Mercury Vapor Bulb (160, Watts)

Love these bulbs it’s a game changer the UV output is great I love that it’s a 2in1 basking/uvb, the best bulb I’ve tried I change them out every 6 months to be safe & then I continue to use them in snake enclosures since my snakes just require heat mainly.

Easily the best bulb available and their customer support is unsurpassed. These are well worth the cost over the other cheaper inferior bulbs I have owned. I have used over a dozen of these Mega-Rays and never experienced any of the issues that the 1-2 star reviewers mention. These bulbs are just like any other mercury vapor or metal halide bulb (or even the typical household incandescent type lightbulb); the filaments are very fragile and need to be treated with care. If you need to perform any habitat maintenance where you will need to move the bulb or otherwise may bump it, be sure to turn it off and unplug it, beforehand to allow it to cool for about 15 minutes or so before continuing.In the event that you do jar or bump the bulb while it is on (which is obviously not good for the filament and should be avoided), it may shut off internally however it will come back on within about 15 minutes. I have had this happen twice where I had bumped the light/dome and it turned off. I just simply turned the switch off and waited about 15 minutes before I turned it back on. Reasoning is that the bulb needs a cool down period before it will turn on again. Likewise, this may occur by turning the light off and not allowing it to properly cool before trying to turn it back on. You should wait at least 15 minutes to allow it to cool and then power it on.These are truly great bulbs that when used as directed and handled with care will last you the 12-months before you should replace it (UV output degrades over time).

These are great bulbs and shipping was fast

This is the best lamp for your sun loving reptiles. Lighting for reptiles has come a long way over the years. And the Mega Ray Mercury Vapor bulb is at the front of that progression. With use of the UVB meter you will find these bulbs have a much higher UVB output than any other bulbs on the market. The difference with this one it is produces heat as well as UVA. This is truly a all in one bulb. But I still recommend running a supplemental light source like Fluorescent lights to mimic mid day sun light. This is explained on the Reptile UV website by the manufacturer of these amazing bulbs. I use only the Mega Ray lamps and a fluorescent lights and my turtles are all heathy and some of the best turtles out there. I have been raising and caring for aquatic turtles for a good 25+ years now and I can tell you the Mega Ray is the bulb to have. And the longevity of the UVB output is top of the standard, as well. I recommend this bulb to anyone. Help your reptiles get the benefits they need to thrive. And make sure to read up on lighting for reptiles on Reptile UV.Edit: Update.I have also been keeping Monitor Lizards for just over a decade. The size of these monitors require large basking areas with high basking temps. I use multiple bulbs to achieve a larger basking area for my 4-5 ft Monitors. They are thriving with this lamps and supplemental fluorescent lighting. As you can till, I use a complex lighting system with multiple bulbs of different types that come on and go off at different times of day. If I put this much effort into that, I only use the bulbs that I know and trust.

I have been using this brand for the past 8-10 years (?) They used to be not as well packaged on shipping, back when I first ordered them, but past few years this has improved 100+%. They know how to pack these fragile bulbs now, for sure. This is I believe the most expensive commercially available bulb, and the difference in cost is more than worth it. I am not a scientist, but I have had my tortoise, a Horsefield or Russian tortoise for close to 25 years. No issues with calcium using this lamp (Mega Ray) in my early years of keeping him. Then when I retired 3 years ago and tried the cheaper bulbs--more in the 30.00 range--the problem after a couple of seasons (He hibernates) became weak back legs. I fully believe it was due to downgrading the Mercury Vapor lamp. After several visits to the vet last fall before putting him in the chiller, following vet supplementation instructions, Rocko came out under his his new Mega Ray and within 1 month, with same supplementation, diet, etc, he is up on those back legs like a champ!. I really attribute the improvement to the MR bulb. I can't wait to show the vet on his recheck early summer. Also he is eating really well...better again than under the budget bulbs. As I don't have a UVA/UVB meter I replace the bulb every new season (he is outdoors much in mid to late summer) and just bite the bullet for the extra expense. Of the Mega Rays I have used over the years, only one made the irritating humming sound, high frequency and really irritating! This year's bulb working well--it's touchy though, and will blink when moved sometimes. Then I have to wait for it to cool before turning on, etc. He sits under it waiting for the return of the "Sun" lol. So I would have given a 5, because it is without a doubt better than power sun based on observation of Rocko's condition--also I tried a cheaper even than Power Sun bulb last year but it had no coating over the glass surface that faced down like the Mega Ray does, and I was concerned about potential eye damage. The reason I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5 was it's "touchiness" and sometimes it can be a bit unpredictable. I have been able over the years to work with its quirkiness --just leaving it off for a while, etc., and Rocko has benefited tremendously. A strapping boy now I have kept for 20+ years, and this lamp has been a great part of keeping him consistently fit.