Dusting Insects Question

[PattyCake]

I have just read Dayna's(ferretinmyshoes) great blog about metallic bone disease and now I am scared. Some people say that chameleons get calcium from the insect exoskeletons. And also that they get their vit d3 from uvb lights. Is this true? Do I have to dust with calcium and d3 and how often?

 

[Kate]

Most folk on here dust with plain calcium without d3 every feed and calcium with d3 every two weeks and a multivit every two weeks. Hope that helps.

 

[JonRich]

you have 2 options...

A schedule with Calcium with D3, Calcium without D3 and a Multivitamin..

You dust daily with Calcium WITHOUT D3 and TWICE month you do ONE day alternating with the Calcium WITH D3 and the Multivitamin..

I usually choose a day, like Friday!! So i would dust Saturday-Thursday with just plain Calcium and on The 1st and 3rd Friday i'll do Calcium WITH D3 and on the 2nd and 4th Fridays i'll do the Multivitamin.


ORRRRRRRRRRR

You can just get the Repashy Cal PLUS which is a "all in one" DAILY dusting.. You pretty much have one product that you use daily (or every other day).

 

[carol5208]

It is called Metabolic Bone Disease(I know that is what you meant)and yes they get d3 from uvb rays.

 

[PattyCake]

It is called Metabolic Bone Disease(I know that is what you meant)and yes they get d3 from uvb rays.

But will that be enough d3 just from UVB rays? And sorry for my bad spelling

 

[deadhd5]

But will that be enough d3 just from UVB rays? And sorry for my bad spelling

Simple answer is no, you will need to dust with a calcium w/ D3 twice a month. If your chameleon lives outside, it may not be necessary as the sun will take care of their D3 needs.

Dusting daily with plain calcium is very important, and it has to do with the chameleon's balance of calcium to phosphorus. Most insect have a high phos ratio, so the calcium brings that back to a favorable range for chameleons. They need to have the proper balance of calcium/phosphorus in their blood or they will not be able to absorb calcium into their growing bones.

 

[PattyCake]

Simple answer is no, you will need to dust with a calcium w/ D3 twice a month. If your chameleon lives outside, it may not be necessary as the sun will take care of their D3 needs.

Dusting daily with plain calcium is very important, and it has to do with the chameleon's balance of calcium to phosphorus. Most insect have a high phos ratio, so the calcium brings that back to a favorable range for chameleons. They need to have the proper balance of calcium/phosphorus in their blood or they will not be able to absorb calcium into their growing bones.

Ok, I got it now. Thanks!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Some people say that chameleons get calcium from the insect exoskeletons.

While this is partially true, crickets by themselves have very low calcium content naturally. It is nowhere near enough alone, which is why gutloading and supplementation are important.

And also that they get their vit d3 from uvb lights. Is this true?

Indirectly, yes.

VITAMIN D3: Cholecalciferol, also nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” is one that the body can synthesize in the skin when exposed to sunlight. It can also be consumed through diet, but in the case of reptiles, they count on basking to produce a significant amount of it. The purpose of vitamin D is to maintain normal, balanced blood levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body, and plays an important role in the absorption of calcium into the bones, helping them become stronger. It also plays an important part in maintaining immune system health.

Read more about Vit D3 and the common vitamins/minerals of concern in captive chameleons and how they interact: http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogs...2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

 

[PattyCake]

While this is partially true, crickets by themselves have very low calcium content naturally. It is nowhere near enough alone, which is why gutloading and supplementation are important.



Indirectly, yes.


Read more about Vit D3 and the common vitamins/minerals of concern in captive chameleons and how they interact: http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogs...2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

That's very helpful, thanks!