white stuff!

[grimlin18]

hello all, my cham has this white stuff around his nose, i usually just brush it off. its kinda crusty i was just wondering why this happens? is he sick or somthing?

 

[Hoj]

i belive it is totally normal the excreat excess salts and minerals from thier nose i believe. either that or a little drug problem LOL

 

[Justin Ward]

you could also be over-supplementing...thats another option

 

[grimlin18]

haha lets hope its not a drug porblem i dont want the little guy overdosing. but i use rep cal multivitimins and calcium with d3, then i also use miner all outdoor. would you consider that to much supplements?

 

[melvbrooke]

No over supplementing is giving too much too often.

How many times a week/month do you use each supplement?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

White crusts on the nose are a totally natural excretion of excess salts (not calcium). It's completely normal but if you're really concerned about it you may want to use distilled water for his drinking source.

For supplementation you should be using calcium (no D3 or phosphorus) nearly every feeding and the others only twice a month.

 

[grimlin18]

see idk if im doing good with suplementing then cuz i use calcium with d3 on one day then multivitamins the second day, and minerall outdoor the 3rd day then i just repeat. not good? and i use tap water...so should i use some filtered water?

 

[carol5208]

you don't want to overdo on the d3. Some of the calcium with d3's contain higher amounts so it also depends on which brand you are using but as a general rule you do not want to be supplementing with d3 as much as you have been. So use your plain calcium with no d3 at every feeding, and the other two twice amonth or so. Also it depends on how hard and the quality of your water is where you live. I have never used anything but tap water since I have owned my chameleon. It is not necessaryto use bottled or filtered but again depends on your circumstances. It couldn't be anything but good to do so, but I am saying it is not always critical that you have to.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Yeah that's too often for D3 and multivitamins. Too much of certain things (like D3) can actually build up to toxic levels. You'll need to get a calcium powder that does not have D3 or phosphorus (as it can interfere with calcium absorption) in it to use at every feeding. Go with the schedule I posted - that's what is recommended by all the experts that have been breeding and keeping successfully for a long time.

For supplementation you should be using calcium (no D3 or phosphorus) nearly every feeding and the others only twice a month.

As for the water question - different people have different opinions about this subject. I use tap water for mine but I know my local water is good quality. It depends on where you live and where your water comes from. If you're worried distilled or filtered water may be the way to go.

 

[carol5208]

Yeah that's too often for D3 and multivitamins. Too much of certain things (like D3) can actually build up to toxic levels. You'll need to get a calcium powder that does not have D3 or phosphorus (as it can interfere with calcium absorption) in it to use at every feeding. Go with the schedule I posted - that's what is recommended by all the experts that have been breeding and keeping successfully for a long time.

For supplementation you should be using calcium (no D3 or phosphorus) nearly every feeding and the others only twice a month.

As for the water question - different people have different opinions about this subject. I use tap water for mine but I know my local water is good quality. It depends on where you live and where your water comes from. If you're worried distilled or filtered water may be the way to go.

lol! Great minds think alike!!!!

 

[melvbrooke]

No little too much. D3 is their sunlight supplement. Should do it once, maybe twice, a month at most.

As said calcium can be done almost every feeding. Be careful your crickets are not ghosties lol

I give my multi.Vitamin once a week. Some people do it every other week, But just can't be given every 3 days.

Hope that helps! Your on the right track!

 

[Kansascity]

see idk if im doing good with suplementing then cuz i use calcium with d3 on one day then multivitamins the second day, and minerall outdoor the 3rd day then i just repeat. not good? and i use tap water...so should i use some filtered water?

I have a dry earase board on my wall that reminds me each friday what supplement is due (my days are Fridays). Maybe that will work for you.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

lol! Great minds think alike!!!!

With perfect timing too!

 

[grimlin18]

alright wahoo. thanks alot you guys are a big help i love this place!

 

[grimlin18]

would it matter if i'm raising him indoor? would i give him calcium with d3 if that was the case? i take him out side when ever its sunny but only for a couple hours.

 

[Hoj]

if you are getting him out for alot of sun you can go less on the d3, as he will absorb it from the natural sun. i dont know exactly how much sun they need to no longer require d3 supplimentation but if you are getting him out for a hour or so evey week i would prob only use d3 once a month. JMO tho

hoj

 

[melvbrooke]

My chameleon is indoor but I still only do D3 every 5th of each month.

 

[grimlin18]

alright, the dude at the reptile store today was saying to use d3 if hes being raised indooor and i was confused cuz every one has been saying to use d3 twice a month. cool lean somthing new every time i log onto chameleonforums

 

[suzi]

I agree with ferrit and carol. And to add to that I use reptisafe by zoomed in my water. You can find it at most pet stores and it removes all the harsh chemicals from the tap water. I actually read that distilled water is not good for chameleons. ( that is supposedly what a vet said)

 

[seanUTD]

What about just plain purified water? I mean I put ALL water that goes into my cage through a PUR filter first because I don't even trust tap in my own body... Is that okay or am I ripping some nutrients away from the tap that he needs?