Bob (reptileuv.com) and I were chatting and he directed me to a post he had made on the UV Meter group and asked me to watch the linked video. While we chatted he explained to me what the video was going to be about, and how he had contacted Israel to let him know how unsafe the advice actually was. Now, a year later, the video is still there. (Even though they have all the evidence they needed to see how unsafe the suggestions were.) This boils down to one thing, money.

As you will see from the proceeding quote, Bob had the misfortune of learning first hand why this lighting should not be used with Leopard Geckos.

I myself never paid much attention to Reptiles TV because it reminds me of visiting a Petco. You have people, in videos, pushing products they either know nothing about or seem to have learned about from a typical petstore employee.

Here we have a site that is aware of the bad information they have posted, yet choose to do nothing about it and leave the video up. They are doing this because they don't care about the welfare of the animal. They do care about advertising, sponsorship, and finances though.

If they removed that video, and informed Zilla why it was removed, I doubt Zilla would be very interested in working with them again. So on the site it stays, and countless Leopard Geckos and their owners pay the price.

It is this type of irresponsible advertising that leads new owners astray. It is this type of information that causes injury, and spreads bad information from one user to the next. This is the start of the line of bad information being posted across the internet. (You know the info I am talking about. A user who watched that video and then regurgitated that Leopard Geckos need that light as if they have been using it for 10 years.)

I would like to see "something" done to help maybe wake up Reptiles TV, and Israel Dupont. I suggest anyone who reads this to stop using that site completely. If their traffic dies off, so too does their advertising.

I also suggest we stop buying Zilla products. Clearly they don't test all of their products with the animals they suggest them for. They have simply "grouped" species and just "think" its safe I guess.

More importantly though, I ask that you email them and ask why they KNOWINGLY continue to keep the video up when they KNOW that the light being suggested WILL cause injury.

If they actually respond and say they know of no such reports (they will be lying), forward them this page:

UV Lighting for Reptiles: A new problem with high UVB output fluorescent compact lamps and tubes?

If they ask what ad you are referring to, link them to this:

ReptilesTV > Featured Products > Zilla: Desiging a Desert Habitat, Part Two.

Israel can be contacted at: israeld@reptilestv.com

I hope some of you take the time to contact them. If no one steps up, nothing will ever change.

My email has already been sent.

Thanks!

__________________

Leopard Gecko Care Guide

Mine as well.
I saw this kettle begin to boil long ago.
As the reptile market has exploded in the last ten years so has all those pathetic products marketed to the unknowing consumer.

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Mike

China is manufacturing lights for Zilla and Zoo Med at unbelievably cheap prices. To compete with the growing trend of Mercury Vapors, they are trying to produce stronger florescent lights. The lighting itself is producing good UVB, but it is producing a harmful irradiation in the process. The UVI is above acceptable levels, and it is causing blindness, blistering, and other ailments in reptiles. To know this is occurring and do nothing is ridiculous. They ARE most likely trying to lower the UVI in their labs, but they continue to sell the dangerous lighting and recommend it for species they MUST know don't require such extreme exposure. Even a 5.0 is too much for a Leopard Gecko, and that falls into decent UVB and a safe UVI.

Anyone who reads this, and gets confused about the talk of UV and leopard geckos should know that it is NOT required for leopard geckos who eat well and aren't suffering from any ailments. Leopard geckos who are suffering from eating disorders or Metabolic Bone Disease show a significant level of improvement when exposed to extremely low UVB levels. (3-5 uWcm2) produced from a 2.0 florescent for a few hours each day. (I have this all covered in the new leo care guide I am working on.)

Healthy leopard geckos do extremely well without UV exposure. If you wanted to improve their overall health however, 3 hours at 3-5 uWcm2 daily (in the AM is my preference) will do them well. Any more than that will cause them to hide as it will hurt their eyes.

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Leopard Gecko Care Guide

Oh wow. I had no idea they were marketing such a strong bulb to leo owners, or that it could do so much damage. It's really sad that you almost can't trust anyone who recommends this type of thing unless it's some place like this where you know they aren't being "endorsed".

Oh my goodness, are they actually recommending crushed walnut as the substrate? I guess it is all about selling the product. That's awful.

I never used this site and I definitely never will, now. Thanks for letting us know about this, Rich. I'm willing to email him and ask him what the deal is with that.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

I never used this site, but I sent them an email anyway, They never bothered responding...

__________________
"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something."

My Reptiles: http://www.iherp.com/riain

Didn't respond to me either. A shame. I doubt they even care.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

I am just hoping that if they see enough people making comments about it, they may end up realizing that people do take notice. I never got a response either, but I didn't expect one though. How can he justify leaving it up when he already knows it is harmful to Leopard Geckos? He can't, so there would be nothing for him to say other than "I really don't care about the animals so long as I am being paid."

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Leopard Gecko Care Guide

That's pretty much it.

I have been watching this brew on the Meter Owners Group for the last few weeks.

I know how much this aggravates Bob, he has made a cause out of responsible reptile products. I fully support him on that.

These companies design and market products that are appealing to humans, not the reptiles they are designated for. That's why we always say to do the right thing for the animal, not you. This means no Solar Drops, D3 supplements, Magnetic hides, Calcisand and a host of other products that are harmful for the creature.

We were able to change the accepted terminology of UV measurement from percentages to Microwatts (a much more accurate and professionally accepted term) in a short period of time. I strongly believe we can do the same with irresponsible manufacturers that market products that harm animals. We all have to do our part by stopping the purchases directly or through education.

Thanks for posting it here Rich.

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_________________________ ____________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

It still amazes me that these companies are allowed to do things like this. If they did it with products for humans there would be such an outcry (and numerous lawsuits!) that their grandchildren's ears would still be ringing!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Even, I think, if they did this for cats or dogs! Animal rights groups would go crazy.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.