A COMPARISON OF FLUORESCENT BULBS
(UVA, UVB & OVERALL OUTPUT)

This chart uses results from tests conducted by Optronic Laboratories of Florida in 1998. Optronic are an independent laboratory. In 1997, William Gehrmann published a set of independent test results on fluorescent bulbs. Several of the bulbs from those tests are either no longer available or have been superseded, so I lend more credence to the tests shown here. However, Gehrmann's results do not conflict with these findings.

The bulb of choice within the Bearded Dragon community seems to be the ZooMed 5.0, but I know that the Vita-Lite is also used by Dragon owners of considerable reputation.

I use the ZooMed, which lasts longer than most, needing replacing yearly, as opposed to other brands which must be replaced every 6 or 9 months because the output of both UVA and UVB diminishes after this time. A number of Bearded Dragon owners (including myself) overcome the low overall light output of the ZooMed by using a double bulb fixture and utilising one ZooMed and one regular household fluorescent.

I cannot overstress the importance of natural unfiltered sunlight. Even in spring and fall when the intensity is lower, it is still beneficial, and while the bulbs I mention are good, nothing can replace the real thing when it comes to Bearded Dragon husbandry. 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference in a Bearded Dragons overall health, appetite and activity levels; just make sure your animal has access to shade and don't use a glass aquarium for sunning - a mesh cage like a Reptarium is ideal.

Bill Mears