Reptile Lighting Terms
Full Spectrum: The term “Full Spectrum” is used rather loosely but can usually be expected to mean that the lamp produces close to the full visible spectrum of light. These lamps often operate in the range of 400 – 800 nanometers and simulate the optical brilliance of outdoor light at noontime. Often incandescent household lighting products are sold as “Full Spectrum” even though they do not provide UVB or other essential lighting components.
True Full Spectrum: This is a term commonly used to discuss lamps that produce the full visible spectrum as well as UVA and UVB. When in doubt, check manufacturers’ packaging to determine if lamps do indeed provide UVA and UVB.
UVA: (Ultraviolet A): The wavelengths of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum between 315 and 400 nanometers. The visual spectrum of some animals extends into the UVA range.
UVB: (Ultraviolet B): The wavelengths of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum between 280 and 315 nanometers. Wavelengths in this range contribute greatest to the biosynthesis of vitamin D in animals. Wavelengths below 290 are dangerous and are filtered by the earth’s atmosphere. These wavelengths are considered non-terrestrial UVB as they do not reach the earth’s surface.
UVI: (UV Index): A unitless index that was created to measure the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and is based on the sun’s potential to cause sunburn. This index is the same one used to help people effectively protect themselves from UV radiation and is reported in weather reports on a daily basis.
Ferguson Zones: Four Zones based on the UV Index associated with the photoregulatory behavior of reptiles.
Kelvin Rating (Color Temperature): Color Temperatures is a measure of a light’s color and is measured in degrees Kelvin.
5.0, 10.0, etc.: Many fluorescent and compact fluorescent UVB lamps are sold as 5.0, 10.0, and such. This number describes the approximate percentage of total energy output within the UVB range. For example, 5% of the total energy output from a 5.0 lamp is UVB. Since this number is based on the TOTAL energy output, the UVB output from a 5.0, 54-watt High Output T5 is going to be greater than the UVB output from a 10.0 26-watt compact fluorescent.
Ambient Lighting: Ambient lighting is incidental light that illuminates living spaces. For Example, overhead lights in a classroom that a class pet lives in or skylights in a living room where a pet may be housed.
Incandescent Lamp: An Incandescent lamp or incandescent light bulb is an electric light with a wire filament that is heated to such a high temperature that it glows with visible light. Many reptile heat lamps utilize tungsten filament incandescent technology. These lamps are not capable of emitting UVB.
Fluorescent Lamp: A Fluorescent Lamp or fluorescent tube is a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor, producing short-wave ultraviolet light that causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to glow. Some of these lamps can be made to produce UVA and UVB. This type of lighting emits very little heat. Fluorescent lamps are available in a variety of different sizes and styles and must be used in an appropriate fixture with a ballast.
T8, T12, and T5s are all examples of fluorescent lamps. These lamps can be differentiated by their diameter, output, and energy usage. A T12 is 1.5 inches in diameter and generally has a lower output with higher energy usage. This is an older technology, and Zoo Med no longer manufactures this particular style of bulb. T8 Fluorescent lamps are quite standard and use less energy than T12 lamps to create UVB. T5 lamps are available in “Normal Output” (NO), “High Output” (HO), and “Very High Output” (VHO). Their energy usage is slightly higher than T8 lighting, and the output is significantly higher.
Because Fluorescent lamps contain trace amounts of mercury, they are classified as household hazardous waste and should be disposed of accordingly. As long as the lamp remains intact (the glass is not broken), the mercury will remain inside the lamp and does not pose any threats. for more information on Fluorescent lamp disposal, visit www.lamprecycle.org.
Compact Fluorescent: A Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent light bulb. These lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast is located in the base of the lamp. Like fluorescent lamps, these lamps contain trace amounts of mercury and should be disposed of accordingly.
LED: LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and is a new, extremely efficient form of lighting. These lamps can produce many colors within the visible spectrum and are excellent for visible terrarium and aquarium lighting. (Specialized LED lamps are now able to create UVA and UVB with this new technology. Zoo Med recently released the ReptiSun UVB/LED lamp, which incorporates UVB, UVA, and visible light diodes in one lamp to satisfy the wavelengths reptiles need to synthesize and control the production of D3. LED diodes are incredibly long-lived, with UVB-emitting diodes lasting up to 20,000 hours (up to 4 years)! They also consume less energy than conventional UVB sources and do not require Mercury in their production.
Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor (MVB): A mercury vapor lamp is a gas discharge lamp that uses an electric arc through vaporized mercury to produce light. The arc discharge is generally confined to a small fused quartz arc tube mounted within a larger glass bulb. Specialized MVBs have been designed to produce UVB as well as UVA, visible light, and heat for reptiles.
Metal Halide: A metal-halide lamp is an electrical lamp that produces light by an electric arc through a gaseous mixture of vaporized mercury and metal halides (compounds of metals with bromine or iodine). It is a type of high-intensity discharge (HID) gas discharge lamp. These lamps are not self-ballasted and must be used in an appropriate fixture with a ballast. Metal Halides are capable of producing UVB, UVA, Visible light, and Heat.