Calcium question

Slatusick

New Member
I am currently using sticky tounge farms miner-all calcium. I just read that you should only use calcium with D3 once every two weeks. I have a two yr old veiled female with little exposure to natural sunlight. Can someone explain the proper usage of calcium supp and how chams process calcium with low amounts of d3 compared to other reptiles?
 
I have a calcium sup with D3 and a calcium sup without. I use the calcium supplement without the D3 2 times a week and calcium with D3 every other Wednesday. I guess too much D3 causes health problems.. I don't know I don't see how. As long as you don't give it everyday you won't face a problem
 
I have a calcium sup with D3 and a calcium sup without. I use the calcium supplement without the D3 2 times a week and calcium with D3 every other Wednesday. I guess too much D3 causes health problems.. I don't know I don't see how. As long as you don't give it everyday you won't face a problem

Going off of what he said, A lot of senior members on here say that you should use the calcium dusting every feeding and the d3 twice a month just to reduce the possibility of having a toxic amount your chameleons systems.
 
One problem with excessive D3 is it interferes with the body's ability to process vitamin A properly and vitamin A is vital to eye health. I believe there are other issues with it as well, but that's the one that sticks in my mind.
 
Here's my two cents worth.....
D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to health issues but D3 produced from exposure to UVB either from sunlight or a UVB light shouldn't a s long as the chameleon can move in and out of the light.
D3 and vitamin A are antagonistic to each other and need to be in balance.

Vitamin A from prEformed (animal/meat) sources can build up in the system but vitamin A from prOformed sources won't which is why I use a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A . This leaves it up to the chameleons owner to provide prEformed vitamin A if s/he feels the chameleon needs it.

Providing D3 twice a month will ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and leaving it to produce the rest from its exposure to the UVB.

I dust with a phos - free calcium powder at most feedings to make up for the poor ratio of calcium to phos found in most of the insects we use as feeders.

Appropriate temperatures are also important to aid in the digestion thus aid in nutrient balance.
 
^^^^^^
there is your anwser :)

there is also debate as to weather chams can process the prOformed A and some keepers often make use of the prEformed A, but that is whole nother topic
 
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