Bearded Dragon light

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  My son's Bearded Dragon is about 5 months old and has been happily living in a 55 gallon lovely home.  His self ballasted uvb heat / lamp went out a few days ago and we replaced it with a new similar bulb, a 100W Powersun uv all in one self ballasted mercury vapor uvb.  The day after we put in this new bulb Spikey became lethargic with eyes closed and loss of appetite.  I've read your previous helpful posts on photo kerato conjuctivitis and believe that is his ailment.  Spikey also has a very puffy bloated beard thing going on all the time with his eyes closed. How can I help Spikey recover and is there a specific self ballasted bulb you recommend or do you recommend an entirely different heat/uv/light set up.  Thank you for your time!!   Alana

ANSWER: Hello Alana,

Oh I am sorry to hear about the Powersun MVB.  I am so tired of all of the lighting issues this year, it has been terrible.  I had hoped that the Powersun was fixed by now.....I guess not.
At the moment, there really are not any MVB lights ready yet.  The Solar Glo is safe, but it is hit & miss.  Some that are put out, are decent & emit some UVB while others that are put out have little to no UVB emissions at all.
The Megarays & the T-rex MVB's will hopefully be ready by the first of the year.  So, in the meantime, the Reptisun 10 fluorescent tube bulb would be the safest bet right now.
So I would wait until next year to get a MVB light so you don't waste your money.  
How is Spikey doing?  If his eyes are still bothering him, you can try using some sterile saline solution to help him out.  Have you turned the light off?  
Just use a bright white basking light for now, to let his eyes heal up.  
Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie

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QUESTION: Thank you Tracie.  I turned off the MVB light yesterday and replaced it with a regular 100 watt light bulb.  I will try saline for his eyes when it is his awake time.  I'm also concerned with his swollen saggy throat/beard.  It doesn't seem normal.  Has that also been a side effect caused with the bad lights?  I never imagined we'd be so worried about the little guy!  He's like our 3rd child.
thank you again Tracie!  Alana

ANSWER: Hello Alana,

How is Spikey doing?
Did his beard become swollen after you used the light?  Sometimes, they will retain water & fluids or food in their beards or gullet area.  He probably has not absorbed his food very well since he was not feeling well.  
This type of lighting also, emits UVC or low wavelength emissions.  When a living being whether it is a reptile, mammal or human is exposed to that type of wavelength, it damages the DNA & the tissues.  Once tissues are damaged, it causes water retention which is a protective device to try & salvage the cells by helping them from dehydrating so badly.  
That is another thing that could be going on.  These lights really mess up their immune system, & their appetites also.  How close was the light to him?  
I would go ahead & order the Reptisun 10 tube bulb, from  www.petmountain.com   but give him a couple of weeks without any UVB to allow his eyes to heal up.  They are ultrasensitive to UVB lighting right now so just a basking light will be fine for a short period of time.
I hope that he gets to feeling better real soon.  I realize he is not feeling well, but he will need extra oral hydration.  So, try to use a plastic dropper to get him to drink some fluids.  A bath daily, will help him also.
I am sorry that this has happened to him.  I would immediately contact wherever you purchased the light, & nicely ask for a refund.  If you need help explaining the problem with the light, let me know.  You should get a full refund, since the light is faulty.  

Keep me posted on him.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie~  You have been sooo helpful, thank you for the information!  Spikey is already doing much better this morning.  Taking out that light really worked.  He is fully alert with eyes wide open.  I fed him baby food squash with an eye dropper which he loved and he attacked his plate of endive greens.  The powersun light was about 14 inches away from the bottom of his home and about 12 inches from his basking rock.  
Yes, his beard became very swollen after the light was replaced.   It is still swollen and lumpy but I can tell he feels much better.  I will return the powersun bulb and get my $85 back today.  How do you feel about the Mega-Ray 100 watt self ballasted flood uvb lamps?  Are they causing the same issues as the powersun?  I will get the reptisum 10 tube bulb if that is the better choice.
Last question, the light also seemed to have constipated him.  Should I hold off giving him his crickets until he poops?  I am hoping the squash and greens do the trick today.  He usually eats 20-25 crickets twice a day so he's probably hungry.  Thank you again for helping and being so awesome.  Alana : )  

Answer
Hello Alana,

That is great Spikey is doing better now that the light is out.  I hope you get a refund!
At least he is alert & his eyes are open.  It is such a good thing you caught this early.  
Well, I would keep feeding the softer food right now, until his body gets back to normal.  It just dehydrated him, which in turn, will cause constipation.  So, along with the baby food, try to give some extra oral fluids, too.  You can also try some canned pumpkin or sugar free applesauce, too.  :-))
Well, the Megarays "have" caused the exact same issues.  The manufacturer made errors on the glass which was the cause of it, but it is just now getting fixed.  These lights will not be ready until the first of the year roughly.  So, for now, I would get the Reptisun 10 tube bulb until the Megaray 100 watt SB is ready.  That is the best bulb, it just isn't, at the moment.


Let me know how he is doing.
Tracie