New Mega-Ray Raptor

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Jodie

Sorry I didn't notice your post until now. I think most of us try the lamp at different heights until we are happy with the temperature that results underneath it. My personal opinion is that for a hermann tortoise this should be approx 35C.

The megaray boxes usually have a diagram on the side showing what the UVB is at various distances from the lamp.

[EJ]

What's the life expectancy? Is it available in the states?

Still expensive if you have a large collection.

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by jodie

Yes sorry that is the lamp i had meant to say! Very surprised after fitting the mega ray bulb a bright area of white light is visible on the substrate is this normal? or is the bulb too close? I have positioned the bulb 30 cm away from top of my tortoises shell as bulb box recommends ( unfortunately no manual was included as stated on box). Thanks for the help.

Jodie

that's from the face of the glass the distance is measured. yes there can be a bright spot of light. you might need it higher than 12" in warmer weather

[yuna1971]

Got mine at about 15 inches. Loverly!! Even I want to get under it....xx

[16 shells]

How's the Mega Ray 100 doing now, anyone.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Paul

I haven't tried the 100W but my guess would be that the heat output would be modest.

[Ozric Jonathan]

I've now got a 100w megaray. Only been using it about a week though. Producing about 125 uW/cm2 at 28 cm. In my setup that uvb is at that level over quite a small area but useful uvb is spread quite widely. At that distance the heat was not as much as I wanted so I have a low wattage lightbulb alongside. Clearly this will depend on your ambient temp.

Compared to the arcadia 100w combined bulb the MR is a bit higher up to produce the goods and so covers a wider area. I need to do more readings but it looks like the MR is somehow more powerful.

The MR worked great straight out of the box and has been very steady.

It depends on your setup but in mine neither of those two products produced quite enough heat on its own. The MR box suggests 30cm. At that distance I got useful uvb but not as much heat as I wanted.

The old series MR seemed to create the level of heat and uvb I was looking for but as we know they became unreliable.

[Watermelon]

12 inches away I get readings up to 37C. I have the 100w megaray raptor... do you think I need additional lighting for my tort table or is this light bright enough for my torts? Just I've been reading people have additional light such as tubes.....

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by Watermelon

12 inches away I get readings up to 37C. I have the 100w megaray raptor... do you think I need additional lighting for my tort table or is this light bright enough for my torts? Just I've been reading people have additional light such as tubes.....

it just depends if it's bright enough and what size the enclosure is. if there are dim areas then you might want to but if if it is a light room already then you might not need it.

BTW, 12inches is the minumum height, it's not the height that it must be placed at and of course if it's higher it will spread the light further but reduce the heat at the basking spot. At the same time the UVB at the basking spot will be less intense but spread over a larger area

[Kirkie]

I saw Frances Baines recent tests of the MR raptors. Not exactly doing what it said on the tin. The 100watt was producing less UVB than stated, the 160; more. Still going to get some though I think, you just need a way to measure the output rather than depending on the averages on the box.