Real world UVB test done

jensem17

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ZEROPILOT

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This is a pretty good article on UVB and reptiles... https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/an-in-depth-look-at-uv-light-and-its-proper-use-with-reptiles/

It's also a great visual as to why most on this forum are against MVB.

They don't list all the tortoise species, just the larger ones.
Unfortunately, I've got about $250 worth of MVB bulbs in a box under my bed.
I can't make myself throw them away. Even though I've confirmed that they are garbage.
I'd hate to ad up all of cost of all of the junk I bought for my animals over the years that I then just threw away.
Hopefully we can help someone not do the same.
 

Chefdenoel10

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Unfortunately, I've got about $250 worth of MVB bulbs in a box under my bed.
I can't make myself throw them away. Even though I've confirmed that they are garbage.
I'd hate to ad up all of cost of all of the junk I bought for my animals over the years that I then just threw away.
Hopefully we can help someone not do the same.

maybe use the crap bulbs under the bed to grow plants instead? That way at least you are using the bulbs...?
Just a suggestion...
 

ZEROPILOT

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maybe use the crap bulbs under the bed to grow plants instead? That way at least you are using the bulbs...?
Just a suggestion...
That's possible I suppose.
They're UVB and UVA.
However, when I tested them, they produced heat and UVB very unreliably
and very inconsistently from bulb to bulb, I wouldn't expect them to do anything well.
They really are money flushed down the crapper.
 

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Chefdenoel10

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That's possible I suppose.
They're UVB and UVA.
However, when I tested them, they produced heat and UVB very unreliably
and very inconsistently from bulb to bulb, I wouldn't expect them to do anything well.
They really are money flushed down the crapper.

i know how you feel. I have tort stuff like that too.. I can’t just throw it away either! ?
But I certainly would not give it to someone else to use on their pets ...
Sssooooo.... what am I doing with them?
 

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i know how you feel. I have tort stuff like that too.. I can’t just throw it away either! ?
But I certainly would not give it to someone else to use on their pets ...
Sssooooo.... what am I doing with them?
I just made a new post about how we waste money on stuff like that
 

Chefdenoel10

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I just made a new post about how we waste money on stuff like that

I know that’s how I ended up here.?
I could have a Yacht by now!
$$$$$ ??
Like you said :
Cages
Doctors-$ 4,000 easily!!!
Food
Solometers
Bulbs
Fixtures!!!.....ooohhh.... the fixtures!!!!
I have a quilt bag (see through plastic) full of domes ,clamps, hanging..etc....
What a shame...
Stupid pet stores and their greed...
None of it is very useful (in my case)
When I finally realized the professionals on here are using basic stuff (wood, three bulbs, one of which is just a flood light bulb from Home depot,some other scraps found around the house etc...) I was stunned!
How simple it was
and I was RUNNING to buy the best from the “Pet Store”.
Figured if it’s there they MUST need it.
Oh...what a fool...?
My tort is so much happier now And thriving!!
If she could talk I swear she would say
“Ma!!!! Enough with all the stuff!”
“I don’t need a fancy bed or a pillow...”
“You know I eat FREE GRASS mostly, right?”
Ooooohhhhh.... the horror stories..?
 

Tes

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Salspi

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Tested a brand new Arcadia 12% t5 4 foot tube today it was 6.5-7.0 at 11inches. Then i tested the Arcadia 6% tube that was a year old and that measured 3.3-3.8 UVI at 11 inches.
 

Skip K

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Makes you wonder how many tort keepers out there ...who think they are providing proper uvb...are not. Either because the light source is too far away or the light source is not producing adequate uvb anymore. My meter gives me more than peace of mind. I check all our light sources at least twice a week
 

ZEROPILOT

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Is it known how much UVB output is needed/good for tortoises? Or is it the more the merrier?
Google often has that information.
And there is a fantastic list in a link in a post a few posts before this one.
But a reading of 3 is a ballpark number for most tortoises
 
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ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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My T-8s were putting out almost the same UV for 3 years.

My Arcadia 12% bulbs lost a little output after 2 years, but were still making high levels of UV. I lowered them a couple inches and got the same readings as when they were brand new.
In doing this, the UVB meter would pay for itself in no time at all!
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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I know that’s how I ended up here.?
I could have a Yacht by now!
$$$$$ ??
Like you said :
Cages
Doctors-$ 4,000 easily!!!
Food
Solometers
Bulbs
Fixtures!!!.....ooohhh.... the fixtures!!!!
I have a quilt bag (see through plastic) full of domes ,clamps, hanging..etc....
What a shame...
Stupid pet stores and their greed...
None of it is very useful (in my case)
When I finally realized the professionals on here are using basic stuff (wood, three bulbs, one of which is just a flood light bulb from Home depot,some other scraps found around the house etc...) I was stunned!
How simple it was
and I was RUNNING to buy the best from the “Pet Store”.
Figured if it’s there they MUST need it.
Oh...what a fool...?
My tort is so much happier now And thriving!!
If she could talk I swear she would say
“Ma!!!! Enough with all the stuff!”
“I don’t need a fancy bed or a pillow...”
“You know I eat FREE GRASS mostly, right?”
Ooooohhhhh.... the horror stories..?
I HATE being that person that tells a new member that almost everything that they bought for their tortoise is garbage!
It must be alarming and crushing.
Especially when there is so much elsewhere on the internet that disagrees with our proven facts
 

Chefdenoel10

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I HATE being that person that tells a new member that almost everything that they bought for their tortoise is garbage!
It must be alarming and crushing.
Especially when there is so much elsewhere on the internet that disagrees with our proven facts

Yes. You are so right!
It is crushing.
But everything is better learned by making a few mistakes right?
That’s how WE become the TEACHERS.
But that’s how THEY stay rich! ???
 

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