, which the solar glo is exactly that. but i dont want to be the cause of any health issues or any kind of skin/bone defect with my tegu. the odd burning smell is the reason i got the other bulb is that common at the immediate use of the mercury vapour bulbs, thus meaning i should switch back to that and let it do its thing or keep the uva or just buy a UVB specific light? sorry for lengthy post i tend to rabble a lot, but thanks for the help!!!
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10/22/09 10:44pm
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#2088178
Trapt5228
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Message To: Iggor In reference to Message Id: 2087711
UVA vs UVB? difference? help me?
You do need both, Bud. The Sun puts out what we call "Full Spectrum" which is UVA, B, and C. To us, this doesnt mean much but reptiles see light and heat gradients much different then we do and proper levels of the Full Spectrum are necassary to their health. Mercury Vapor bulbs are probably the best way to go being that put out high percentage outputs of both. The smell you’re talking about is suppose to be normal ’cuz I’ve heard of this before but I use the T-Rex one so I dont get that smell. The MegaRay is also a great bulb. They both put out about 250 mw/2 after being used for a month which is where you wanna be as for as UVB. They aren’t always the hottest tho, so if you need to bring the temps up, I usually combine the MVB with a Halogen light becuz the halogen gases around the tungsten of the bulb make is burn much hotter and bluer. A 75w halogen bulb will do the damage of a 100w basking bulb, but it is all UVA.
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10/24/09 11:39am
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#2088189
Iggor
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Message To: Trapt5228 In reference to Message Id: 2088178
UVA vs UVB? difference? help me?
okay. i went ahead and switched to the full spectrum and his temps are great now. and no burning smell either which was odd. thanks :)
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10/24/09 12:06pm
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#2088766
Trapt5228
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Message To: Iggor In reference to Message Id: 2088189
UVA vs UVB? difference? help me?
which bulb did you end up getting
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10/26/09 01:27pm
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#2090586
Iggor
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Message To: Trapt5228 In reference to Message Id: 2088766
UVA vs UVB? difference? help me?
i got the one that had the funny smell at first that had the UVB/UVA lighting. it stopped the funny smell though so thats good
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11/01/09 12:28pm
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