Mega ray
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Mega Ray (pros and cons)
- Provide the best independently-researched UVB bulb on the market today (see below)
- Tested to provide usable UVB output for as much as 18 months or longer (although you should still replace at 12 months unless you have a UVB meter)
- Cheap (when measured as cost vs. usable lifespan)
- Provides almost the same amount of heat relative to a heat bulb of the same wattage
- Can be used at greater distances than other UVB lighting
Mega Ray cons:
- Must use a solidly-mounted base to avoid vibration (vibration and bumps will shorten its lifespan)
- Base gets hot (must be mounted correctly in a ceramic mounting as to not overheat the mounting spot)
- Is approximately 15cm/6" long and should be mounted aiming straight down (thereby requiring a higher enclosure)
- Has a minimum distance so as to not avoid UV overdose; generally 25-46cm (10-18") for the 100W model and the 30-52cm (12-20") for the 160W SB
Minimum distances
Note that the minimum distance is not always the optimal distance - you should lean towards the higher of the two numbers above, not the lower. Although in the manufacturer's official guidelines, the 10" (25cm) quoted for the 100W and the 12" (30cm) for the 160W are considered by many keepers as being much too close, and the bulbs should only be used at these distances after they are about 12 months old and provided you have a reliable UV meter with which to monitor UV readings, such as the Solarmeter 6.5.
Generally, if you do not have these meters, you should leave the bulbs positioned much higher (14-16" or 35-40cm for the 100 watt, and 18-20" or 45-50cm for the 160 watt) and replace them after 12-14 months as a precaution. Unnaturally high levels of UVB and UVI can be harmful in a captive setting.
UVB degredation and heat output
The rate of UVB degradation in Mega Rays has been shown to be much slower than in any other MVB currently on the market; they will generally lose around 20-30% of their UV output over the life of the bulb, while other brands can lose 80-100% in the first 90 days, according to independent research.
As for heat output, self-ballasted Mega Rays are almost comparable watt-for-watt with other heat-producing bulbs (although slightly lower). The externally-ballasted Mega Rays are less prone to damage, however they produce little heat and should be used with another heat/light source. These cost more for initial purchase, but if you own UVB and UVI meters they can last much longer than 12 months. If you do not own a meter, all Mega Rays should be replaced after 12-14 months regardless of type.
There is currently some controversy surrounding other MVB UVB-producing bulbs and their health and safety when used for basking spots. While not yet conclusive, this should be borne in mind when selecting an MVB bulb. Some can be too strong at first, then degrade completely after a short time. Even though they still produce light, they may be useless after 90 days (some may last longer depending on brand) and some can be deemed dangerous not only with regards to UV output (too strong or too weak), but the wattages stated on some boxes may be wrong and may present a fire hazard if not used in an appropriate wattage-rated fixture for the bulb. Many of these MVBs are made very cheaply in China, with little quality control.
General longevity
According to ReptileUV, the 160 watt Mega Ray emits about 150µW (microwatts) at 18 inches, on average. This is about the same as 9:30-10am when lizards would naturally be sunning themselves. As it gets hotter towards the middle of the day, most reptiles escape the heat and retreat to the shade, where the reflective UVB can range anywhere from 75-250µW depending where the lizard is hiding.
Known issues
Known issues with the Mega Ray include flickering, and brief or extended periods where it will switch off entirely. This is due to its special manufacturing process which means that the Mega Ray requires being bolted securely to a solid mounting surface, in order to avoid any chance of vibrations which could unsettle the emitter elements. Additionally, it requires as flat an horizontal surface as possible to function at peak efficiency; indeed, no matter what MVB bulb you use, be sure it is never installed at an angle as this will cause early bulb failure.
December 2010: Reduced average lifespan
At the end of December 2010, it was noted on the forums (source: Repticzone) that end-users with SolarMeter units had found that the current 'new' Mega Ray bulbs would only last on average six months before needing replaced, rather than twelve months as previously. ReptileUV are reportedly working on this issue and hope to have the glass changed to return to its previous twelve-month standard.
December 2010: Change of manufacturer
In December 2010, Reptile UV changed supplier from Westron to a variety of other manufacturers in order to avoid the quality issues caused by Westron's bulbs, which caused severe financial and reputation issues for Reptile UV and the Mega Ray brand. The new bulbs are reputedly as good as or better than those sold when Westron make the original high-quality Mega Rays.
September 2010: Illegal copies
In September 2010, Bob MacCargar, the owner of Reptile UV, sent out a warning that zoos and retail pet stores in both Canada and the USA had received bootleg Mega-Ray bulbs. He went on to note that legally trademarked Mega-Ray bulbs - with their attendant guarantee of quality - were sold directly from Reptile UV or through authorised distributors and not though any other companies (including the bulb manufacturer, Westron, which is not an authorised reseller). He finished by noting that any third-party copies of the Mega-Ray were most likely dangerous or useless (source: posted on Yahoo! Groups).
January 2010: Possible defective batch
As of the January 2010, John Wolff, the shipping and sales manager at Reptile UV, sent out a notification that certain batches of Mega Ray bulbs may have a problem whereby the quality of the glass is so high, ironically, that the etching and frosting processes that Reptile UV uses to moderate the UVB output to desired levels may have failed, causing some bulbs to 'peel' and to produce potentially harmful levels of UV output. Please refer to John Wolff's open message to the reptile community regarding this issue (at the ReptileUV site or a posting on Yahoo! Groups, as well as a later analysis by UVGuide.co.uk).
Can't I just use a standard UV light from my local DIY store?
Unfortunately no. For humans, these levels of UVB are quite harmful, and stores carrying UV-emitting products have to comply with health and safety regulations regarding UV output. In most of these commercial products, the UV which would be beneficial to your uromastyx is filtered by glass; bulbs for use with lizards have to use a special type of glass which allows the beneficial UV to pass through.
Economic value
Compared to other bulbs the cost is quite similar, but according to the independent reports (listed below), a Repti-Sun 10% UVB tube light would start to severely degreade in its UVB output after about six months, while the Mega Ray would last for around double that amount of time. As an added benefit, the Mega Ray (self-ballasted) also gives out a good amount heat, thus eliminating the need for a 'hot' bulb and a 'cold' bulb (although a secondary 'hot' bulb is still recommended to allow the lizard to move in and out of the UV zone as needed. This will help to alleviate stress and may be beneficial to the lizard's health).
International purchase
At time of last revision, the cost of purchasing a Mega Ray in the UK was £50.00 each, plus shipping of at least £5.00, which would mean a total of £105.00 to purchase two (this is used because Mega Ray offer a discount for buying batches of two for international (EU 220V) customers. The US price was $116.95 plus $20.00 international shipping, which would mean a total of $136.95. At the exchange rates valid as of December 2009, this translated to a total of around £84 - a saving of around £21.00 in total.
International availability
Although ReptileUV, the designer and principal supplier of Mega Rays, offers generally very competitive rates for international shipping, it may be easier or more convenient to buy locally. The following are regional suppliers:
- United Kingdom
- MegaRay UK
- Kimbo's Reptile World
- Netherlands
- Reptielen lampen
- ASP International
- Germany and Switzerland
- Terra Solutions
- Aqua-Terra World
- Australia
- Animal Attraction
- Lamp Replacements
Independent research
The UroWiki and its editing team are in no way affiliated with ReptileUV.com or its Mega Ray product. Recommendation of this brand comes from years of personal experience, as well as collective experience in the community of various different UVB solutions and different MVB types. It is also based on a variety of independent tests which confirm the user experience of this bulb:
