Quick lighting fixture question

[Elohi]

I bought an "all living things" uv fixture with bulb yesterday and I'm wondering if the clear plastic bulb cover needs to come off since I keep reading that UVB is dramatically reduced by plastics, plexiglas, glass and screens.

The cover is crystal clear and am wondering why they would bother with a cover if they know UVB is reduced? But then I guess that would then lead to more questions about reptiles products like, why they sell coil bulbs when there is eye damage reports.

 

[lisa127]

Yes, it needs to come off. I always wonder myself why they put them on to begin with.

 

[Sulcata_Sandy]

Yes, remove it. Does it have a ceramic or plastic base? And does it have a switch or a dial to turn on/off?

It will be fine either way for a basking or a CHE, but if you plan to use it with a PowerSun or a SolarGlo, it MUST have a ceramic base and a on/switch, not the dial/rheostat. PowerSuns are finicky and if you take care of them they will last a long time. I burned out three using the wrong fixture. Expensive experiment.

 

[Elohi]

One of these. Cover off right?

 

[lisa127]

yes, cover off.

 

[Sulcata_Sandy]

Ah, you have the fluorescent kind! I switched over to those, and I bought a six pack of ReptiSuns from LLLReptile for $17.99 each. Saved a fortune!

 

[lisa127]

Ah, you have the fluorescent kind! I switched over to those, and I bought a six pack of ReptiSuns from LLLReptile for $17.99 each. Saved a fortune!

I shop from them for almost all of my reptile supplies. Great prices and great customer service. And fast shipping.

 

[Elohi]

Ooooo. Good to know! That's cheap!! Thank you VERY much!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

You got the answers but just to share I have 2 of those and removed the plastic, too.

A small screwdriver does the job

 

[lisa127]

You got the answers but just to share I have 2 of those and removed the plastic, too.

A small screwdriver does the job

I break them off in a frustrated fashion with my hands...lol. I guess I'm not that patient.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Hahaha I did that with the first one and hated it! Had to do a clean removal for the second

 

[Elohi]

I took out the two tiny screws that held it in place. Voila, gone.

Now I'm cutting big holes into my plexiglass lid and wow what a royal pain in the butt that is when you have a raging headache. :-/
It's loud, it's stinky, and the drimmel gets hot in my hand. I guess I need a leather work glove lol.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Instead of drilling holes, why didn't you just mount them to the underside?

 

[Elohi]

I wasn't sure how to mount them without them being too close to the hatchling since the domes are so big(tall) :-/

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I hope I didn't just make a $55 mistake! [FLUSHED FACE]

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Ooooo, holes for domes, yes.

I meant mount the UV light fixture. I assumed you were cutting holes for those, since they are what this thread is about

 

[Elohi]

Oh yeah haha, sorry for the confusion. Yeah, holes for the domes. I'm starting to wonder if the thinner plexiglas would have been just as effective at holding in humidity and holding up domes...this thick stuff is a lot of work lol.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Thin would absolutely work! I use clear wrapping paper (doesn't get thinner than that) to seal off one closed chamber and aluminum foil for another!

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Oh but for holding up domes, I use a strip of hardware cloth across the top. Like this,

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Just for a visual example...

 

[Elohi]

Hahaha I always take the hard route! I originally bought the thinner $23 plexiglas and took it back when I thought it may be too thin. OY. Leave it to me... Hahaha

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That's genius!

 

[lisa127]

I use a clear shower curtain from the dollar store.

 

[Elohi]

I wonder how long she will live in this? I set her I it for size comparison but she is currently in a smaller closed chamber while I set this one up.