Looks like you are using a cfl for UV. Those are not effective UV sources, and some of them burn tortoise eyes. Use an HO type tube for indoor UV if you need it. A couple of hours of access to sunshine per week in a safe outdoor enclosure will make indoor UV unnecessary.
Yes, the Oxbow works
There is no LED on the market that makes UVB in the wavelength needed by reptiles. I'd love to put a meter under that bulb to verify this, but Lakewood is too far from Santa Clarita. If I end up coming down that way, or if you ever come up this way, lets meet up and test that bulb with my meter. I'm right off the freeway near Magic Mountain. Ever go over the grapevine or come up this way?Thanks for the reply. The bulb is 3W LED UVB. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RKSCL2K/ Making a small bird proof basking/travel box is on my todo list.
I did notice she was trying (unsuccessfully) to eat the moss. Will remove.
There is no LED on the market that makes UVB in the wavelength needed by reptiles. I'd love to put a meter under that bulb to verify this...
Depends on what meter was used and what it was reading. The industry standard is the Solarmeter 6.5. It reads the specific wavelength of of UV that our tortoises, and other reptiles, need to synthesize D3 in their skin. A minimal reading would be 1-2. 3 or 4 would be a nice amount to run all day. Anything 6 or higher is pretty high UV and should only be used for a few hours mid day.There's video review with a meter. I have no idea what the numbers mean. Could you shed some light (See what I did there?) on the readings?
My other concern is that I'll never know if it stops working. Would a small plant work as a canary, or a proof?
Depends on what meter was used and what it was reading. The industry standard is the Solarmeter 6.5...
...Plants don't need UV, so that won't tell you much.
Wait, wut? Plants don't need UV? I think I need to take Biology 101 over again. Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, so your help is appreciated.