18W reptisun 10.0 w/ 17W light fixture?

[12many]

So i bought a 24" 18W Reptisun 10.0 UVB from my local petstore.

Went to walmart and homedepot but didn't find a 18W 24" light fixture. SO i bought a 17W light fixture from walmart.

Is it safe? I'm afraid to leave the house with that thing on and cause fire. It says on the instruction to only use 17W bulb. Didn't say i could use more or less.

On the description of the fixture it says "75W light output that uses 17W of energy". The fixture is called Under Cabinet.

I plan to have it attached to a timer so it'll be on 12 hrs and off for 12 hrs.

Even though its 1W lower i wonder if it'd be safe to use.

 

[Russ S]

I'm not an electrician, but I'd be uncomfortable using it.

 

[gecko4245]

So i bought a 24" 18W Reptisun 10.0 UVB from my local petstore.

Went to walmart and homedepot but didn't find a 18W 24" light fixture. SO i bought a 17W light fixture from walmart.

Is it safe? I'm afraid to leave the house with that thing on and cause fire. It says on the instruction to only use 17W bulb. Didn't say i could use more or less.

On the description of the fixture it says "75W light output that uses 17W of energy". The fixture is called Under Cabinet.

I plan to have it attached to a timer so it'll be on 12 hrs and off for 12 hrs.

Even though its 1W lower i wonder if it'd be safe to use.

Sorry I can't answer your main question but I just wanted to ask if it was for a leopard gecko? it's too strong for a gecko as far as I know. I was told never to use anything higher than a 5.0
also depends on how high the tank is. I use a 5.0 and my cage is about 18 inches high.

 

[12many]

Sorry I can't answer your main question but I just wanted to ask if it was for a leopard gecko? it's too strong for a gecko as far as I know. I was told never to use anything higher than a 5.0
also depends on how high the tank is. I use a 5.0 and my cage is about 18 inches high.

they're for leopard gecko and a bearded dragon...Well the whole point was if 17W is ok to use when the bulb is 18W. Just not sure if its safe.

 

[gecko4245]

they're for leopard gecko and a bearded dragon...Well the whole point was if 17W is ok to use when the bulb is 18W. Just not sure if its safe.

A bearded dragon needs a 10.0 because they bask. A leopard gecko's skin is more sensitive so that is too much UVB output unless it is placed very far away.

Now about the fixture, there is a chance it might just blow out and not necessarily cause a fire. I am not an electrician tho.

 

[reps4life]

So i bought a 24" 18W Reptisun 10.0 UVB from my local petstore.

Went to walmart and homedepot but didn't find a 18W 24" light fixture. SO i bought a 17W light fixture from walmart.

Is it safe? I'm afraid to leave the house with that thing on and cause fire. It says on the instruction to only use 17W bulb. Didn't say i could use more or less.

On the description of the fixture it says "75W light output that uses 17W of energy". The fixture is called Under Cabinet.

I plan to have it attached to a timer so it'll be on 12 hrs and off for 12 hrs.

Even though its 1W lower i wonder if it'd be safe to use.

UVB 10.0 is too high for leopard geckos. It can induce over absorption of calcium. If you are going to used UVB , make sure you do not dust with Vitamin D no more than once a week.

 

[Wowoklol]

A bearded dragon needs a 10.0 because they bask. A leopard gecko's skin is more sensitive so that is too much UVB output unless it is placed very far away.

Now about the fixture, there is a chance it might just blow out and not necessarily cause a fire. I am not an electrician tho.

Skin is more sensitive? What do you mean? How far away can I safely place this UVB bulb with my leopard?

 

[gecko4245]

I know your being smart, lol The leopard geckos skin is more sensitive. google is available you know.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Leos don't need suppliment with uv bulbs, they don't benefit from it like heliothermic herps like dragons. Leos don't bask like that and they are crepuscular so never out in daylight. All the light will likely do is stress your leo out. Uv light therapy is genrally only suggested for leos with mbd for additional D3 supplimentation and aide in calcium absorbtion.

As far as the light fixture goes it has to state what the maximum acceptable wattage is for useage in that fixture. Most have an internal "circuit breaker" that will blow out if the fixture goes above a set parameter thus by (hopefully) avoiding fire if the breaker works as it aught to. Read the fixture specks and go by the wattage they recommend or lower than they recommend. An "under counter" kitchen light fixture is not an appropriate piece of equipment for herp useage since it is not designed to tolerate the higher heat output of herp bulbs. Id get a proper herp fixture... even better, get rid of the light for the leo altogether. They don't need artificial day/night light supplimentation if their in a room with a window. They'll know when its day/night.

 

[gecko4245]

They don't benefit from it like dragons is an understatement. If anything they process it alot quicker, so it sounds like a benefit to me. I could never understand the statement it "stresses them out". Maybe if they are living in a tiny area and not enough options it's possible, but none of my geckos have that problem and are happy, bright and love to eat.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Then maybe its possible you conditioned your leos to accept it and now "prefer" it after many years of giving them no choice. In the wild they choose to recluse from bright lights, as evident of their "choice" to live in rocky craigs and crevcaes away from the suns glowing reach. It stresses them out because they aren't equipped with the proper occular construction to tolerate bright light. Just curious but how do you know "they process it quicker"? Have you performed some kind of study regarding the absorbtion and process of photsynthisized vitamin supplementation? That would be an interesting read.

 

[gecko4245]

Then maybe its possible you conditioned your leos to accept it and prefer I after many years of giving them no choice. In the wild they choose to recluse from bright lights, as evident of their "choice" to live in rocky craigs and crevcaes away from the suns glowing reach. It stresses them out because they aren't equipped with the proper occular construction to tolerate bright light. Just curious but how do you know "they process it quicker"? Have you performed some kind of study regarding the absorbtion and process of photsynthisized vitamin supplementation? That would be an interesting read.

See I keep them in large cages. They have many options, darker areas as well as brighter. I have seen some hanging out of the hides under the UVB getting the rays. Some even come out and eat during the day. They have the dark side option if they want and some don't even care and hang out in the brighter area. it's not because of temps because they have both hot and cold temps under light and dark. You will be very surprised when you house them in large enclosures with many options:main_yes:

Trust me they have many options.

As for the read on how they process the UVB is in a lot of articles I am surprised you never read it. Let me see if I can find some.

 

[Dog Shrink]

That read would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[gecko4245]

That read would be appreciated. Thanks.

The gecko’s skin is capable of absorbing 37 to 44% of the total UVB light that they are exposed to. The UVB penetration is 14 times the amount seen in a sun worshiping lizard such as the bearded dragon. Due to the sensitivity of the gecko to UVB light, they effectively hide from light necessary for the conversion of Vitamin D to its active Vitamin D3 form. In captivity, this species of reptile may actually benefit from low levels of UVB light necessary for Vitamin D3 production, but high levels of UVB exposure will be harmful. It is felt that in the gecko’s natural habitat, UVB light will actually penetrate their hiding places to such an extent that it is sufficient for their Vitamin D3 needs. Only lamps producing UVA, such as an incandescent light, should be used in a gecko enclosure and Vitamin D3 should be supplemented. Alternatively, extremely low levels of UVB light and short period exposure times can be used to manufacture the animals’ necessary Vitamin D3 requirements, but the process MUST BE CAREFULLY REGULATED

There is a leopard gecko basking in this one:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/whatreptilesneed.htm

http://www.petinfoclub.com/Exotics/Know_your_pet/Lighting_for_nocturnal_lizards.aspx

http://robertsprackland.hubpages.com/hub/Ultraviolet-Light--Vitamin-D--and-Reptile-Health

http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/iguanageckos.htm

 

[Russellm0704]

I agree that UVB can be used safely only if given a big enough terrarium to where the gecko can get completely out of the light and still have a warm spot. I am testing it on one of my geckos, housed in a 55 gallon(super spoiled) and am only using an 18 in 5.0 UVB. This isn't very long considering the tank is 4 feet long. I have 3 feet of heat tape running along the back of the terrarium. This way he can be in UVB with belly heat or out of it with belly heat. So far I have seen a little more brightness in his colors and has been eating the same as any other gecko. He does seem to be more energetic than my other geckos. Does this have anything to do with the UVB gecko4245?

 

[gecko4245]

I agree that UVB can be used safely only if given a big enough terrarium to where the gecko can get completely out of the light and still have a warm spot. I am testing it on one of my geckos, housed in a 55 gallon(super spoiled) and am only using an 18 in 5.0 UVB. This isn't very long considering the tank is 4 feet long. I have 3 feet of heat tape running along the back of the terrarium. This way he can be in UVB with belly heat or out of it with belly heat. So far I have seen a little more brightness in his colors and has been eating the same as any other gecko. He does seem to be more energetic than my other geckos. Does this have anything to do with the UVB gecko4245?

I can't say it with certainty but I do know I have seen the same myself. Good for you that you are being open minded and seing the benefits with your own eyes:main_thumbsup:

 

[Russellm0704]

Thanks, I just really had to make sure that he had the option to be out of the UVB, I hope that my 55 gallon (4 ft long by a foot wide) isn't too big for him. He is 64 grams,

 

[gecko4245]

Thanks, I just really had to make sure that he had the option to be out of the UVB, I hope that my 55 gallon (4 ft long by a foot wide) isn't too big for him. He is 64 grams,

As long as he has many hides he will be one happy gecko:main_yes: