Tortoise UVB lighting

[jeffstort]

I picked up this light today from petco and was wondering if it is ok to use because I know compact fluorescent lights are bad and all it says is compact and I just wanna ask before I use it in Walters tank

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I forgot the picture here it is

 

[Sterling Thunder]

Coil bulbs are a no go. Sorry

 

[JoesMum]

Compact bulbs, also known as coil bulbs, have been shown to cause eye damage to torts. There are many threads from owners with this problem on TFO

The only safe sources of UVB are:
1. The sun outside
2. A tube UVB bulb which needs replacing every 6 months
3. An MVB combined UVB and basking bulb which needs replacing every 9 to 12 months

 

[jeffstort]

K thank you guys

 

[FLINTUS]

Compact bulbs, also known as coil bulbs, have been shown to cause eye damage to torts. There are many threads from owners with this problem on TFO

The only safe sources of UVB are:
1. The sun outside
2. A tube UVB bulb which needs replacing every 6 months
3. An MVB combined UVB and basking bulb which needs replacing every 9 to 12 months

I'm going to disagree here. Coil bulbs CAN be used successfully when given enough burn in time and when choosing a suitable %. The sun, MVBs and tubes can all do damage as well-there is no 100% safe way of providing UV

 

[jeffstort]

Compact bulbs, also known as coil bulbs, have been shown to cause eye damage to torts. There are many threads from owners with this problem on TFO

The only safe sources of UVB are:
1. The sun outside
2. A tube UVB bulb which needs replacing every 6 months
3. An MVB combined UVB and basking bulb which needs replacing every 9 to 12 months

I'm going to disagree here. Coil bulbs CAN be used successfully when given enough burn in time and when choosing a suitable %. The sun, MVBs and tubes can all do damage as well-there is no 100% safe way of providing UV

So what you are saying is I should run the bulb for a few days then it should be safe to put in the tank

 

[JoesMum]

He might be, but I and many others on here, e.g. Tom, will not.

There are more problems with tort eyes on here from Compact bulbs than with any other UVB source. All of them have improved when the Compact bulb has been replaced with something else. It is not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[jeffstort]

Ok I won't do it I don't want to see my tort Hurt his eyes

 

[FLINTUS]

I wouldn't recommend it, but it certainly has been done successfully-for example I will admit I used a coil bulb with one of my reds for a while with no ill effects. I agree that a lot of problems have had problems with them, but most don't use a burn in time. However a tube or a good MVB-an Arcadia- generally is less risky

 

[jeffstort]

I will definitely save up for a mvb