Hi, my name is Matias, I wanted to ask something about full spectrum light bulbs.
I have 2 quakers (Katy and Mica), and just built a new cage for them in the backyard, they're doing great there, they look much happier with all that space. But now I just realised that they don't almost get any sunlight, because it's under a big tree, so I wanted to install a full spectrum light bulb.
I've been checking many stores here in Argentina, in my city, but the only full spectrum light I found was a Sylvania Reptistar tube they use for reptiles. The vendor told me it emmits UV and works for birds too, but I wanted to check if anybody knows if that's true?
Can I use reptile light bulbs?
Thanks a lot for the help
Greetings from Argentina! And here are my two girls in their new home!

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Matias

Welcome Matias....You have two beautiful girls there....I've been trying to "cut & paste" this information on here but didn't succeed so go to www.fullspectrumsolutions.com and read about the lightning....I use it with Harley.

And again, Welcome.....And as long as you can get a CRI of 91, you'll be doing good with that....Good luck..........

Thanks for that website, I didn't know about CRI. Here are the specs I found of the reptistar tube:

6500 kelvin
UVB up to 5%
UVA up to 30%
CRI 90-100

So, that should work fine, right? Thanks

Welcome! You have a couple of beautiful girls there. How lucky they are to have such a big space.

We built that cage ourselves, I really love it. Katy and Mica seem to be very happy since they moved there.
Something else about lighting. Once I install it on the cage, how do I use it? I mean, when should I turn it on? for how long? What's the best for them?
Thanks for the help! and the nice comments about my girls!


Matias

Matias I have a clip on which is about 12 inches from Harley's cage....I turn his on in the morning if the sun isn't coming thru the double glass doors where his cage is, but if sun shining, I turn it on later...I read that about 8 hrs per day is sufficient time to have the light on....I have also read that they have to be replaced about every 6 months to 1 year...Someone conrrect me on that if I'm wrong....

Heck, I leave Harley's light on all the time; he doesn't mind... Also, especially in the winter time with short days and they (birdies) can't get outside, in my opinion, they need the light....So that is why I leave Harley's on most all the time in the winter.......

I like the cage. What did you use for the wire? I'm always afraid of zinc.

They told me at the store it doesn't have zinc, it's galvanized wire. I'm not sure what is it made of, but no zinc on it. It worked pretty well, very resistant.