Had to replace one of my UV bulbs in an emergency for my water dragons. The local stores carried a 5.0 tropical & a 10.0 desert bulb. Is there a difference between tropical & desert ratings or is it a gimmick to promote more sales? Tried to follow the picture on the back of the box of the bulbs...but it looked all "greek" to me.

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

5.0 simply means that 5% of the light emitted is UVB.
10.0 is 10% so there is actually more UVB produced.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

So the status of "tropical" or "desert" means absolutely nothing?

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

Well actually it does. Tropical animals have trees and such that do give them a bit of shade and the darker leaves will absorb some of the light.
In a desert situation the sun is glaring down and the light is more intense.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I bought the 10.0 desert bulb because they did not have a 10.0 tropical bulb. Is this going the hurt my water dragon? She will be in her new enclosure with a couple of months and the I will be using the Mega Ray.

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

It will actually be better for your WD. They're high-level UVB users and as long as you have ample room for the WD to get away from the UVB when it's done basking it will be fine.

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Veronica
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Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

Not at all. There isn't a flourescent light available that comes anywhere close to the intensity of the real sun.
I don't guess I have seen a 10.0 tropical bulb, only the desert.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Sweet! Thanks so much for putting my mind at ease!

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***