MegaRay bulb for iguana?

Question

Do you know of any side effects or ill effects that the MegaRay might have on an iguana? All iguanas are different and i understand that, so, have you heard of any negative effects a MegaRay bulb has on an iguana? examples are, bad behavior, loss of appetite, turning dark colors, paranoia, these are examples of some of the things that might be observed.

Answer 1

The Mega Ray is one of the best bulbs on the market today. I am a rescuer/rehabber and have 4 of these bulbs. I use the EB series (external ballast). The amount of UVB emitted from these bulbs is, by far, best for rehabbing...so everyday use will help keep an iguana extremely healthy...and does. I've been using them for 4 years now...practically when they first came out. I also have a UVB meter to keep on top of the emission output. I have one light that is going on two years still providing enough UVB to keep my 8 1/2 yr. old iguana healthy.

I have noticed an increase of appetite in all the reptiles under this light. The colors have become more pronounced. They become more active. The sick ones recover quicker than by using the bulbs of old...the Reptisun 5.0 flourescent lights.

As far as which series you go with...the EB (external ballast) or SB (self ballast)...this is up to you. Personally I prefer the EB because it doesn't give much heat. the SB does. That can cause a problem when the weather gets warmer and the bulb produces too much heat. You have to move the whole bulb away which means you need to move the UVB, as well.

I definitely agree about not using a hot rcok. These can horribly burn an iguana. They do malfunction often. Iguanas do not feel belly heat the way we think they should. All they know is that the top of their skin is still cold...and the core temp has not been met yet...so they stay on that rock until their internal organs can literally cook.

The link will give you easy to read graphs and charts to help you make your decision. These people have tested all the most popular brands of reptile lighting...and some of the more obscure ones. All are listed on this site.

Answer 2

I don't know what a Mega Ray bulb is, but I do know that all iguanas need a UVB lamp. There are also several reasons why your iguana could be acting this way. What are you feeding him? How big is his cage?(notice I said cage, not tank). Do you handle him a lot? Is he shedding? Breeding season? There are lots of things that could be happening. Make sure he has a cage that is at least 6ft x 6ft x 3ft, anything smaller will be unhealthy and cause serious stress for the iguana. If that bulb you're talking about is not a uvb bulb, then you need to go buy one immediately, there are lots of long term problems that can happen to the iguana and ultimately kill him a lot sooner than he's supposed to die. Also he needs at least 12 hours of light a day, usually 7am to 7pm works best. His diet should consist of several leafy greens(collard, mustard, kale, etc.) he should also have some other vegetables in there(carrots, squash, cucumber, etc.) are you keeping the humidity up. spraying him down with a water bottle once or twice a day usually does the trick. You should seriously think about getting a book and doing research on how to properly take care of one, they are not for beginners. Good luck(I meant that towards the iguana)

Owner of a 4 year old, 6 foot long, male green iguana.

Answer 3

Please do not get a heatrock for your Iguana, they can do serious damage to a reptile if they malfunction, which is a common occurence.

I have never heard of the bulb that you mentioned, but all i use to use for a heat lamp was a regular light bulb in the wattage that heated the enclosure and basking area up to the right temperature. Also, don't forget to use a UVB bulb for an iguana. These are a required item!

Answer 4

It's been quite a few years since I owned an iguana, but I do recall that it was suggested to me to get a heat rock instead of using a lamp. The reasoning was that a lamp would heat the entire aquarium, possibly beyond comfortable levels for the iguana. Hence, there was no place for it to retreat to cool down.

A heat rock, on the other hand, was just a single point of warmth that the iguana could cling. Should it become too hot sitting on the rock, it could move elsewhere and cool down for a while. BTW, in case you're uncertain of what it is, a heat rock is a small synthetic stone that you plug into an AC outlet. They come in varying shapes and sizes to cater to a multitude of reptiles.