alaskachick
New Member
Kerbie: I wanted to know the answers to your questions, too! Did you get more info?
Supplementation/MBD 1
- Thread starter MWheelock
- Start date
gooslapa
New Member
Sheldon Cooper
New Member
Calcium
Forgive my newbie comment/question, but why do I need a calcium supplement if Herptivite has Calcium listed on the side of the container? I thought that meant it has Ca in it. I've been dusting my cham's crickets with that ever since I got him in December & he's doing okay, growing and happy. I'd like to provide him with better food, so I'm picking up a new batch of crickets tomorrow at Petco & will get a Ca & Ca+Vit D3 supplements as well, I just need to know exactly why. I'm also trying to get him to eat some veggies from a feeder cup, today was the 1st day I put them out for him, sprinkled with mealworms to get his attention. As far as water-soluble supplements go I'm a little hesitant, he doesn't seem too keen on drinking immediately when sprayed & then the drops dry up within 30-60 minutes.
Forgive my newbie comment/question, but why do I need a calcium supplement if Herptivite has Calcium listed on the side of the container? I thought that meant it has Ca in it. I've been dusting my cham's crickets with that ever since I got him in December & he's doing okay, growing and happy. I'd like to provide him with better food, so I'm picking up a new batch of crickets tomorrow at Petco & will get a Ca & Ca+Vit D3 supplements as well, I just need to know exactly why. I'm also trying to get him to eat some veggies from a feeder cup, today was the 1st day I put them out for him, sprinkled with mealworms to get his attention. As far as water-soluble supplements go I'm a little hesitant, he doesn't seem too keen on drinking immediately when sprayed & then the drops dry up within 30-60 minutes.
KillaNCham
New Member
Max-a-Meleon's dusting schedule now.
Here is my dusting schedule, i feel like i keep changing it because everyone does something different!! SO different.
I have had my veiled since he was 6 weeks old. He has been in my care for exactly a month. breeder's suggestion was Calcium every day and multivitamin with D3 3 times a week until 3 months old.
Now here is what I do:
Calcium (no phosphorus) 5 days a week on ALL feeders.
Gut load with Repashy superload, apple, carrots, greens.
Multivitamin Fridays with Reptivite containing D3 and Calcium
I am trying to find a happy medium here.
Breeder suggestion:Calcium every day and multivitamin with D3 3 times a week until 3 months old.
Other suggestions have been all over the place!
Suggestions?
Here is my dusting schedule, i feel like i keep changing it because everyone does something different!! SO different.
I have had my veiled since he was 6 weeks old. He has been in my care for exactly a month. breeder's suggestion was Calcium every day and multivitamin with D3 3 times a week until 3 months old.
Now here is what I do:
Calcium (no phosphorus) 5 days a week on ALL feeders.
Gut load with Repashy superload, apple, carrots, greens.
Multivitamin Fridays with Reptivite containing D3 and Calcium
I am trying to find a happy medium here.
Breeder suggestion:Calcium every day and multivitamin with D3 3 times a week until 3 months old.
Other suggestions have been all over the place!
Suggestions?
Wow!! Thank you for posting such I depth information.
I'm a new to the forum and a new chameleon owner. I was recently turned on to this gut loading research by my Exotic Animal Vet, who Specializes in avian and reptile care. She instructed me to stop dusting all together and only use this product as a source of vitamins and Calcium for feeders... I am skeptical and would love to hear your thoughts.
http://www.timberlinefisheries.com/...improving the calcium content of crickets.pdf
I'm a new to the forum and a new chameleon owner. I was recently turned on to this gut loading research by my Exotic Animal Vet, who Specializes in avian and reptile care. She instructed me to stop dusting all together and only use this product as a source of vitamins and Calcium for feeders... I am skeptical and would love to hear your thoughts.
http://www.timberlinefisheries.com/...improving the calcium content of crickets.pdf
MWheelock
Veterinarian
Calcium
Hey,
Briefly took a look at the article you cited.
Enough calcium in the gut load is not necessarily the issue. The issue is whether the calcium the chameleon is getting is absorbed.
If your cham is getting the right amount of UV light and a good diet, it does not need supplementation.
The real question is whether your cham is actually getting the UV light or enough calcium in the diet.
A lot of us, still use Calcium w/ D3 on a regular basis (less frequently when they are older and bone growth is not so fast.) My chameleon's don't see the outside, so I give the powder once every few weeks just in case they are not getting enough UVB to convert to D3 so as to absorb calcium. I'm also hoping if they got too much dusting, the body doesn't make it's own D3 (negative feedback loop) to compensate.
So, I'm hedging my bets. Hopefully not too little, but not too much.
Good luck,
Matthew
Hey,
Briefly took a look at the article you cited.
Enough calcium in the gut load is not necessarily the issue. The issue is whether the calcium the chameleon is getting is absorbed.
If your cham is getting the right amount of UV light and a good diet, it does not need supplementation.
The real question is whether your cham is actually getting the UV light or enough calcium in the diet.
A lot of us, still use Calcium w/ D3 on a regular basis (less frequently when they are older and bone growth is not so fast.) My chameleon's don't see the outside, so I give the powder once every few weeks just in case they are not getting enough UVB to convert to D3 so as to absorb calcium. I'm also hoping if they got too much dusting, the body doesn't make it's own D3 (negative feedback loop) to compensate.
So, I'm hedging my bets. Hopefully not too little, but not too much.
Good luck,
Matthew
Thank you!! Really appreciate the info.
I am curious about one thing, I am able to bring my panther out to bask in late spring and summer. I am unable to do so the rest of the year
would you be adding D3 during those months he does not have natural light?
Also I if you wouldn't mind explaining why phosphorus is taken out if the powders used for natural sunlight I would be very great full.
Thanks so much!
Adam
I am curious about one thing, I am able to bring my panther out to bask in late spring and summer. I am unable to do so the rest of the year
would you be adding D3 during those months he does not have natural light?
Also I if you wouldn't mind explaining why phosphorus is taken out if the powders used for natural sunlight I would be very great full.
Thanks so much!
Adam
hello dr.Mathew i got a simple question for you if u don't mind, would the lactate calcium, bought from the store, like lactate calcium for humans, harm my cham or is it ok for it? i got lactate calcium pills and smashed them till they turned into powder. Thank you and i'll wait your reply.
MsCham
New Member
What an amazing source of information! I will be printing this off, highlighting it and taping it next to my Veiled's set up for reference! Thank you very much!
I was wondering if you might be willing to debunk or confirm something I found in my own research. There are certain people who believe UVA light is also needed. As I've found so clearly from these forums, not all information one hears is true, especially surrounding the needs of reptiles, so if you wouldn't mind giving me your opinion on the need of UVA lighting for chameleons? Of course it would be in addition to the needed UVB lighting as well.
When setting up for my cham before I got him, (he's my first) I was told in the pet store that I needed UVA as well, so I got it... Now I'm wondering if that was merely an up-sell of what I didn't need... But he does spend a fair amount of time near it. I should clarify that this means my set up has three lamps: a 50W basking, 75W UVB, and a 75W UVA. Curious to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Thank you for all the info!
I was wondering if you might be willing to debunk or confirm something I found in my own research. There are certain people who believe UVA light is also needed. As I've found so clearly from these forums, not all information one hears is true, especially surrounding the needs of reptiles, so if you wouldn't mind giving me your opinion on the need of UVA lighting for chameleons? Of course it would be in addition to the needed UVB lighting as well.
When setting up for my cham before I got him, (he's my first) I was told in the pet store that I needed UVA as well, so I got it... Now I'm wondering if that was merely an up-sell of what I didn't need... But he does spend a fair amount of time near it. I should clarify that this means my set up has three lamps: a 50W basking, 75W UVB, and a 75W UVA. Curious to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Thank you for all the info!
sapphira80
New Member
Just wanted to say thank you for writing all this up. I have found so little actual scientific information about chameleons (or reptiles in general). It drives me crazy because as a nurse, I'm used to specific information and parameters. I'm printing this out to go in my chameleon binder. Thanks again!
CraftingDreams
New Member
We are bringing home a 18 week old Jacksons Chameleon, and I thought I read where they are a bit different.. I am trying to understand how I need to give him his vitamins and calcium to keep him healthy... (bringing him out of a pet store that is keeping him in a tank with a combo uvb light, that is only 12 inches from the bottom of the tank)..
What are the best supplements for him, and how often should they be given. Like the lighting, it confuses me a bit..
What are the best supplements for him, and how often should they be given. Like the lighting, it confuses me a bit..
CraftingDreams
New Member
Thank you so much.. I have a Repti Calcium with D3, just need to pick up the other two then.
Oh and going to pick up some of this plastic stuff that I can heat and mold to see if I can reconstruct the pan I was wanting to do.. going to cross my fingers.. for now, Ill use a garden pan under the cage and lift it up with 4 half bricks inside..
Almost forgot.. what about phoenix worms.. I feed them to my bearded.. are they ok to also feed to Stan Lee?
Oh and going to pick up some of this plastic stuff that I can heat and mold to see if I can reconstruct the pan I was wanting to do.. going to cross my fingers.. for now, Ill use a garden pan under the cage and lift it up with 4 half bricks inside..
Almost forgot.. what about phoenix worms.. I feed them to my bearded.. are they ok to also feed to Stan Lee?
pgr7
Avid Member
Thank you so much.. I have a Repti Calcium with D3, just need to pick up the other two then.
Oh and going to pick up some of this plastic stuff that I can heat and mold to see if I can reconstruct the pan I was wanting to do.. going to cross my fingers.. for now, Ill use a garden pan under the cage and lift it up with 4 half bricks inside..
Almost forgot.. what about phoenix worms.. I feed them to my bearded.. are they ok to also feed to Stan Lee?
Absolutely, I feed them every other day to my jacksons chameleon.
CraftingDreams
New Member
awesome... then Ill order the zoo packs next round and pick up a wine cooler to store them in..
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