Mercury Vapor Bulbs

xBapes

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Hi guys/gals..

Just a quick question. I'm thinking of going with a Mercury Vapor bulb for Stoli to help eliminate having multiple light fixtures. I've been looking at the 100watt ones, mostly from Mega Ray and Lugarti. Is it safe to use one about 12-14 inches away? I don't wanna cook him..

Thanks
 

DARKFIRE007

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Buy it...and before exposing a tort to it, put a thermometer down in the basking area. If it goes over 90 degrees, raise it a bit if you can, an inch or two will go a long way toward cooling the basking area down. I would shoot for say 87-88 degrees

Be sure to leave it there for say an hour to be sure that will be the hottest temp.
 

xBapes

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Buy it...and before exposing a tort to it, put a thermometer down in the basking area. If it goes over 90 degrees, raise it a bit if you can, an inch or two will go a long way toward cooling the basking area down. I would shoot for say 87-88 degrees

Be sure to leave it there for say an hour to be sure that will be the hottest temp.

The regular basking bulb I bought is 100 watt that he seems to really enjoy it and I haven't cooked him since I've gotten him. I just assume that Mercury Vapor Bulbs burn just a little warmer. I want to make sure that the UVB/UVA exposure isn't too overwhelming for him
 

Tom

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The regular basking bulb I bought is 100 watt that he seems to really enjoy it and I haven't cooked him since I've gotten him. I just assume that Mercury Vapor Bulbs burn just a little warmer. I want to make sure that the UVB/UVA exposure isn't too overwhelming for him
Only a thermometer and UV meter can answer this. The rest of us are just guessing.

Just be aware that recent tests of MVBs demonstrate that they stop producing UV after as little as three months, even though the bulb still lights up.
 

DARKFIRE007

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Basking spots should be 95-100. Not in the 80's

Right, but without seeing his setup I was being conservative since he is worried about cooking him. I honestly think they are no different than us...88 can feel good to us as 95 or 100 does to them, but those same temps directly in the sun will bake you like a thanksgiving turkey. I won't be caught with temps that high if the bulb is close.
 

Tom

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Right, but without seeing his setup I was being conservative since he is worried about cooking him. I honestly think they are no different than us...88 can feel good to us as 95 or 100 does to them, but those same temps directly in the sun will bake you like a thanksgiving turkey. I won't be caught with temps that high if the bulb is close.

Some studies have shown that wild tortoises, given the choice, will heat themselves up to a similar core temperature to mammals. They can't do that if the basking bulb is only gutting to the high 80s.

If the basking temp is over their current preferred body temp, kind of how the sun would be on a warm day, they can easily move away from the heat source and into a shady area.
 

DARKFIRE007

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Some studies have shown that wild tortoises, given the choice, will heat themselves up to a similar core temperature to mammals. They can't do that if the basking bulb is only gutting to the high 80s.

If the basking temp is over their current preferred body temp, kind of how the sun would be on a warm day, they can easily move away from the heat source and into a shady area.

Your post prompted me to check my own temps, and they hit a brick wall at 93 degrees...which is not that horrible, but the lamp is 9 1/2 inches from the substrate. My guess is the more you use these MVB lamps the less heat they produce over time as they burn out. Before I swapped enclosures it was putting out higher heat from further away. Time for a new one...
 

Schildlkröte

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Lots of reviews for MVBs on Amazon complain about them going out after a few weeks, or even a few days.

I really want to go this route for basking and UVB, but not waste money on a bulb that doesn't last even to its six-month expiration date.

Have the MVBs lasted a sufficient amount of time for you?
 

Tom

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Lots of reviews for MVBs on Amazon complain about them going out after a few weeks, or even a few days.

I really want to go this route for basking and UVB, but not waste money on a bulb that doesn't last even to its six-month expiration date.

Have the MVBs lasted a sufficient amount of time for you?

I used them in the past, but had lots of problems with them burning out early, not producing UV after a while, and the main reason I stopped using them is because they run too hot, overheat my closed chambers, and desiccate the tortoises carapace too much.

I prefer to use:
Low wattage flood bulbs for basking.
Florescent tubes or LEDs for light.
CHEs or RHPs set on a thermostat for ambient temp maintenance if needed.
Florescent HO tube bulbs for UV. Arcadia makes nice stuff that works well and lasts a long time.
 

DARKFIRE007

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Lots of reviews for MVBs on Amazon complain about them going out after a few weeks, or even a few days.

I really want to go this route for basking and UVB, but not waste money on a bulb that doesn't last even to its six-month expiration date.

Have the MVBs lasted a sufficient amount of time for you?

My MVB bulb was bought in August and is still going even though it isn't putting out as much heat. 6-7 months is pretty good, but it should be for the price you pay.
 

Jbrez

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My mvb bulbs are 9 months old , and still going good. I would suggest getting a solar meter.
 

tortoiseplanet

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I used them in the past, but had lots of problems with them burning out early, not producing UV after a while, and the main reason I stopped using them is because they run too hot, overheat my closed chambers, and desiccate the tortoises carapace too much.

I prefer to use:
Low wattage flood bulbs for basking.
Florescent tubes or LEDs for light.
CHEs or RHPs set on a thermostat for ambient temp maintenance if needed.
Florescent HO tube bulbs for UV. Arcadia makes nice stuff that works well and lasts a long time.

Do you have ebay or amazon links for the flood bulbs you speak of? I can’t seem to find the right ones.
 

Romeo Serback

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What's your take on this MVB that has basking/UVB?
 

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SweetGreekTorts

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