36
| PET GAZETTE | REPTILE
LET THERE
BE LIGHT
As modern technology jumps forward, it’s easier than ever to replicate the
reptiles’ natural environment. In the second installment of his ongoing series,
John Courteney-Smith MRSB shares his tips on lighting
T
he invention of High Output
T5 UVB lamps has been a
revolution for us as keepers and
for our animals. For the very
first time we are able to provide
in a ‘safe and measured way’
quantities or ‘indexes’ of UV that are ‘wild-like’.
This of course means that the animal can go
through its wild-like processes and as such
have a far better D3 provision.
There are three main types of fluorescent
tube. The first being Standard Output T8.
These are standard output lamps that are one
inch in diameter. They require a minimum of
a magnetic control system and are available
in 2.4, 5, 6, 10, and 12 percent UVB. This is the
historic type of UVB lamp. It’s older tech now
with lower light or ‘lumen’ levels. Another
point of note is that magnetic ballasts beat
or flicker at around 50 beats a second. This
could be perceived as being unnatural to
reptile and avian eyes.
Then we have HO or high output T5 UVB
lamps. These are vastly better lamps in many
ways. They are 5/8th of an inch in diameter
and represent the latest in UVB technical
advance. Firstly, they are ‘high output’ as
such they can produce roughly twice the
amount of light ‘lumens’ per watt used
when compared with SO T8. As UV is a core
component of our lighting this increase in
light ‘lumens’ relates equally. These lamps
would produce the same target index of UV
but to a greater/further distance. Remember
UVB decreases in power or index the further
that light travels. This enables us to provide
the correct indexes at a greater or safer
distance, away from the eyes. HO T5 lamps
require a high output, high frequency
controller to start and run. These controllers
are known to be flicker free, much better for
reptile and avian eyes.
We then have HO T5 power compacts.
These are a further evolution in HO T5 tech.
They are indeed HO T5 linear lamps exactly
as those above but they are formed as two
shorter lamps sited side by side inside of a
central wide angle reflected lamp holder. This
means that we can create lots of light and far
reaching UV over a targeted area. As above
these are also flicker free.
LAMP OUTPUTS
So, let’s look at lamp outputs. This is the
quantity of light ‘lumens’ and the UVI
projection of a lamp. As an example, the
HO T5 14 percent UVB DragonLamp will
project a usable index of power of UVI
6.00-7.00 at roughly 15”
from the reflected lamp.
This is, I believe the
perfect index for a
wild type bearded
dragon when used
as part of the light
and shade method
in a measured way.
(Notice that the wild
environment is listed
as having an index of
9-11+ for much of the
year, we also know that
a wild dragon, like most
animals, hides away in shade within burrows
during the apex of this very strong heat/light.
As such, we reduce the upper index basking
suggestion downwards in order to replicate
the index available at the usual basking
times of day, this ensures total safety). The
12 percent D3+ equivalent in HO T5 would
produce the same index but at roughly 12”
from the lamp. The quantity of UV is the same
as with the DragonLamp but at a reduced
distance. The D3 6 percent UVB lamp would
produce a similar index at around 8” from the
lamp. In every case the power or index is the
same but the distance that the light has to
travel has reduced.
Now, look at SO T8. A 12 percent T8 and
reflector would produce this quantity of UV
realistically at 8-10” from the lamp. At 12-15”
the available index or quantity of energy
from UV would be around 30 percent less
than the amount we think is required by a
bearded dragon to be able to go through
its natural cycles as nature intended. The
limitation here is, of course, that the lamp
would need to be fitted very close to the
animal’s head, hence the old method of
hanging lamps down into the enclosure.
Dragons have very good built in protection
from high volumes of light via the hard
protruding eyebrows, but there is still a
chance that the light from the lamp would
face into the dragon’s eyes side-on, or that
the dragon could move and it would do so.
This is to be avoided. All light sources from a
gas flame to plasma would be problematic
in terms of ocular health if exposed directly
horizontal to the eye for a prolonged period.
UVB decreases in potency dramatically
the further that light has to travel. It is also
impeded greatly by meshes and in most
cases stopped entirely by glass and plastics
fitted between the lamp and the animal. In
conclusion, good choices must be made per
species, per enclosure type and size.
July 2017