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.
Quote:
On Reptiles TV there is a video on Leopard Geckos and how to set up a habitat for them. Zilla sponsors this 3 part video and I have to admit that some of the products are very sharp such as the lighting fixture used (I wont go
into the substrate used here) in section #2 ReptilesTV > Featured Products > Zilla: Desiging a Desert Habitat, Part Two. uv lighting is explained.
When I saw this video quite some time ago, I called Israel DuPont told him how dangerous this information was. Now understand, I am by no means saying that there is not great information to be gained on this program as well. But that does not excuse the responsibility they have to be sure that they only publicize safe and reliable information.
In this section a Zilla 10.0 desert T5 fluorescent UV light is recommended because the Leopard gecko is a desert species. I don't remember them explaining that they are also nocturnal! This was shortly before the UV Guide had its reports on the photo phosphors used on the new imported China bulbs, but it well after I had tested these bulbs when I was sent a case of them from the manufacturer, in both compact and tube form.
I had already made the mistake of putting one of these proto type China T5 tubes over my personal Leopard Geckos to replace the ESU 18" tube (the one that came with the plastic covering originally) because the UVB out put was at 2uWcm2 on the floor of the habitat at this point from the ESU tube. I replaced it with the new 5.0 China T5 china bulb (about 35uW through screen at the floor). I set the bulb at 2 hours a day through double screen with a reading of 35uW. The distance was 16" to the floor. After a week I noticed that one of the two females couldn't hit her crickets. The other female wouldn't even come out while the light was on.
Even though I had a 6.4 meter and the readings were way lopsided, it did not describe the uneven range of the lower UV like the 6.5 UVI meter does (I have now converted my 6.4 to a 6.5). It should be mentioned that I also sent test samples of these new China bulbs over the UV Guide to be tested during this time.
Once I noticed the problem with "Hard to kill#1" (the names my beloved brother gave the geckos were Hard to kill#! And #2) I removed the lamp. This gecko has never regained its eye site and "Hard to kill#2" needs at least one leg removed from the crickets to be able to get a clean strike at its prey. Neither one of these creatures showed any signs of photo Kerato conjunctivitis during this time. "hard to kill #1" has been hand fed for the last 1+ years since being exposed to the T5 lamp and has never recovered its eyesight, that in the end has an identical spectrum as the Zilla T5 tube and the identical spectrum as the ZooMed compact 10.0. according to the testing from the UV Guide.
No other changes were made to the habitat during this time or before and since. The blindness occurred because of the exposure to these bulbs at a very short interval.
This does not mean that the Reptiles TV has nothing good to offer in the way of entertainment or education, but it was informed of this problem and many others and still has the same info on it over a year later. Advertising dollars over truth and animal health flat out.
Reports of African Grey's having PKC and blister skin around the eyes after being exposed to the Zoomed 10.0 compact fluorescent have been ignored by Zoomed by the pet shops that have had this sad experience. This does not mean that Zoomed does not have some really great products (some of them I would love to be able to distribute on my site). Yet ZooMed claims' to be the worlds leader when it comes to reptile lighting seems a bit empty when dollars over shadow the animals welfare they are there to protect.
I'll get a scan of the advertising in Reptiles magazine I was talking about up in the files section this week before I leave for LA and I'll ask the experienced members to comment truthfully on its contents and tell me if this is "responsible education" by both the distributor and the magazine that printed it before I make my own comments on it.
Did I mention the 100wt MV bulb I just bought to take to the ARAV convention that has a UVI reading of 28 at 12" and a energy usage of 260watts? They claim to be the only reptile company in the world to pre test their bulbs!!! Pretty cool. I have these bulbs also from China at a cost of $3.50 each before shipping to me. I told the manufacturer that it had a little to much UVI at the recommended distance and they told me they were working on it. I believe that translates to "we have a buyer that doesn't care". And now you can get them at $28!!. Cheap and strong!!
What do I want? What do I expect? How about demanding a standard for reptile products? Specially lighting? It should be done. It can be done. Those that only care about "cheap" products for their pets can pay the price by not buying products that have a "certified label" but in the end, I believe that it will work. There are enough serious herpers to support this kind of program. At least I believe there are.
Well this will put me on the chopping block for a while.
Best Regards,
Bob MacCargar
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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!
