Do you have a new ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or 10.0 COMPACT LAMP ?

Please read our report concerning the problems encountered with these lamps

If, after reading our report, you still wish to use one of these compact lamps it is very important that you read, and follow carefully the instructions which are given regarding minimum basking distances.

These lamps should have instruction sheets in each box giving VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION about minimum safe basking distances. If you have bought one of these lamps and do not have a leaflet PLEASE download a copy now, and read it carefully.

 

These are external links to the ZooMed websites in the USA and in Europe, where they have now uploaded the information sheets. These are large .pdf files (Adobe Reader needed) - please allow time for them to download. The European version is identical to the USA version except that it also contains the data in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch and Japanese. USA: ReptiSun 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Lamp: (860KB) http://www.zoomed.com/Library/ProductDBFiles/reptisun5cf.pdf USA: ReptiSun 10.0 Compact Fluorescent Lamp: (860KB) http://www.zoomed.com/Library/ProductDBFiles/reptisun10cf.pdf European: ReptiSun 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Lamp: (1.06MB) http://www.zoomed.eu/PDF/ReptiSun_Compact_FS-C5E_Instructions.pdf European: ReptiSun 10.0 Compact Fluorescent Lamp: (1.06MB) http://www.zoomed.eu/PDF/ReptiSun_Compact_FS-10E_Instructions.pdf

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.

HOWEVER: Although at these distances your reptile should not develop acute eye damage or skin burns, he/she will still be receiving low levels of radiation of a type not found in natural sunlight - low wavelength UVB below 290nm. There is no evidence that low levels of this radiation over long periods is safe, although it must be said that there is also no clear evidence that it may be harmful.. you need to decide for yourself.

ZooMed are researching a new phosphor which does not emit light at these low wavelengths but for now, their compact lamps still contain the problem phosphor described in our report.

Please note that their linear fluorescent tubes (long tubes) - both 10.0 and 5.0 - do NOT have this problem and only emit UVB at similar wavelengths to those found in sunlight.

December 2007