control wrote:xmemmax wrote:Hey there!
So basically, I have two bearded dragons.
The problem is, they do have UVB lights and I change them every six months, but they’re coil bulbs...
They are on the same side as their baskig bulb so they spend most of their time getting UVB, but still.
Darwin and Adélaïde (yup those are their names) are both very healthy, they eat well, they run around all day, their eyes are bright and they make healthy poops. They show no sign of MBD or anything that is usually said to happen when using compact bulbs.
The thing is, what if those signs do start showing one day?
I don’t know if I’d be able to convince my parents to switch them to mercury vapor bulbs or tube UVB... They seem perfectly healthy and happy! If they don’t see any problems they may just say it’s a waste of money ;w;
I try my best to give them a good life, they do not live together even though they’re both females, they have lino as substrate so nothing can be swallowed, I give them a variety of fresh greens and insects, I add calcium and vitamins to their food on different days of the week...
I’m just so scared that they don’t get enough UVB and end up with metabolic bone disease later in their life. It would break my heart.
Its not the coil bulbs produce NO uvb, just that they produce much less than what is required by a bearded dragon. It would still be much better to have a coil bulb than to have no uvb whatsoever. This is likely slowing down the progression of mbd, but with a coil bulb for life the dragons will inevitably begin to develop mbd symptoms. And, as their keepers, it is the owners responsibility to provide the animal with everything possible to make them their healthiest.
The strip bulbs are relatively cheap, about $25 a bulb last time I looked on amazon for the reptisun brand, which would only need replacing every 6 months. The fixtures for them are relatively cheap as well, as you can buy normal, under the cabinet fixtures for the strip bulbs. You do definitely want to go with a strip bulb though, unless the enclosure is at least 5x2x2, as mercury vapor bulbs are not suitable for small enclosures.
I talked to my mum - we are going to change the bulbs in a couple of weeks.
It’ll be either strip bulbs or mercury vapor ones - they both have a rather large tank, which is also why having a coil bulb bothered me since the rays don’t “spread” very far, if you get what I mean?
I am totally aware that it is our responsibility and I really, really try my best and learn continuously about how to give the best care. The money I get is very often spent on them but I’m a teen, I’m not independent, I don’t have a job and that’s why I need my parents in order to be able to improve my beardie’s quality of life. You can be sure that whenever I get a job most if not all of my money will go to feeder insects, light bulbs, greens and other stuff for them lol.
I’m just glad we will make the change soon - I want to stay as far as possible from health problems like mbd.
Thank you for your answer!
