Blowing bulbs, heat matts and uvb

[Angcious]

Does anyone else have problems with their heat bulbs blowing every time the humidity gets very high? It happens only with my older one's enclosure. It could be the light fixture but I don't think so as it always happens when the humidity is over 90 and especially if there is condensation. This enclosure is my shortest at 18 inch high and holds humidity better than my other identical enclosure that is 24 inch high...humidity high only gets to 80ish in the 24 inch. Within the last year, I've gone through 6 bulbs in the 18 inch. The other enclosures I think I only had to change 1, no more than 2 times.
I've been considering switching to heat matts but I don't know much about them. Can they be used in wood (melamine) enclosures?
If I could use the matt...the uvb tube doesn't bother their eyes? A while ago, I read in something to do with bearded dragons that the basking light in some way helps the uvb not hurt their eyes as much? Did I understand that correctly? So then without a basking bulb, would their uvb tube be hurting them?

[kingofnobbys]

Yep , I used to when I was buying ReptileOne and ReptileDirect products (elcheapo shop brands , made somewhere in mainland china). The problem was the quality of the products , apparently these Chinese knock off makers who make cheap copies of good brands have no quality control to speak off and use very low quality materials in their manufacture. Hence bulbs blowing sometimes as soon as turned on, and often not lasting a week or a month. Zilla , All Living Things , and National Geographic products are in the category.

Swapped to good quality brands such as Arcadia, Zoo Med and Exo Terra , no more problems. I also use Philips par38 incandescent spots for my basking globes .... not had a problem with them.

[kingofnobbys]

Does anyone else have problems with their heat bulbs blowing every time the humidity gets very high? It happens only with my older one's enclosure. It could be the light fixture but I don't think so as it always happens when the humidity is over 90 and especially if there is condensation. This enclosure is my shortest at 18 inch high and holds humidity better than my other identical enclosure that is 24 inch high...humidity high only gets to 80ish in the 24 inch. Within the last year, I've gone through 6 bulbs in the 18 inch. The other enclosures I think I only had to change 1, no more than 2 times.
I've been considering switching to heat matts but I don't know much about them. Can they be used in wood (melamine) enclosures? <<<< yes , simply sandwich the FILM SYTLE heatmat between two layers of floor or wall tiles and use silastic to seal the spot where the power cables go in (to prevent any water ingress).


If I could use the matt...the uvb tube doesn't bother their eyes? <<< I use 26W UVB150s mounted in NanoHoods (exoTerra) for my BTs , no problems with their eyes and 26W UVB200s in NanoHoods for my beardies , and again no eye issues.

A while ago, I read in something to do with bearded dragons that the basking light in some way helps the uvb not hurt their eyes as much? <<<< the issue was poor quality Chinese made UVB compacts and UVB tubes , bad quality quartz tubes with cracks and fissures) and poor cheap quality phosphors which produced a bad UV spectrum that included UVC and bad UVB wavelengths to pass .

Did I understand that correctly? So then without a basking bulb, would their uvb tube be hurting them? <<< BT needs both UVB compact or tube PLUS a basking globe

[Angcious]

So if I did the heat matt, I would still need to use a basking bulb? Here I thought the heat matt would eliminate the need for a basking bulb. If that's the case, I think I'll just stick to what I've been doing then. I'm not confident about messing with the fixture myself but I guess I will have to try to replace it.
My basking bulbs were always ZooMed. The past year I started buying from Petco because of their 2 month guarantee on their lights and they always blow just after the guarantee lol. But last night I used ExoTerra for a change.
And yes, I've always used a ZooMed ReptiSun tube.

[SleepyCheesy]

Try buying the "reptile UVB bulb" on Amazon. Search up "125 watt mercury heat bulb" and purchase the one in the red box that is roughly 25 dollars, it's worked well for me and I keep the humidity on 40.

Hope this helps

[underlashes]

Sleepycheesy, Angcious keeps meraukes and 40% humidity is much too low for them.

Angcious, I can't say I've had the same issue in my skink tank but it happens time to time in my house's old bathroom
How are you humidifying the tanks? Do you have a mister set up? Are you doing it by hand? Bulbs have a higher chance of blowing if they get wet, even if its by a stray droplet or mist. Condensation can't be helped in a humid tank, but it helps to eliminate at least one factor and keep any spray aimed away from the light if possible. I'm not sure if a new fixture would help or not, since the bulb itself would still be in close range, but if the bulb doesn't have a hood on it, it might be helpful to add one big enough where it wont overheat but will still offer some protection from the sides.

[SleepyCheesy]

Underlashes, I was unaware, I currently keep a IJ and I typically keep the humidity on 40. I figured that it would be the same for Tanimbars since they are both Island species.

[underlashes]

No problem, Sleepycheesy, I just wanted to give you a heads up for the future, we're all on here to discuss care and help each other but it helps to have facts straight first

Tanimbars and Meraukes are different as well, I actually know next to nothing about tanimbars or irian jayas for that matter. I know irian jayas can survive in lower humidity than other indonesians, but meraukes need that high humidity which unfortunately would probably blow other brands of bulbs as well.