How often to dust with vitamin, calcium and calcium with D3?

[Bruce Patterson]

I read the guidelines on this site in the chameleon care about dusting with calcium, d3 and vitamins. It really does not give a day by day guide. I have a 4 month female veiled chameleon. I was wondering what are some of the daily intervals people are using when using these to dust the feeders.

 

[ReptiGeek]

-Calcium daily
-Calcium w/ D3 twice a month
-Multi-vitamins twice a month

 

[kinyonga]

Because most of the insects we use as feeders have a poor ratio of calcium to phos its important to dust them before feeding them to the chameleon with a phos - free calcium powder at most feedings to make up for it.

It's also recommended that the insects be dusted before feeding them to the chameleon with a phos - free calcium / D3 powder twice a month to ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and 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 dusting twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A is recommended. PrOformed sources won't build up in the system like prEformed vitamin A will since it's converted as needed. However its not been proven whether all/any chameleons can convert it....so if necessary the owner can give the chameleon some prEformed but doesn't have to worry about it getting overdosed from the vitamin powder.

Hooefully his helps.

 

[captdan]

does that apply to all, specifically for panthers?

 

[kinyonga]

I can't say it's what works for all chameleons but I have used it for panthers, veileds, Mediterranean chameleons, dwarf Jacksons, stump tails, quads, etc etc. I have also used it for water dragons, prehensile tailed anoles, coneheads, several species of turtles and tortoises, various gecko species, bearded dragons, etc etc.