HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Their UVA/UVB bulbs are a lie. They can label everything they want as producing UV because it is not regulated. Knowing there are a lot of reptile owners on this site as well I thought I would put the word out. I paid 34$ for my bulb and my vet just tested it with her meter and got a reading of 0.

We went to the vet at 3pm it is now 20 minutes until 8, and we just got home. It's a 20 minute drive. We spent from 4 until we left testing bulbs with her meter. All of the All Living Things bulbs tested out at 0 even though they were clearly marked as UVA and UVB producing.

Reptitherm and Exo terra tested out as ok. Not quite as high as some were saying they were, but still pretty close.

Yikes! What a let down! I think there is some law against that (false advertising maybe? After all, you're not getting what you paid for).
In any case, thanks for letting us know!

Wow. I guess they play on the fact that most of us don't have the equipment to test it.

For $34 you'd want the real thing!! That's terrible.

Nope, they're not regulated, so they can say whatever they want. However they've come out with new packaging from the time I got my bulb saying they only produce UVA. But my package is clearly marked UVA/UVB

The more I think about it, the more angry it makes me. How many animals that need UVB light have died because they've been kept under those lights?

Disgusting.

The newer packaging labels UVA, and not UVB so perhaps someone called them on it. But my package for my bulb clearly lists UVA and UVB. And I am not at all happy that I paid 34$ for a bulb that didn't fit my needs while the packaging said it did.

Can you call the company and complain? The fact that they changed the packaging will probably work in your favour.

Great info Sebby.. Hope you can get your money back!

A few years back companies were putting out bulbs that were so strong they were frying the reptiles, now they're so weak to as be useless....

Grrr... Wish the bulbs were regulated! Sebby, you need to call the company and ask for your money back - I doubt they will argue!

I had found this site a few months back, but it looks like they are still in the process of updating it. It does have some great reading explaining how the UVB works, and they're supposedly currently updating the chart that lists how much each brand actually puts out!

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm

I have full spectrum lighting that i use for my parrots and the crabs but its very expensive. I think i have over 400.00 into it.. I wonder if they make any small versions for small bird cages. But then again i have never had it tested? Its a brand my avian Vet suggested. A good Avian Vet is very hard to find. Lots of vets dont do birds or know much about lighting for them or other pets..we had problems finding a herpetologist too. If i find out more about the Avian lighting ill post it.. They dont do much in the heating area but they do show some amazing colors on the crabs as well as the Birds. I hope its giving them the rays they are needing.. Mine do get access to natural light daily also.. Old home, (1800's) old windows with no filtration and full day time sun.

I did notice that amazing eclectus girl in your avie, Suebee. She inspired me to do some research on her species and I am surprised at the difference between genders. They almost look like different species!

Anyways. I don't really bother with UV and full spectrum lighting. My tank is in my bedroom and I don't like having a light on while I sleep. Thus, I use a ceramic heating element in my lamp and only use it sparingly.

What else, besides enhancing color, does a full spectrum/UV light do for the crabs?

Thanks Crabby Tabby.. She is a Grand Electus from the Indonesian islands one of the reasons i plan on going to Indonesia. She is the biggest sub species of Electus. So very gentle and she talks up a storm. I have a scientific holding license for her and take her to nursing homes as well as rehab centers to do animal therapy. Her name is Avianna - (Avian Anna ) I got her as a Egg so i didnt know what she would be male or female. I have a close friend who is a breeder of them. A great bird very quiet, talks instead of squawks. But a life time commitment and one i had to make arrangements for even after im gone.

The lighting gives the pets Vit D. and the vitamin D helps the body break down or use the given calcium efficiently. The only way to get Vit D is from the sun otherwise. It can also trigger various physical and behavioral changes including breeding, molting, sleeping patterns and other daily behavior. Like the Seasons would Naturally.
Hope that helps.
Blessings, Suebee