Gear Score Methodology
PetPal Gear Score
Best Reptile UVB Bulbs for Safe Lighting (2026)
Editorial synthesis of veterinary references (Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA Animal Hospitals), peer-reviewed UV studies (Wageningen University & Research, Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research), and manufacturer-technical documentation (Arcadia Reptile, Zoo Med Laboratories) — no first-hand product testing.
PetPal Gear Score = (Expert Consensus × 0.35) + (Published UVI Delivery × 0.25) + (Match to Species Need × 0.20) + (Replacement Value × 0.20)Factor breakdown
Expert Consensus
35%Synthesized from veterinary references (Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA Animal Hospitals), peer-reviewed UV studies (Wageningen University & Research, Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research), and manufacturer-technical documentation (Arcadia Reptile, Zoo Med Laboratories). The PetPal Gear Score is a composite of expert opinion — PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab.
Published UVI Delivery
25%Whether the manufacturer publishes UVI-vs-distance figures for the lamp, and whether those figures match the species-appropriate target ranges in the LafeberVet UV-Tool reference and the Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research UV-Tool paper.
Match to Species Need
20%How well the lamp output class (desert vs. forest vs. all-in-one vs. compact) matches the microhabitat-and-basking-behavior framework in the source set.
Replacement Value
20%Per-bulb cost across the manufacturer-recommended replacement interval, accounting for fixture compatibility and pack-size economics.
See all score methodologies on the Gear Score index.