Let's rehash an old topic...

[maxttu]

What are thoughts on supplementing if you keep your chams outdoors? For example: I'm keeping the boys outdoors, typically Friday, early evening thru Monday mornings and then indoors again until Friday. I hardly supplement during the weekends and lightly supplement with calcium+ during the week. Good idea! Or bad? Let's hear it...

 

[maxttu]

No thoughts?

 

[warpdrive]

It would help if we knew what chameleons you are talking about.

Harry

 

[maxttu]

It would help if we knew what chameleons you are talking about.

Harry

Sorry about that. Two panthers, approx 3 months old +/- a week.

 

[pssh]

I would suggest you not use the calcium plus so much because they get normal UVB outside. I dont even use the calcium plus more than once a week anyways and mine rarely get outdoor time.

 

[maxttu]

I would suggest you not use the calcium plus so much because they get normal UVB outside. I dont even use the calcium plus more than once a week anyways and mine rarely get outdoor time.

Even with a light dusting? Would you suggest repcal? Only a Multi vit? Or perhaps 1-2 dustings of calcium+ per week?

I don't want to over/under supplement due to the good amount of outdoor time that they're getting. Sometimes during the week I'll pull them out of the warehouse for about a hour. Maybe once a week.

 

[cricketkilla]

I would just use plain calcium every feeding or every other feeding and a multivitamin bi-monthly since they're outside so much.

 

[maxttu]

I would just use plain calcium every feeding or every other feeding and a multivitamin bi-monthly since they're outside so much.

Dang. I was still hoping to incorporate the calcium+. So, calcium w/o D3 T-Th-S and the Multi 2 x's per month should work?

 

[ibdragons]

i would still give them vitamins,gutload my feeders but not anything with d3

 

[cricketkilla]

Dang. I was still hoping to incorporate the calcium+. So, calcium w/o D3 T-Th-S and the Multi 2 x's per month should work?

Yeah, I would make sure prey items are gutload to the max as well.

 

[maxttu]

Oh, don't you worry! Max gutloads to the max! Bugburger mixed with dinofuel, carrots, oranges, etc.

 

[cricketkilla]

Hell ya brother! Max em' out max!

 

[warpdrive]

Oh, don't you worry! Max gutloads to the max! Bugburger mixed with dinofuel, carrots, oranges, etc.

Personally i mostly use a wet gutload of fresh greens rich in calcium, orange slices or carrots, and once in a while some blueberries and strawberries.
Then, two days a week i use a dry gutload high in veggie protein to prevent calcium poralasiss of my crickets.

I'm Shure dinofuel is also good, but I've never used it.
I much prefer to mix my own or use cricket crack.

Mixing my own dry gutload means I know what is in it and that it is fresh.

Gutloading is key for preventing poor blood work when going to the vet for a check up.

Harry

 

[cricketkilla]

Cricket crack is what I use as well. It is a great product and very reasonably priced.

 

[pssh]

If you want to, you can still use calcium plus once in a while. It's up to you, but I personally wouldn't suggest using nearly as much as you were because of the D3.

 

[Zach Valois]

Personally i mostly use a wet gutload of fresh greens rich in calcium, orange slices or carrots, and once in a while some blueberries and strawberries.
Then, two days a week i use a dry gutload high in veggie protein to prevent calcium poralasiss of my crickets.

Interesting note on the dry mix use, please explain calcium poralasiss. This is a term I am not familiar with.

I still am not sure why so much emphasis is placed on daily supplementing of straight calcium.

If I were in your situation, I would probably do something along the lines of calcium 2-3 times a week, and a 1:1 ratio of cal/D3 once to twice a month.

I hold some strong reservations on Cal-Plus, but if I was using it in your situation, I would probably be along the lines of a light dusting 1-2 times a week.

Miner-al makes an outdoor formula, that of which I am not experienced with. Perhaps others can chime in with this.

 

[twatts704]

Honestly man I think if you are doing that schedule and you stick to it then just lightly dust with only calcium and then maybe calcium + once a week. That's how I would do it.

 

[maxttu]

I appreciate everyone's input! This is what I think I'm going to be comfortable with, and please advise if I'm grossly mistaken:

Gutload: bugburger + dinofuel with assorted veggies: oranges, carrots, kale, apple, etc

Calcium+: Tuesday and Thursday only, light dusting

Indoors: Mon-Fri

Outdoors: Friday - late afternoon thru Early Monday morning (large majority in the shade)

Acceptable? Totally negligent??

 

[HolyToledo]

Supplements for chams are kinda like vitamins for people. If your critters are eating fully nutritional diet, you could easily over-do the supplements.

Search for the effects of od'ing on all the stuff and watch for those signs. A little too much plain calcium won't do so much damage as too little will. The other stuff can all get pretty serious (gout, edema, etc.).

Healthy critters produce their own d3 from sunlight and metabolizing nutrients. Check out sandrachameleons blogs for nutrition info and then you won't have to worry so much about constant supplementation (other than the plain ca and not even so much of that).

I hope this makes some sense. Migraine days suck!!