Читать книгу Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Reptile and Amphibian - Javier G. Nevarez - Страница 62

The T8 bulbs (25‐mm or 1‐inch diameter) are available in different lengths and fit into standard aquarium or reptile hoods. Some manufacturers further classify their bulbs by a number system ranging from 2.0 to 10.0. This number represents the percentage of light that is emitted in the UVB spectrum. A 5.0 has 5% of the emitted light in the UVB spectrum, a 10.0 has 10% UVB emission, and so on. Arcadia® has simplified the process by simply stating the percentage of UVB emission with their bulbs ranging from 6% to 14%. For amphibians, bulbs emitting less than 5% UVB are likely the best option to avoid the possibility of overexposure.

Being a longer bulb also means that there is more scattered radiation, so the UVB exposure is not as focused. This may actually be of benefit for amphibian enclosures. The use of a shorter bulb, while leaving the rest of the cage shaded, is a preferred setup for amphibians. These bulbs emit UVB light at an average effective distance of 12–20 inches depending on the brand and percent of emitted UVB. It is generally recommended that animals should not have the ability to get any closer than within 3–4 inches of bulb’s surface. They must be replaced every 6–12 months according to manufacturer’s recommendations.