Sikchick341
New Member
All I have right now is Reptivite that I use to dust the crickets. It says to dust 12 crickets per week. It contains all the vitamins including D3, nutrients, minerals, and amino acids. Shouldn't that be all I need?
Vitamins?
- Thread starter Sikchick341
- Start date
racerfreak
Member
Calcium w/ D3 should be used sparingly, most people say once a month or every other month. Calcium w/o D3 can be used regularly and a multi-vitamin should be used once a week give or take. It really depends on the person and overall situation how much to give. Chameleons get D3 from the 5.0 UVB bulb or natural direct sunlight, that's why it should be used very sparingly. The most important thing is to feed your crickets or roaches a great gut-load because the same nutrients will go into your chameleon. Some people say you can over do it with the calcium and multivitamins and cause the chameleon growth defects. I only dust a once or twice a week with calcium w/o D3 & multivitamins and make sure my crickets get a great gut-load.
Breakdown:
Calcium with D3: once a month to once every other month(if at all, its not needed if they are done growing from what I've read... correct me if I'm wrong)
Calcium with out D3: multiple times a week
multivitamin: one to two times a week
* make sure you have a 5.0 UVB bulb and are gut-loading your crickets or roaches
Breakdown:
Calcium with D3: once a month to once every other month(if at all, its not needed if they are done growing from what I've read... correct me if I'm wrong)
Calcium with out D3: multiple times a week
multivitamin: one to two times a week
* make sure you have a 5.0 UVB bulb and are gut-loading your crickets or roaches
racerfreak
Member
Forgot to mention most stores do not carry calcium w/o d3, you may have to order online or ask the store to order it for you. Here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/Rep-Cal-Calcium-Phosphorus-Vitamin-Bottle/dp/B000N5PVZG
Sikchick341
New Member
Petland sells it. I have been told Calcium with D3 twice a month, Multi-Vitamin twice a month, and calcium without D3 regularly?
racerfreak
Member
Glad to hear that you can find it locally. Vitamin D (d3) is a supplement that helps bones grow and if too much is given it can cause bone defects, that's why I limit the amount to once a month since my chameleon gets enough UVB. The rest is up to you and what you see is best. I've heard people say never give multivitamins and some give it regularly, it's really up to you. Same with the calcium w/o D3. I just like to remember chameleons in the wild don't get supplements so why should I be giving them all the time.
Do your research and decide for yourself what's best, a lot of it is a grey area that has no certainty on what is to much and what is not.
This blog has a lot of good info in general:
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/supplements.html
Do your research and decide for yourself what's best, a lot of it is a grey area that has no certainty on what is to much and what is not.
This blog has a lot of good info in general:
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/supplements.html
Davonat
Avid Member
Repashy Calcium Plus.....All in One.....Thats all you need. Done!
Sikchick341
New Member
Where do you get that and how much is it?
Id order from here since you live in Kentucky you will get it in like 2 days. http://www.pangeareptile.com/store/calcium-plus-all-in-one-supplement.html
7.99
Davonat
Avid Member
I think I found the best price at Amazon. Go to the Repashy web site and read about it. There are some Senior members doing extensive testing.. but the stuff has been out a while.....And I have heard nothing bad about it. IN fact all good! I switched to it a month ago when I got my new Panther...He is growing like crazy and looks real good. I also gut load my crix with Bug Burger& Dinofuel
Sikchick341
New Member
I looked but I don't quite understand completely. Do I combine the different repashy products because it says it is recommended? Which ones do I get?
Here's some information I hope will help you ....
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.
Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.
A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.
Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).
If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).
Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)
Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)
Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.
Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.
Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.
A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.
Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).
If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).
Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)
Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)
Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.
Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.
Davonat
Avid Member
Just get the Calcium Plus.... Its an All in One. It has a Geko on the label. Did you look at the discription At Pangia? the guy posted a link. The Repashy Bug Burger is a cricket food. The Cal. Plus is a dusting powder. I would get both. there will be some who have been around the block and have extensive suppliment schedules and elaborate diets for each individual type bug.... But I am going the simple route and until someone can prove to me my Cham is not going to do well.... And he is doing AWSOME!..... I will put my faith in these new products. & keep my life simple
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
simple is not necessarily the best route
choose what supplementation to use based on type of feeder prey, and how you gutload, etc.
Kinyonga gives good advice.
more info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
choose what supplementation to use based on type of feeder prey, and how you gutload, etc.
Kinyonga gives good advice.
more info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
TOMMYBOY72
New Member
Vitamins
I have heard many things. I spoke to FL Chams. I have a 10 month old Panther and he told me: Calcium w/d3 3- times a week. calcium without/D3- 3 times a week. Reptivite -1 time a week. All I know is my Panther is healthy and happy so far. He eats good, looks great, hunts all day and dreams about crickets all night!
I have heard many things. I spoke to FL Chams. I have a 10 month old Panther and he told me: Calcium w/d3 3- times a week. calcium without/D3- 3 times a week. Reptivite -1 time a week. All I know is my Panther is healthy and happy so far. He eats good, looks great, hunts all day and dreams about crickets all night!
Davonat
Avid Member
See.... This is what I am talking about.... Ive heard w/D3 2 times a month Cal. w/o every day.... Reptivite 2 times a month..... Not with this bug... only feed this bug with this on it.... IF THE SUN IS OUT! if its going to snow in Mexico, make sure he gets moths only... with powdered sugar.... JEEEZZZ....
I had Burt 5 yrs... he did great... I used Minor all, Reptivite,& Rep Cal. He would only eat Supers & Silkies. I would go way out in the boonies and catch grass hoppers and butterfies, stick bugs.... he wouldnt eat them.... I am just trying to make my life simple & go with the Repashy Cal. Plus and good gut loads... If Ernie looks like its not working I will switch, But so far he is doing GREAT! Do what ever works for you.....Im following the instructions & I rest better knowing im not giving too much of this or not enough of that... I care very much about my Cham and am just now getting advise on the latest and best bulbs for my new big enclosure & my new Solar Meter 6.2 got here today
I had Burt 5 yrs... he did great... I used Minor all, Reptivite,& Rep Cal. He would only eat Supers & Silkies. I would go way out in the boonies and catch grass hoppers and butterfies, stick bugs.... he wouldnt eat them.... I am just trying to make my life simple & go with the Repashy Cal. Plus and good gut loads... If Ernie looks like its not working I will switch, But so far he is doing GREAT! Do what ever works for you.....Im following the instructions & I rest better knowing im not giving too much of this or not enough of that... I care very much about my Cham and am just now getting advise on the latest and best bulbs for my new big enclosure & my new Solar Meter 6.2 got here today
Sikchick341
New Member
I ordered repashy superload and the calcium plus. That should be all I need. Thanks for your help though!
Davonat
Avid Member
Here are some pics of Ernie. The first pic is his 2nd day here, the next pic was taken this morning aprox. 1 month later. His diet so far was crickets gut loaded with Bug Burger& Dinofuel... & dusted daily with Repashy Calcium Plus
Attachments
Whatcamo
New Member
I ordered repashy superload and the calcium plus. That should be all I need. Thanks for your help though!
Get some unpreserved bee pollen to add to the super load it's the only way I could get my crickets to go after it but once I added some bee pollen to the mix they go crazy for it!
Sikchick341
New Member
Where do I get bee pollen?
TOMMYBOY72
New Member
Bug Burger
My crickets love Bug Burger its easy to make. I use that as the main food source and I supplement with greens and veggies etc.
My crickets love Bug Burger its easy to make. I use that as the main food source and I supplement with greens and veggies etc.
