Simplifying supplements?

[GrogStudio]

So, given the recommended supplement schedule, is there any reason not mix up a daily supplement consisting of 12 parts plain calcium, 1 part calcium with D3 and 1 part multivitamin? Does having the D3 and multivitamin so diluted fail to reach a threshold or something?

Now that my cham is over a year his eating has really slowed down and his feasting is very sporadic. On the 2 days/month I try to give him his low-frequency supplements he may or may not be hungry and it kind of throws me off.

 

[sgiac801]

I can't say for sure about the dosage if you want to give him his a little bit of his multi every day, but usually i'll bowl feed my guy a couple dubias with the multi vitamin & d3 when the time comes so I can see for sure that he's eaten them. As for a lack of appetite, it makes me a little sad sometimes but I'll skip a couple days of feeding to make sure he's hungry when I offer food. Usually I do that for training purposes because my cham is an adult but I've only had him a few months. So far it's worked very well and he's super friendly and always eats when I offer food!

 

[Carlton]

So, given the recommended supplement schedule, is there any reason not mix up a daily supplement consisting of 12 parts plain calcium, 1 part calcium with D3 and 1 part multivitamin? Does having the D3 and multivitamin so diluted fail to reach a threshold or something?

Now that my cham is over a year his eating has really slowed down and his feasting is very sporadic. On the 2 days/month I try to give him his low-frequency supplements he may or may not be hungry and it kind of throws me off.

You don't want to mix and STORE minerals and the multivitamin together other than right before you use them. They will interact and degrade each other. The D3 and multivitamins are absorbed differently in the cham's tissue (they persist longer than the plain calcium). Even if the daily amount is smaller it can still create an overdose over time.

 

[GrogStudio]

Thanks for the reply. I figured there had to be a reason not to mix everything together. Would make life a little easier but oh well- chameleons just aren't easy!

 

[inlinefourpower]

I was just wondering this same thing today. This thread was helpful for me, too.

 

[jannb]

This is what I recommend in my blog for new keepers.

The feeders have to be "lightly" dusted with 2 kinds of supplements. When your chameleon is young you will use plain calcium (no d3) at just about every feeding...... if you skip one or two days a month that's ok. You will also need Reptivite with d3 twice a month.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[wilmar]

I became a first time chameleon owner 13 months ago and have only ever used an all-in-one supplement which has proved to be ideal for my veiled who has always been a sporadic eater and is now 15 months old.