If you have a turtle or tortoise, then you’ve probably invested in UVB bulbs for their enclosure. These bulbs are essential for helping your pet stay healthy, but they do have some disadvantages. For example, it can be difficult to tell if a UVB bulb is working properly without using specialized equipment–and even then there’s no guarantee that the bulb itself isn’t faulty! But don’t worry: there’s an easy way to check whether or not your uvb light is working properly without going through any stress.
Do UVB bulbs stop working?
If you’ve had your UVB bulbs for a while and haven’t changed them, it’s possible that they have stopped working. If this happens, your tortoise won’t get the exposure to UVB rays that it needs to stay healthy. So how do you know if a uvb bulb has stopped working? The best way is to check its power output with an Ultraviolet Index meter.
How to tell if a uvb bulb is working?
The packaging of a UVB bulb should have a sticker that says “UVB” and another that says “10,000 lux.” This is the same information stated on your lamp’s packaging. If it doesn’t match up and the bulb isn’t labeled as an equivalent to the one you’re replacing, it could be counterfeit.
The packaging should also include a sticker that says “replacement bulb,” but this isn’t always present with knockoff brands.
Turn off all other lights before turning on your UVB bulb
The first step to telling if your UVB bulb is working is turning off all other lights in the room. This allows you to see how well the UVB bulb is working by itself. If there are other lights on in the room, their light can interfere with a UVB bulb, which means it won’t give off as much ultraviolet B rays as it should. If there’s sunlight shining into your house or apartment through windows or skylights, this will also make it harder for a UVB bulb to work because they need complete darkness to emit ultraviolet B rays effectively.
So make sure all other sources of light (except for moonlight) are turned off before turning on your UVB lamp!
Hold a piece of paper or cardboard under the lightbulb and turn it on
The next step is to test the UVB bulb, which will tell you whether or not it’s functioning properly. To do this, hold a piece of paper or cardboard about 1 inch away from the bulb and turn it on. If your lightbulb doesn’t have any effect on the paper after being turned on for 30 seconds, then there is no UVB radiation being emitted by your bulb and it should be replaced as soon as possible.
If you can’t hold your hand under the UVB light without feeling a burning sensation, then it’s working properly. If you leave your hand there for more than 10 seconds and don’t feel anything, then it may be time to replace the bulb or check its settings.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to purchase a UVB light for your pet lizard or other reptile, there are many things to consider. The size of the tank, the type of reptile, whether or not they have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency and if so what type (if any) supplements they will need in addition to sunlight exposure. Be sure that you do your research before purchasing any products that could potentially harm your pet!
