Why calcium with no d3? Does it matter?

[TiyahLove]

I've seen tons of care sheets and care books saying d3 once a week, plain calcium the rest. Why is this?
Yes the animal is getting adequate UVB exposure, but would the little extra harm my chameleon? I use calcium with d3 for all my animals regularly including my sulcata tortoises that stay outside year round and I have no adverse effects on these animals. Is it different for a chameleon? I'm not saying my chameleon is the same as every other animal I just want to know why this is different from any other animal if it is.

 

[Jordyt]

I've seen tons of care sheets and care books saying d3 once a week, plain calcium the rest. Why is this?
Yes the animal is getting adequate UVB exposure, but would the little extra harm my chameleon? I use calcium with d3 for all my animals regularly including my sulcata tortoises that stay outside year round and I have no adverse effects on these animals. Is it different for a chameleon? I'm not saying my chameleon is the same as every other animal I just want to know why this is different from any other animal if it is.

It definitely matters for chameleons. Too much is toxic to them. I believe that they are more sensitive than other reptiles and it can cause kidney issues. Take a look at the care resources to the left. They will tell you the same thing.

 

[werecat]

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin, not water-soluble. Therefore excess D3 is easily stored in the fat of the body and not eliminated by the kidneys. Not sure about the possible negative effects to your other animals, but chameleons are notoriously sensitive (to just about everything). The guidelines of giving D3 twice a month have been developed from the trial and error of many experienced keepers. Over-supplementation can have detrimental effects that aren't worth the risk.

That said, it does depend on the amount of D3 in the particular supplement you use. You may be able to get by with more frequent use if you use a low-D formula, but I don't know what the appropriate amount would be offhand. It also depends on the amount of natural sun you chameleon gets. You would want to provide less D3 if the cham is getting lots of natural sun.

 

[ridgebax1]

Vitamins A, D, E, and K are all fat soluble vitamins and the excess is stored in the fat. Too much is bad for any animal, even people. I think the dietary requirements may have to do with the animal's natural environment and what they would make due to sun exposure in nature. I have a bearded dragon and her vitamin D requirement is different than the chams. She gets
D3 weekly. When I thought about it her environment is the Australian desert which would have more UVB exposure than the chameleon in the forest canopy. I have nothing to back this up, it is just something I thought of. I don't know if it is right or just BS.

 

[Tay And A]

If you'd like a free care sheet please email me [email protected]

 

[Olimpia]

Taken from here: http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

VITAMIN D3: Cholecalciferol, also nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” is one that the body can synthesize in the skin when exposed to sunlight. It can also be consumed through diet, but in the case of reptiles, they count on basking to produce a significant amount of it. The purpose of vitamin D is to maintain normal, balanced blood levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body, and plays an important role in the absorption of calcium into the bones, helping them become stronger. It also plays an important part in maintaining immune system health.


There are risks associated with too much of this vitamin, which is why it is not recommended to supplement too heavily with this vitamin via diet. Too much of it will start affecting the nerves and muscles, and more severe toxicity will start to affect calcium levels; calcium will be highly elevated in soft tissues, such as muscles and kidneys, and begin to actually calcify these tissues, while debilitating the bones.

 

[fuzzhc]

When I got my first vieled I wad told to supplement daily with the d3 supplement I was given at purchase. He ended up going off his food for a while, mad and to this day still has the shakes which I'm assuming is nerve damage, although the shaking is much less than at first.

 

[ridgebax1]

Taken from here: http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

There are risks associated with too much of this vitamin, which is why it is not recommended to supplement too heavily with this vitamin via diet. Too much of it will start affecting the nerves and muscles, and more severe toxicity will start to affect calcium levels; calcium will be highly elevated in soft tissues, such as muscles and kidneys, and begin to actually calcify these tissues, while debilitating the bones.

I am fairly sure that is what killed my boy Pete. I was incorrectly supplementing with calcium with D3 several times a week. He ended up with MBD, possible kidney failure, gular edema and an impaired ability to walk correctly. I was following the directions given by the pet store from which I purchased him. I had not yet found this forum and when I did it was unfortunately too late to save Pete.

 

[Olimpia]

I'm sorry to hear about Pete! And about your veiled, Fuzzhc!

It's really a shame how poorly pet stores understand what their own animals need. When I worked at a pet store it was the same thing, I arrived to find them selling High D3 supplements to everything, including chameleons. A chat with the owner quickly brought him over to the light, since I was a graduating biologist, and we started selling chameleons with their separate supplements. But people don't know how delicately different vitamins and minerals have to be in the body for it all to function properly so they give out poor advice.

 

[TiyahLove]

I will definitely go and pick up some calcium without d3. thanks for all the replies and pointers from your experiences it's exactly what I needed to know