Blue heat bulbs ("Night" heat bulb) experiment.

Hello everyone, Im starting an experiment with my Emperor scorpion, Knuckles. I use a red IR bulb during the day, but I was curious about these blue "night" bulbs, and there dosnt seem to be any real idea as to if it bugs scorpions. So Im going to start using the blue one at night. Heres a pic of exactly what Im gonna use:


(sorry for the poor picture, if you have any questions about the bulb feel free to ask.)

CURRENTLY, Knuckles has decided to hide himself under his water dish like a goofball. All you can see is his telson sticking out, kind of like a shark, so I wont be able to see his reaction at this time.

But having said that I will report back here and let you all know if it bugs him at all, and if it does I will quit the experiment. I dont want to bug the poor guy. Im doing this to hopefully make a definitive answer for anyone whos curious about the blue bulbs.
Feel free to share any experiences or thoughts.

Will post soon,

-Cody.

I use them as my only source of heat for my emps and heterometrus and they dont seem to mind at all.

dont they give of any uv light?

You might want to take a look at this thread as well.

If we consider that any light without UV is fine for our scorps, then I would say these are probably safe. If exo terra's site is to be trusted, then these DO NOT emit any UV. They state the spectrum of these bulbs at around 580-2000+ nm ( UV is 100-400 nm)

UPDATE!!!

I actually wanted to test this further, but as soon as I turned it on, it actually made my scorp glow, (I cant remember the correct term). So assuming that if it made them glow like under a black light, I turned it off and replaced it.

Wouldn't one assume that if it makes them glow it actually bugs the scorpion?

If it makes them glow, then in definitely emits UV and is not suitable for a scorpion.

It would be interesting to test these with a proper UV Meter.

DolbyR wrote:

If it makes them glow, then in definitely emits UV and is not suitable for a scorpion.

It would be interesting to test these with a proper UV Meter.

If I had one I certainly would. I find it really unfortunate because I had high hopes, but alas, its too much UV apparently.

KingofHearts wrote:

I find it really unfortunate

+1 , specially as apparently the stated spectrum is not correct. Unfortunately good UV meters cost $170 +

@DolbyR: Thanks. I think Im going to try and contact someone at Exoterra and let them know about this. Maybe they will have some tips, or atleast I can offer them this info so they can work on the bulbs. Who knows, maybe sometime in the near future they will have a cool nighttime bulb that dosnt have UV.

I Have this exact same bulb, and this post concerned me very much.

I did some research of my own, as I remembered my wife having some UV reactive bracelets from vichy. They react to UVA/UVB. She still had one and brought it outside this sunny afternoon. When exposed for about 30 seconds to regular sunlight, it turns purple for about 1.5 minutes fading back to white.

I took it and placed under my bulb and the only reason it was purple was due to the light emitted being purple.

Simply trying to be thorough, as the box does specifically say that the bulb is non-UV.

UV bracelet


only purple here is from the light



Here's a good description of multiple luminescence

http://uvminerals.org/fms/luminescence

I believe the Optically stimulated is likely what's happening.

Also, I wonder if the scorps appear glowing as the violet is the closest to UV, and the reflected colours are simply what your eyes interpret?

Such as:

http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/visible.html

"The color of an object that we see is the color of light reflected. All other colors are absorbed."

Interesting............

Would it be possible for you to post comparison pictures of the scorp under a UV light and of it under the "Night" heat bulb?

I would, however, my scoprions have been delayed by the ever craptacular Canada Post. I will post pics when they get here.

And by UV light, you mean those fluorescent black lights I had when I was a teenager, cause it was "cool"?

I'd have to see if I kept them.

That is just great AaronCo2! Very interesting..
Im not a big fan of the IR lamps, i hate the red light. Our apartment looks like a brothel when you walk buy it because of that damned red glow..

I really like the purple/blue light.

KLN1988 wrote:

Our apartment looks like a brothel when you walk buy it because of that damned red glow..

My whole rack system can be seen through my window(which is quite big), looks like Im doing some kind of satanic ritual.

You could always use those ceramic lamps. I've heard they outlast the IR bulbs, but they are still too expensive (atleast for me).

They are really expensive!
I like the blue light the moonlight bulbs give so if they are safe to use, then i will switch over to them.

Just a thought, are Danish crowns UV reactive the same way as i.e. the Euro? It could be another way for testing the lamp for UV.

Ooh.. I Actually dont know that! Havent thought of that.. Will try it out in the weekend if i remember it Thanks!

Well I tried a 5$ bill, and it does glow, but I still wonder if it is only responsive to UV or violet spectrum in general. Anybody know any physicists? Preferably a Sheldon Cooper type.. who knows too much info.

I think I've muddied the water on this..... I am a fair bit uncertain what to believe without a proper spectrometer or proper UV meter. Maybe Exoterra will have a proper answer ... I hope. otherwise its another IR lamp for me.

Wow, Im really glad to see my thread booming with discussion!

@AaronCo2: That is a VERY interesting experiment, and idea. I wonder if it has just enough UV to make somethings react like you said, or perhaps its just what our eyes perceive?

I have my "night" bulb still and an actual black light (the kind you use for posters and such).
I will use both and take pictures so we can compare them.

Heres something else interesting I should mention: When I used the black light one night for a few seconds (my curiosity got the better of me), my emp glowed YELLOW. But when I used this night bulb he glowed BLUE. Anyone have any idea why that is?

Heres an update that I did just a bit ago. Sorry for the horrible pics by the way, couldnt figure out a good setting to use with these lights.

The first pic is the Blacklight, like the kind that you use on posters. As you can see, he is glowing yellowish green.


This is the second photo. This one is taken while using the NIGHT bulb we have been discussing. As you can see, he is glowing, but not nearly as strong as its not as strong as the blacklights bulb.

in my eyes, the last pic dont look like a glow at all, only like a minor reflection. but hey, im no professor!

KingofHearts wrote:

Heres something else interesting I should mention: When I used the black light one night for a few seconds (my curiosity got the better of me), my emp glowed YELLOW. But when I used this night bulb he glowed BLUE. Anyone have any idea why that is?

My thoughts here are the spectrum of short/medium/long wave are different on each bulb. The black light bulb should have a mix of med, long wave light. the night bulb should be all long spectrum. This should account for the colour differences as well as different chemicals used in the making of the bulb, not to mention the way they produce light. Mercury vapour v. Filament.

I will speak to a few of my friends who work at UWO labs in London, see if they know anyone with access to maybe a spectrometer. That will maybe help put this into some more solid data, rather than my speculations so far.