other sources of Vitamin A

[dodolah]

O almost forgot!!!
Remember back then when Dave Weldon brought up a point that mulberryfarms' silkie chow actually do contain a trace of preformed vit A?

Put that in equation...

 

[desultadox]

Yeah I remember reading that silkworms fed chow do contain Vitamin A. The fact that it's possible for them to survive [temporarily] on carrots also leads me to believe that they can convert Beta Carotene to A.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

The thing about bee pollen is that it contains a lot of nutrients - all in tiny quantities. It's not bad, most of the time, but I dont' think it's worth the price. Plus, some have reported (allergic?) reactions in their lizards.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

Yeah I remember reading that silkworms fed chow do contain Vitamin A. The fact that it's possible for them to survive [temporarily] on carrots also leads me to believe that they can convert Beta Carotene to A.

That is of course assuming that silkworms actually have a need for preformed vit. A. This article mentioned that it's generally believed that insects don't need vit a for growth and that they use a different carotenoid for eye sight.

 

[dodolah]

That is of course assuming that silkworms actually have a need for preformed vit. A. This article mentioned that it's generally believed that insects don't need vit a for growth and that they use a different carotenoid for eye sight.

wow, thanks for the article, Suzanne.

 

[kinyonga]

Regarding roaches...did you see a lack of vitamin A in the chameleons when you used them??

CleanLineChameleons said..."You cannot do blood test because hyper and hypovitaminosis would show the same results."...how do you figure this?? Wouldn't a blood test show the level of vitamin A in it?

I think the fact that veileds eat vegetation could mean that they can convert beta carotene, BTW.

Not really on topic....but...I've read that vitamin A accelerates the growth of silkworms.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Although I find the back and forth about it very interesting, I reiterate that the point of my starting this thread was
NOT TO DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT PREFORMED VITAMIN A IS NEEDED BY CHAMELEONS
There are several existing threads regarding the do they dont they need it debate - I encourage that component of discussion to take place in those or a new thread.

The point of my starting the thread was to get your input and suggestions as to whether or not there may be preformed vitamin A indirectly getting into my chameleons given the insects I offer, and what those isects (plus isopods) eat.

I realize I have no control over where the conversation goes, but I hope you wont mind my selfish attempt to keep it on topic

So far I've received these suggestions or ideas:

• eyeballs of insect (considered minimal source?)
• isopods (considered a minimal source also?)
• silkworm chow (my vendor states there is no preformed vitamin a in the chow I buy, but that may not be 100% accurate and I've no way to test it - as far as I know the mulberry leaves have only beta carotene)
• store bought crickets guts (despite gutloading to clear them of whatever cheap and nasty stuff the commercial growers use, and despite the fact that my local pet store where I buy crickets feeds them only potatoe and carrot, there may still be trace amounts of vitamin A in them)
• bee pollen (I've read both that it does and that it doesnt)

any other suggestions?

with thanks
S

 

[Docility]

Although I find the back and forth about it very interesting, I reiterate that the point of my starting this thread was
NOT TO DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT PREFORMED VITAMIN A IS NEEDED BY CHAMELEONS
There are several existing threads regarding the do they dont they need it debate - I encourage that component of discussion to take place in those or a new thread.

The point of my starting the thread was to get your input and suggestions as to whether or not there may be preformed vitamin A indirectly getting into my chameleons given the insects I offer, and what those isects (plus isopods) eat.

I realize I have no control over where the conversation goes, but I hope you wont mind my selfish attempt to keep it on topic

So far I've received these suggestions or ideas:

• eyeballs of insect (considered minimal source?)
• isopods (considered a minimal source also?)
• silkworm chow (my vendor states there is no preformed vitamin a in the chow I buy, but that may not be 100% accurate and I've no way to test it - as far as I know the mulberry leaves have only beta carotene)
• store bought crickets guts (despite gutloading to clear them of whatever cheap and nasty stuff the commercial growers use, and despite the fact that my local pet store where I buy crickets feeds them only potatoe and carrot, there may still be trace amounts of vitamin A in them)
• bee pollen (I've read both that it does and that it doesnt)

any other suggestions?

with thanks
S

you forgot nervous tissues. supposed to be trace amounts in there as well

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Roaches:

I used to use all commercial insects. When I switched to roaches, I was already using reptavite for vitamin A. My daughter dumped it all, and I neglected to get more. A few months later, I noticed a gravid female veiled had swollen eyes and gular edema. I have her a little bit of flukers with A in it, and within a couple weeks, it was gone for good.

The roach food had little or no preformed vitamin A. The commercial crickets may have. I never had any problems with vitamin A when I was using commercial insects only, and herptivite only. The only time I've seen it in my animals was when I was using homegrown roaches and herptivite only.