Help with Supplements

[Clamps]

Ok I keep reading different amounts and combinations of calcium, D3 and other supplements. I just purchased him Sunday from the reptile show in Tinley Park, I want to make sure I'm providing the best care right from the start!

Use calcium w/out D3 daily?
Use a D3 supplement twice a month?
Use multi-vitamins two to three times a week?

I currently own the following
Fluker's calcium with vitamin D3 phosphorus free
Exo-Terra multi vitamin (which apparently has D3 as well)

 

[camimom]

the multivitamin is twice a month too.

Other than that, your schedule is correct.

 

[Clamps]

So use the calcium with D3 and the multi vitamin twice a month each or should I cut the calcium with D3 out?

 

[NHenn]

I would look at the concentration or amount of D3 in both the supplements before I would cut out the straight D3. The multivitamin might have a very low amount in it so you will still need to supplement with the D3 twice a month.

 

[ridgebax1]

If you are not feeding something like phoenix, butter, silk, or horn worms you need to dust the insect with plain calcium powder every time you feed that bug. The worms listed previously are naturally high in calcium so they don't need dusted. Even though those worms are not high in fat, I don't think they can be daily feeders because of their moisture content.
Calcium with D3 is given twice a month and vitamins twice a month. As far as vitamins that have D3 combined with calcium with D3, I don't know about that. one of the more experienced members will have to address that.

 

[kinyonga]

Here's the short story on it...actually not so short!

Most feeder insects we use have a poor ratio of calcium to phos so we dust the insects before feeding them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos - free calcium powder to make up for it.

To ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it its recommended that the insects are dusted before being fed to the chameleon twice a month with a phos - free calcium/D3 powder leaving it to produce the rest from its exposure to the UVB light . D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to health issues but D3 produced from exposure to the UVB light shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it.

Also it's recommended that you dust twice a month with a vitamin powder containing a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A. PrOformed sources won't build up in the system and lead to health issues like prEformed vitamin A will. This leaves control of the prEformed vitamin A to the chameleon's owner. It's not certain whether any/all chameleons can convert the prOformed or not.

I have used Rep-cal phos-free calcium powder and Rep-cal phos-free calcium/D3 powder and herptivite for years.

Hope this helps.

 

[KarmenCham]

Daily dusting, oops i've been doing it every other day, I was told it was only x3 a week with Neutrobal and d3 x1 a month, currently feeding Locusts mostly, have Crickets but was going to do the dusting tomorrow as I was told