UVB /UVA lighting options

[joder14]

I am trying to get some input on lighting for my indoor enclosure. I live in Alberta Canada so we have winter for at least 6 months. I am wanting to provide the best of the needed UVB and UVA. I have found the brand repti glo for both UVB and UVA bulbs. Has anyone used these or is there another light you would recommend. I already have a heat source I am just looking for lighting options. Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

 

[mike taylor]

I use the 24inch exo terra tube lamps.they are t8lamps in a 5.0

 

[theelectraco]

I prefer zoomed over exoterra, especially when it comes to UVB. Personally I would go with a ReptiSun

 

[Lancecham]

I have been using the Reptisun bulbs for all my various types of reptile I have kept for over 14 years. I use the. 5.0 linear(straight) bulbs.

 

[Madkins007]

Just to be clear- almost all UVB bulbs emit UVA as part of their normal operation, so you don't need separate bulbs for that.

UVB bulbs do not emit a balanced white light, so I supplement them with some low-wattage incandescent bulbs (25w or so, number of bulbs depends on habitat size). This also allows me to do a dawn/dusk option by running the UVB for about 8-10 hours a day and the others for 12-14 depending on season.

Over-lighting a habitat is pretty common for captive pets, and red-footeds spend most of their time in vegetation so I either keep the wattage low and/or make sure there is a lot of cover for them.

 

[InvertaHerp]

I am going to use the 5.0 repti-glo for uvb/uva for several hours a week and instead of something that emits heat and light, just a CHE. Anybody have any input?

 

[terryo]

I use two 100 wt. CHE, one on each side, and a long tube 5.0 UVB in the middle. This is for a 125 gal. vivarium.

 

[Yvonne G]

I am going to use the 5.0 repti-glo for uvb/uva for several hours a week and instead of something that emits heat and light, just a CHE. Anybody have any input?

If the 5.0 Repti-glo is one of those coiled fluorescent bulbs, I wouldn't use it at all.

 

[joder14]

Thank you everyone for your input it really helps.

 

[InvertaHerp]

It isn't coiled, straight tube.