Differences/opinions between repti glo 5.0 vs 10.0

[Joey1983]

Hey All. I have been using the repti glo 5.0 UVB buld for about two years now. I replace the bulb every 6months (to maintain UVB strength). Tonight they were out of the 5.0 bulb. Bought the repti glo 10.0 bulb. Any of you used this bulb? It's has slightly higher output. Figured should be fine.

[Dakota]

I have a question to go along with this question..

It has been proven that UVB bulbs (of even the highest output) do not compare to the sun to the slightest bit, so wouldn't it be best to buy the bulb with the highest possible (as far as UVB bulbs go) UV output to get a bit closer to the sun's actual output? I hope I made the question sensible..

[Richard.C]

Supposedly has twice the uv output

[Joey1983]

Yeah it makes sense. Only asking because the reputable breeder I work with uses the 5.0 bulb. But curious to see if y'all use the 10.0

[Jeff]

It will be fine. Many people prefer the 10.0 anyway. Your skink may notice a difference and act differently until he gets use to it, but most likely he won’t notice the difference at all. Is it the tube kind?

[Joey1983]

It will be fine. Many people prefer the 10.0 anyway. Your skink may notice a difference and act differently until he gets use to it, but most likely he won’t notice the difference at all. Is it the tube kind?

Coil

[Jeff]

In truth, the only UVB bulbs that have been proven to produce enough UVB to even possibly make a difference for BTS are the best mercury vapor bulbs. That comment is excluding the metal halide bulbs because I have not taken the time to reasearch them yet. Some people claim that UVB bulbs have positive affect on their skinks, which I do not argue with. My question is, “Why do you assume the positive affect is due to the UVB output?”. It is very possible that the are positive affects due to better UVA output from a particular bulb rather than the miniscule amount of UVB produced by most bulbs marketed as UVB bulbs.

There are HUGE differences in the type of light emitted from different types of bulbs. Some non-UVB bulbs seem to affect BTS more positively than others. I honestly don’t think the UVB is the important part as long as the diet your skink is receiving is proper. One of the main reasons I say this is because most UVB bulbs on the market produce very little UVB. That is not opinion, you can test them yourself with a UVB meter.

I guess all of this is my long-winded way of saying that if I were going to use a coil bulb to provide UVB lighting for my skinks, I would use the highest UVB rated bulb I could find. I would choose 10.0 over 5.0 every time.

[Dakota]

I was thinking the same thing, Jeff! I bought Virginia a bub fit for "desert" animals, just simply because it has the highest UV output, although still not very close to the sun's output.

[Dakota]

Speaking of the devil. This is a contrast between a NEW 10.0 UVB bulb and a 1 year old Solar-glo 125 watt

uv.png

Photos were posted on a public reptile Facebook group.

ETA: Sorry, 10.0 was a tube, not bulb.

[El Lobo]

When quoting the UV index it should be understood that it will appear as a bell curve from around mid-morning to mid-afternoon with the peak at around 1pm. To broadly state the UV index averaged across Australia on a "normal" day is either a lack of understanding, or just simply misleading. My experience of wild blotchies around our place is they bask in full sun in the early morning or late afternoon when the UV is rated as moderate (3-5), they are not out basking in the part of the day when the UV is at its highest.

A UV index of 11 and above is considered extreme, so I don't see how the example displaying 19.4 would be considered as advantageous for most BTS.

[Susann]

Thank you El Lobo, I appreciate that explanation.

I think if you have a super strong UVB blaring down into your skinks tank for a large portion of the day, you might likely have a skink that is less active because of the need to stay out of the rays. I know the reports are old, but there have been reptiles with damaged eyes from too strong UVB.

Just follow the recommendations of the manufacturer as to what distance to keep the bulb at --that generally differs with different strengths.

[Jeff]

My point is that you CAN’T produce excessively high levels of UVB with the tube type or coil type UVB bulbs. They are simply not capable of producing those levels no matter which strength you use.

[El Lobo]

I understand your point Jeff and agree those types cannot produce high levels. I only question whether those others which do produce high levels are operating within a range that is actually beneficial, or may they in turn be producing too much for the needs of the animals they are supposed to be benefiting.

[Jeff]

That is a good point to consider. I have always kind of held the belief that as long as the animal has adequate hides where it can get away from light, heat,UV, etc., then it doesn’t matter if an excessive amount is provided. However, since some bulbs might actually produce much higher levels than what a skink recieves from the sun in the wild, that could be a problem.

Bulbs don’t produce varying amounts of UVB throughout the day like the sun does. They are either on at 100% power, or off. If the UVB output is higher than what a skink needs, the animal might be put into the position of choosing between The proper body temp w/ too much UVB, or the right amount of UVB in a hide where its body temp is too low.

[Dario]

UVB bulbs and tubes are all mercury filled to be able to produce UVB. However they are only 100% power at 6" away. as you get farther and father from those bulbs and tubes you get no power out of them. I believe at 2 feet away they're worthless. The 5.0 and 10.0 has to do with the amount of uvb being produced at 6" away. 5.0 is a forest bulb low levels of uvb. 10.0 is a desert bulb high levels. BTS like the heat. 90-100 basking spot. 10.0 would be a perfect bulb.
another bad thing about these bulbs and tubes is they're only good for about 6 months. then you have to replace them. the uvb runs out pretty quick.

I have a lot of knowledge about uvb cause i work with chameleons. Chameleons are in major need of uvb rays or it could be life threatening for them.

that being said nothing is better then good old fashion sun.
I have no idea about how beneficial UVB is to BTS. Im new to them and still learn.