Dollar Store bulbs vs. Exo Terra

[Andry]

If I am just using the bulbs for viewing purposes (the spiral kind - Exo Terra 5.0 for Tropical 26W) couldn't I just get the ones from the dollar store which are 26W or somewhere near that? I don't really think my pothos vine needs the UVB, but is that the difference between the Exo Terra and the Dollar store kind is that they wouldn't have UVB?

Sorry for being so light bulb ignorant.

I also bought a rainbow bulb (mostly blue) 40W from there for night viewing. Not sure if that is also different from the store bought blue and red bulbs? All I know is the Exo Terra blue and red bulbs give out a lot more heat, which I don't need in my tanks, I just want to be able to see the frogs late in the evening and don't want to bother them to much with light.

Thanks for your input.

I have 3 firebelly toads and 2 Red Eye Tree frogs. Thanks.

[Paul Rust]

Do you have additional lighting in the vivarium? You want to try and simulate tropical conditions for the Red Eyes which includes a 12 hour photo period daily. Your Pothos needs this light also. Those spiral bulbs are fine but need to be on more than the few minutes that you are viewing. The best of course is a full spectrum light. For night viewing of my Black Eyes I only use two 12 volt LEDs, one on each end of a 50g to give just enough light to see them in the shadows. They are nocturnal hunters and need it dark to see well. If the blue light puts out more than a very soft glow I wouldn't use it.

[Andry]

Do you have additional lighting in the vivarium? 12 hour photo period daily. The best of course is a full spectrum light. For night viewing use two 12 volt LEDs, one on each end of a 50g to give just enough light to see them in the shadows. They are nocturnal hunters and need it dark to see well. If the blue light puts out more than a very soft glow I wouldn't use it.

Well, there is daylight coming in through the kitchen windows that are across the room. There is a fairly large window across the room. Not sure if ambient light is enough or should I place them closer the the window? Or is it better to leave the two 26W bulbs on during the day?

I don't understand 12 hour photo period, which I have heard before. Does this just mean, a 12 hour period where they have lights on?

I don't know what full spectrum light is, I assume this is what I bought when I bought the 5.0 tropical exo terra spiral bulbs 26W?

Where can I find the 12 volt LED's? At Home Depot or any hardware store? Or should I just get a night light? I have so much vegetation (fake and some real) in the tank that I don't think I could see them if I wanted too unless I had the lights on. I used a lot because this is their first week with me and I didn't want them to get stressed out.

BTW, they have been on my kitchen counter in the room where most activity takes place in the house in the evenings. Is this a bad place for them? They have only woken for a couple hours at a time. One of them gets up every morning around 6:30 to soak in the water but as soon as we are up and around, he goes back to sleep.

[Paul Rust]

Well, there is daylight coming in through the kitchen windows that are across the room. There is a fairly large window across the room. Not sure if ambient light is enough or should I place them closer the the window? Or is it better to leave the two 26W bulbs on during the day?
They really should have more intense light especially if you have moss growing in the tank. Even the brightest bulbs can't compete with a little natural daylight so I would use an aquarium light hood on top. You don't want the tank too close to a window because you could overheat it.

I don't understand 12 hour photo period, which I have heard before. Does this just mean, a 12 hour period where they have lights on?
Exactly, my tank lights come on at 0700 and off at 2000

I don't know what full spectrum light is, I assume this is what I bought when I bought the 5.0 tropical exo terra spiral bulbs 26W?
Probably is full spectrum. You just don't want aquarium spectrum.

Where can I find the 12 volt LED's? At Home Depot or any hardware store? Or should I just get a night light? I have so much vegetation (fake and some real) in the tank that I don't think I could see them if I wanted too unless I had the lights on. I used a lot because this is their first week with me and I didn't want them to get stressed out.
I get mine at Radio Shack. Just drill a 1/2" hole in the plastic tank top and push them in, very easy. Power them with a cell phone charger.

BTW, they have been on my kitchen counter in the room where most activity takes place in the house in the evenings. Is this a bad place for them? They have only woken for a couple hours at a time. One of them gets up every morning around 6:30 to soak in the water but as soon as we are up and around, he goes back to sleep.
If they aren't being woken up by the activity then they should be fine. Mine are up from about 2100 to 0400 then back to sleep for the day.

[Kurt]

Studies at the ABG are showing that frogs do indeed need exposure to UVB lighting to properly absorb calcium. So I would reccomend using UVB lighting.

[jtay]

Studies at the ABG are showing that frogs do indeed need exposure to UVB lighting to properly absorb calcium. So I would reccomend using UVB lighting.

That's what I thought

[Kurt]

My problem is how the heck am I going to put lights on all those tanks. I may have to get rid of a few things.

[Paul Rust]

My problem is how the heck am I going to put lights on all those tanks. I may have to get rid of a few things.

I use ZooMed Repti-Sun tubes. They are UVB producing. And the light looks natural in the vivarium.

[John]

You must remember that most bulbs, while producing most of their output in the specified range, also throw out light across the colour spectrum, even into the UVB range. So your frogs are getting a little UV light whether you like it or not.

[Andry]

Paul, thank you so much, you were very helpful!! And thank you too to Kurt and John Clare.

Ok, I checked my bulbs today and I bought the 5.0 Exo Terra which means they are not Full Spectrum, they still have UVB but are the Tropical Reptile lights. Should I just leave them until they die and then buy the Amphibian lights 2.0 or should I stop using these and buy the right ones? Exchanging them would mean driving almost an hour away where I bought them.

[Paul Rust]

Paul, thank you so much, you were very helpful!! And thank you too to Kurt and John Clare.

Ok, I checked my bulbs today and I bought the 5.0 Exo Terra which means they are not Full Spectrum, they still have UVB but are the Tropical Reptile lights. Should I just leave them until they die and then buy the Amphibian lights 2.0 or should I stop using these and buy the right ones? Exchanging them would mean driving almost an hour away where I bought them.

I would say use the tropcal lights. I'm guessing they are the Zoo-Med Tropic Sun lights. Like John said (which I didn't know) they are getting UVB.