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Special Report :
A problem with some of the new high UVB output
fluorescent compact lamps and tubes

The Report: Introduction - Case histories - Lamp test results
Discussion - Summary, Recommendations and Company Responses- References

What is photo-kerato-conjunctivitis?

"Help! I think my reptile has this problem, what shall I do?"
Please don't panic. Click here for more info

"How should I respond to this report?"
Please click here for more info

 

 

Cases of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis

The photographs below show a selection of the cases we have reviewed.

The cases reviewed here are from two reports, one submitted to ZooMed in relation to Reptisun Compact Lamps and one submitted to R-Zilla in relation to Desert Series 50 lamps.

ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamps

The report we have submitted to ZooMed contains details of a total of 20 incidents, involving 40 animals, which have developed symptoms of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis as a result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Of these, 18 incidents were associated with the use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamp and two were associated with use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 Compact Lamp. The details of these cases are summarised in the chart below. 7 cases were reported by the veterinary surgeon who examined them (MB) and details of a further 13 cases were reported by the reptiles' owners (and collated by FB).

A summary of all these cases is given in the following table.
The estimated UV Index at the basking spot was calculated from the actual lamp, when that was available, or in all other cases, from data from one of the new sample lamps after 1 - 2 hours burn, at the same distance and in a similar fixture.

Please remember, when considering the basking distances, that with one exception, at the time when these were set up, there were no instructions supplied with the compact lamps, to indicate suitable distances, and several keepers had previously used older style UVB compact lamps at the distances they chose. In the case of the one exception, the lamp had been sold as part of the equipment for use inside a small vivarium, purchased at the same time from a specialist reptile shop.

 

Cases of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis in association with the use of ZooMed Reptisun compact fluorescent lamps

 

Species

 

No. of animals affected

 

Symptoms

 

UVB lamp installed

 

Position and type of fixture

 

Date lamp installed

 

When symptoms appeared

 

When lamp removed

 

When symptoms resolved

 

Estimated
UV Index at basking spot

Bearded dragon sub-adults (Pogona vitticeps)
case ref: MB1

 

2
Inactivity, eyes closed, inappetance, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
15cm (6in) above, mounted vertically on solid roof of vivarium -no reflector or dome.
April 2007
5 – 7 days later
After 7 days
Swelling gone in 4-5 days, allnormal in 7 – 10 days
15.7
Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
case ref: DM1
1
Anorexia, swollen eyelids, serous eye discharge.
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact

 

 20cm (8in) above -no reflector or dome.
April 2007
4 days later
When symptoms seen
Within 10 days
9.1
Yellow-footed Tortoises (Geochelone denticulata)
case ref: FC1
2
Anorexia, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
10cm (4in) above -no reflector or dome.
May 2007
3 days later
When symptoms seen
After 10 days
33.1
Bearded dragon juveniles (Pogona vitticeps)
case ref: DM2
3
Swollen eyelids.
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
20cm (8in) above basking spot -no reflector or dome.
May 2007
2-3 days
When symptoms seen
Within a few days
9.1
Veiled Chameleon juvenile (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
case ref: MB2
2
Eyes closed inactivity, anorexia
ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact in use 1 month
< 15cm (6in) to side of basking branches - no reflector or dome.
(1) May 2007
(2) June 2007
2-3 days

 

(1) lamp not removed (2) After 7 days
(1) died after 1 month
(2) healed 7 days later
29.7
Bearded dragon juveniles (Pogona vitticeps)
case ref: FC2
2
Inactivity, inappetance, eyes closed
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
< 15cm (6in) above and to the side of basking rock -no reflector or dome.

 

June 2007
2-3 days
After 7 days
Swelling gone in 5 days, all normal in 10 days
15.7
Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
case ref: GB
1
Inactivity, eyes closed.

 

New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
15cm (6in) to side of basking branches -no reflector or dome.
July 2007
3 days later
When symptoms seen
Recovery over 4 – 15 days
29.7
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: SC
2
Swollen eyelids, cessation of basking
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
6 – 9 in above, set at an angle in white dome
4 July 2006
5 – 8 July 2006
20 Jan 2007
22 Jan 2007 – then re-occurrence when light used again
10.9 at 6in

4.9 at 9in
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: GG
3
Swollen eyelids
10-day-old ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
12 in above, horizontally mounted in steel reflector hood

 

Sept 2006
4 days later
As soon as symptoms seen
Within a few days
14.4
Painted Turtle hatchlings (Chrysemys picta)
case ref: J
2
Swollen eyelids, eyes closed
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
6 in above, 10 in to the side, in aluminium dome
7 Nov 2006
9 Nov 2006
12 Nov 2006
15 Nov 2006 – then re-occurred when light used again
32.5
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: N
1
Refused to bask, hiding, inappetance, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
Not recorded
19 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006
26 Dec 2006
Bearded dragon hatchlings (Pogona vitticeps)
case ref: JP
8
Eyes closed
New ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 compact
10 -18 cm (4 -7 ins) above sloping ramp. No reflector or dome
20 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006
4 had recovered by 23 Dec, all by 2 Jan
9.8 at 4in

4.1 at 7in
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: OG
1
Eyes closed, swollen eyelids, lethargic. Skin peeled from eyelids.
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
6 in above, set at an angle in white dome
17 Feb 2007
21 Feb 2007
22 Feb 2007
27 Feb 2007
14.9
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: CS
1
Swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
5 in above, set at an angle in small white lampholder
6 April 2007
7 April 2007
8 April 2007
10 April 2007
21.0
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: SS
2
Refusing to bask, eyes closed, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
(1) 10in above at angle, in aluminium dome then (2) 15in, in white dome
(1) 8 April 2007
(2) 15 April 2007
(1) 8 April 2007
(2) 16 April 2007
(1) 12 April 2007
(2) 16 April 2007
(1) 14 April 2007
(2) 18 April 2007

(1) 41.8
(2) 2.2

Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: V
1
Inappetance lethargy, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
4 – 5 in above, set at an angle. No reflector or dome
10 April 2007
11 April 2007
12 April 2007
14 April 2007

31.9 at 4in

21.0 at 5in

Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: L
1
Eyes closed, staying out of water, swollen eyelids
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
6 in above, set at an angle. No reflector or dome
25 April 2007
27 April 2007
28 April 2007
29 April 2007
14.9
Red-eared slider turtle hatchlings (Trachemys scripta elegans)
case ref: R
2
Refusing to bask, eyes closed, swollen eyelids

 

New ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 compact)
5 – 6 in above, set at an angle in white dome
2 May 2007
5 May 2007
6 May 2007
7 May 2007

21.0 at 5in

14.9 at 6in

Blue Tongue Skink
(Tiliqua scincoides)
case ref: AM

1
Eyes closed, eyelids swollen, lower eyelid skin peeled from eyelids.
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
12 in directly above tank floor in 10” aluminium dome
8 July 2007
9 July 2007
12 July 2007
21 July 2007
25.1
Bearded dragon hatchlings (Pogona vitticeps)
case ref: AR
2
Eyes closed, swollen eyelids, anorexia.
New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact
6 in to side of basking rock and 4 in above vivarium floor. No reflector or dome
31 Aug 2007
2 Sept 2007
Lamp not removed
First hatchling died 6 Sept 2007; second died 9 Sept 2007

31.9 at 4in above

28.9 at 6in to side

All the cases involving red eared slider turtles were first reported by members of a popular hobbyists’ website forum in the USA, www.redearslider.com.
One of the organisers of the forum collected more detailed, written reports, photographs and the “problem” Reptisun 10.0 compact lamps from three members, SC (New York, USA), SS (Florida, USA) and GG (New Jersey, USA). She sent these to FB, (lamp refs. BW3, 4 and 5) along with two brand new lamps sourced from two different suppliers in the USA, lamp refs BW1 (Reptilesupply.com, Florida, USA) and BW2 (BigAlsOnline.com, New York, USA).

Individual reptile owners who contacted FB directly by email, enquiring about their problem, submitted other case reports and photographs. A Reptisun 5.0 compact lamp which had apparently caused problems in bearded dragon hatchlings in the Netherlands (lamp ref. BJP1) was submitted by their owner JP.

Two Reptisun 10.0 compact lamps from Italy, one brand new and one old lamp of the original design, were contributed by MB, (lamp refs. MB1 and MB2) and two burned-in lamps of the original design, originally donated by Peregrine Livefoods Ltd. to FB in the UK, were also used for making comparisons (lamp refs. BZC1 and BZC4).

 

 

More detailed case histories of all animals examined by MB and five cases submitted to FB are available.

These case histories each open in a new browser window:

 

 

R-Zilla Desert 50 Series lamps

The report we have submitted to R-Zilla is incomplete, since the cases are so recent that details are still being collected. We are currently investigating reports of five incidents, involving at least 40 animals, which have occurred in association with the use of lamps from the new R-Zilla Desert 50 Series of fluorescent UVB lamps. At the time of writing, we only have one fully documented report and bare outlines of the four other cases. More details of these will be added to the report as soon as possible. These new cases follow a similar pattern to those reported for the ZooMed Compact Lamps. The affected chameleons also demonstrated skin problems. A veiled chameleon which was suffering from photo-kerato-conjunctivitis developed an apparent desire to keep his skin wet, and the owner reported that he "became very thirsty all of the time and would sit wanting to have his body misted as if he received relief from the shower". A panther chameleon which died had developed strange, extensive skin lesions resembling burns on both sides of its body, limbs and tail and the owner also noticed an increased thirst during its short illness.

The details of these cases are summarised in the chart below.

The estimate for Case RW is based upon the measurements taken from the R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T8 lamp which caused the photo-kerato-conjunctivis. Other estimates are based upon measurements from the brand new sample R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T5 lamp BZL1 after 0.5 hours burn, with its acrylic cover in place.

 

Cases of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis in association with the use of R-Zilla Desert 50 Series lamps

 

Species

 

No. of animals affected

 

Symptoms

 

UVB lamp installed

 

Position and type of fixture

 

Date lamp installed

 

When symptoms appeared

 

When lamp removed

 

When symptoms resolved

 

Estimated
UV Index at basking spot

Bearded dragon juveniles (Pogona vitticeps) Case ref: RW

 

2

Inactivity, eyes closed, anorexia.

New R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T8 tube (15 watt, length 18 in)

( 1) 7 in. above - no reflector or mesh
(2 and 3) 8 in. above with 40% mesh screen

(1) July 12th 2007
(2) 24th July

(3) 29th August

24 – 48 hrs in each incident

(1) July 16th 2007
(2) 26th July
(3) 30th August

Improved in 2 – 3 days in each incident

(1) 15.3
(2 and 3)  8.1

 

Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) Case ref: DW1

1

Eyes closed, depression, severe skin lesions, death

New R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T5 Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture

8 in. above 

Full details not yet known

August 2007

Details not yet known

Details not yet known

Death occurred 1st Sept 2007

25.1 if no mesh

Veiled chameleon juveniles (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Case ref: T1

2

(1) eyes closed anorexia, death
(2) eyes closed anorexia, thirst seeking to keep skin wet

New R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T5 Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture

6 in. above with mesh screen. Full details not yet known

Details not yet known

(1) Details not known
(2) Within 48 hrs

(1) not removed
(2) 2 days after first symptoms seen

(1) death occurred in 3 weeks
(2) slow recovery still ongoing

35.5 if no mesh

21.3 if mesh with 40% block

 

Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Case ref: T1

 

1

Eyes closed,  when eyes opened, behaving as if partly blinded

New R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T5 Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture

10 in. above

Full details not yet known

12th Sept 2007

24 – 48 hrs

16th Sept 2007

Improving when report made on 17th Sept 2007

18.5 if no mesh

(1) Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

(2) Green basilisks (Basiliscus plumifrons) (3) Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus)  (4) Panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis)

Case ref: JD (reptile store owner and bearded dragon breeder)

 

(1) 30 juvenile and  4 subadult bearded dragons

(2-4)     numbers not yet known 

Eyes closed

New R-Zilla Desert 50 Series T5 Low Profile Single Bulb Fixtures

(1) 14 in. above. Acrylic cover in place. In display pens at reptile show. Full details not yet known

(2-4) Various distances from 4 in. upwards. Acrylic cover in place.  In reptile store display pens. Full details not yet known

 

 

 

 (1) lamps on for 7hr each day for 2 days

(2-4) Details not yet known.

All cases  within 24 – 48 hrs

(1) lamps only used while at show

(2-4) As soon as symptoms seen

All cases within 2 – 3 days after lamps removed

(1) 11.1 if no mesh

(2-4) 56.4 if no mesh

 

The incident involving the R-Zilla T8 lamp was reported to FB by the owner of the affected bearded dragons, who also submitted the lamp for testing. All other cases were associated with the R-Zilla Desert Series 50 T5 Low Profile Single Bulb Fixture. The incidents involving chameleons were reported to chameleon keeper DW by his local reptile store. He is making further investigations and sent a brand new T5 lamp to FB for testing. The other incidents have been reported on a popular hobbyists' website forum and FB is collecting further information from the owners.

 

A more detailed case history for one incident reported to FB is available:

This case history opens in a new browser window:



 

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