Why do we dust with calcium?

[AndrewH]

when i got my first cham I just followed the rules and looked up as much information as possible and dusted my feeders with calcium, provided uvb light, and etc etc...

But I am just wondering, what is it that chameleons eat out in the wild that is able to give them that much calcium to thrive?

Is it just because they have such a wider selection of insects that are more properly balanced for them to eat? Does having such a large variety compensate for the whole gut loading and dusting regiments we all follow or is it something else?

I am also wondering what the females would eat in the wild to bump up their calcium levels to help form their eggs?

This probably sounds like a no point question, but i would just like to know.


thanks.

 

[AFH]

You kind of answered your own question. They have such a wide variety of food items in the wild, and some are probably inherently higher in calcium than others.

As for how do they bump up their calcium while gravid? I don't know. An uneducated guess would be they don't necessarily increase their calcium input, but it is known that they tend to lay smaller clutches in the wild than in captivity. Maybe they lay fewer, more calcified eggs. Or maybe a lower percentage are viable. Maybe someone who's studied them in the wild can give a better answer (calling Chris Anderson!)

 

[spatulars]

Just guessing, but I would say that they likely eat more bones in the wild.

 

[mika]

Well kinda on the same topic:

I've had sulcatas before & these tortoises live in northern Africa in the Sahara desert.

In the wild, their primary diets consists of grasses & weeds & they obtain calcium from eating these grasses.

Apparently, the soil in which their food grows is rich in calcium.

Whoops, I forgot to add that we dust because most feeders do not have a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio as in the case of crickets.

High levels of phosphorus can block calcium conversion.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Dark green vegetation is very high in calcium and is what a lot of wild prey is gut loaded with.
Think of cows ... where do they get their calcium?
What invertebrates have the same diet as cows? A lot ... and they are all chameleon food!

-Brad

 

[opihiman]

With Calcium supplementation, is better to just use plain calcium or is OK to use calcium with D3 as regular daily sup, or is this another one that we should just supply a regular source once or twice a week

OPI

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I notice you have Jackson's chameleons.
I know supplementation is less with the montane species but I cannot help with a schedule ... you want some specific advice from montane keepers.

-Brad

 

[ChameleonsTree]

Do have your chameleons outside during the summer?

 

[opihiman]

I notice you have Jackson's chameleons.
I know supplementation is less with the montane species but I cannot help with a schedule ... you want some specific advice from montane keepers.

-Brad

sorry but what does "montane" mean...excuse my ignorance...LOL


Yes, the jackson do get to go outside just about every day. The duration varies from about 2 hours to about 12. they ussually just hang out on the porch where there is some shade. I rarely put out in direct sunlight but if I do I will place a card board over an area to create some shade for them and since it's hawaii...it's like summer year around...er but I just started keeping the chameleons.

OPI

 

[AndrewH]

hey everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to drop some knowledge.

Do have your chameleons outside during the summer?

I have had my cham for under a year, so this is the first summer for us and he has never been kept outside before.
I was thinking about keeping him outside since it seems like it is going to be an unusually hotter summer than last year even though im fairly close to the beach (thank god for global warming!! )

 

[spatulars]

It's my first summer with my chameleon too! I'm so excited, I hope he likes it outside.

 

[ChameleonsTree]

They thrive outside. I would bring them in if it gets over 95. If you have enough foliage they will find shade in that. When the temps are close to 90 here i make sure they get a 30 minute shower every 4 hours. When the temos are closer to 80 i will do 2 showers a day. I use stick tongue minerall for outside chams during these months.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I was thinking about keeping him outside since it seems like it is going to be an unusually hotter summer than last year even though im fairly close to the beach (thank god for global warming!! )

Hotter is not better for chameleons!
When it is hot they need to come inside.
What kind of chameleon do you have?

-Brad

 

[Brad Ramsey]

sorry but what does "montane" mean...excuse my ignorance...LOL
OPI

It means mountain species.
Jackson's originate at higher, cooler elevations.
They live in the mountains.

-Brad

 

[AndrewH]

Hotter is not better for chameleons!
When it is hot they need to come inside.
What kind of chameleon do you have?

-Brad

It will be hotter here as in 85-95 highs, and 60-75 lows, last year it was more like 80-90 highs, sorry should of specified the temps.

i have a lovely BB ambilobe

 

[opihiman]

thanks brad...

Is there a particular member you would recommend?

Thanks for all of your advice

OPI

 

[AndrewH]

It's my first summer with my chameleon too! I'm so excited, I hope he likes it outside.

i know! he just freezes up and takes in all the wonder when he is outside im hoping he will be very happy

 

[Brad Ramsey]

thanks brad...

Is there a particular member you would recommend?

Thanks for all of your advice

OPI

Kent or Trace might be able to help.
Also, there is a Jackson's website .. check the links on this forum.
I don't know what info that site has on supplementation.

-Brad

 

[opihiman]

thanks for all the help

OPI

 

[Brian]

Anyone use the calcium from cricketfood.com? I thinking about trying it.

Brian