Ozzy update, Mercury Bulb Question

[kerby]

Hi all, just thought I'd check in again after about a month with ozzy. He's doing great, although he's still quite a picky eater (I have to trick him into eating his veggies by mixing them with canned snails, which are his favorite). He doesn't really seem any bigger to me, but thats probably because I see him everyday and I'm not sure how much they grow in a month. Anyways I have two quick questions. I purchased a Zoomed powersun mercury bulb so that I would only need to use one light fixture. I originally had the 100 watt, but to my surprise it doesn't generate as much heat as my normal 100 watt basking bulb, only getting to just under 90 degrees on his basking rock. So I upgraded to the 160 watt, which gets to about 98 or so on his rock. My question is, is that too much for a 40 gallon tank, the bulb right now is about 15 inches above him when he's basking. Also in a related question, I have been sprinkling his food from time to time with the Repcal with vitamin D3, should I switch to the one without the D3, or will it not hurt him (since I know the light is supposed to allow him to synthesize his own D3, or something like that).

[Katrina]

Hey - about the D3 - I was recommended by a vet to use a calcium supplement that does not contain D3 as it sometimes can accumulate too much in them, and in rare cases can be toxic.

As far as the basking goes - 98 should be a good temp, as long as the tank still has a good gradient. If he is using it and basking happily, then I wouldn't worry!

[kerby]

Alright thanks, I guess I'll have to pitch my other calcium stuff then, oh well. As for the light, i'm not worried about the temp so much as it being too bright and too much UV for a 40 gallon enclosure, I don't want to hurt his eyes or anything.

[Leigh]

When you supply a good UV source like a MVB, there is less if no need to add D3, only plain calcium if you think its lacking in the diet you provide.