dusting pattern?

[Dan]

OK, So I have heard a lot of different ways in which people dust the feeders. I was wondering if I could a general consensus on what a good dusting schedule would be. And possibly learn what does each of the vitamins and minerals (or at least the main ones) do for the chams. As well as what the signs are for deficiencies of each?

I currently use Repcal Herptivite multivitamins and Repcal Calcium with Vit. D3. But I dont have a real set schedule of when to use each.

Thanks!

 

[jannb]

If you cham is an adult, you should use plain calcium at just about every feeding. Twice a month calcium with D3 and once a month a multi vitamin such as Herptivite. On the days that you use the D3 and multi do not use the plain calcium because they already have calcium in them and only lightly dust your feeders......don't make them look like ghost. If a baby then plain calcium at just about every feeding. Jann

 

[opihiman]

Ditto couldn't have said it better

 

[Dan]

Thanks! That was just what I was lookin for.

What about the info are particular vitamins and their deficiencies? Any idea?

 

[alhickabee]

You're missing a supplement. You need to pick up calcium w/o D3 immediately as that is the supplement that is used most often.

 

[jannb]

Thanks! That was just what I was lookin for.

What about the info are particular vitamins and their deficiencies? Any idea?

Lack of calcium and proper UVB light causes MBD.

 

[divingne1]

A few questions myself...
1. so do you only dust a baby chams food with plain calcium?
2. how old are the chams before considering them an adult?
Candy

 

[sandrachameleon]

There will be some differences in what people do and suggest.

We arent all keeping our chameleons in the same environments (different access to natural sunlight, for example). Some pay very close attention to gut loading and others rely more on supplements. Some use beta-carotene, some believe in preformed Vitamin A. Some people worry about Vitamin B, or K, etc and other do not (usually because of a good gutload). Some ensure a wide variety of prey insects, others rely on two or three staple feeders.

I always gave my babies Calcium WITH D3 on about a weekly basis. Adults bi-weekly. Vitamins bi-weekly (opposite sundays from the D3) regardless of age. All crickets and kingworms (and fruitflies and mealworms when I offer them) get a calcium only dust on the other days. I dont dust roaches (regardless of type of roach), silkworms, butterworms, stick bugs, isoppods, hornworms, grasshoppers or moths. I offer no fewer than 5 different feeders every week and still think that’s not enough. My gutload includes a lot of dandelion leaves (which are rich in Beta-carotene, B, K, Calcium), squash, carrot, sunflower seeds, and such. I never directly use preformed Vitamin A, but a few times a year my roaches eat cat food, so occasionally some of that retinol A might get into my chams. My chameleons never get real sunlight and I usually use the reptiglo brand (changed every 6 months) because its hard to get reptisun here. I dont use screen cages. Moderation, variety and lots of water are my rules.

Chances are very good this is not exactly what other people do! IMHO There is no one best way of successfully doing things.

Signs of excess or insufficient vitamins include:
metabolic bone disease (soft bending bones, broken bones, loose grip)
Edema (swelling)
Difficulty using tongue
Difficulties with eyes and eyesight
Loss of appetite
Death

Links that may interest you:

Similar threads:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplement-schedule-14739/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplimenting-schedule-issue-13515/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-supplementation-schedule-ok-16028/

Vitamin A http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...rnals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/food-thought-12472/index2.html

Calcium http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=96
Calcium: http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102
Calcium http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=93
Calcium: https://www.chameleonforums.com/calcium-d3-without-15065/

D3 http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/vitamin-d3-10858/

MBD & supplements https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplementation-mbd-1-a-2451/

Vitamin B: https://www.chameleonforums.com/tongue-issue-12800/

http://www.animalarkshelter.org/cin/ click on nutrition link

Health issues:
http://www.animalarkshelter.org/cin/ click on Signs of Trouble link
http://www.ukchameleons.co.uk/calciummbdd3.htm
http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com/content/library/lizard-diseases.asp
https://www.chameleonforums.com/health-clinic/