Calcium/D3 supplement

[StaceyLeigh]

I see some of you talking about supplementing with Calcium/D3. Is there a particular brand you would recommend, and how often, (for a baby, under a year). I plan to have a UVB bulb on the tank as well.

[Coomassie]

If you have a UVB bulb you really don't need Calcium with D3. I use Reptical (I think). I add calcium once a week to his food. Coomassie only eats a large meal once a week but my husband sneaks him roaches and treats a lot (ie everyday) during the week.

[StaceyLeigh]

The UVB is a Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0, 26 wt, but it will be on the top of the tank, outside the screen mesh top. So I was thinking a little extra supplement might be a good idea?

[critterguy]

10.0 should be fine. Make sure your skink can get out of the UV if it wants to. With UV you should not supplement with Calcium with VitD3.(or if you still want to, I'd reccomend using calcium w/o for the most part). Overdoing D3 is a real possibility-esp. with several supplements on the market that have quite high amounts of it...again meant to be used on animals maintained without UV

[Katrina]

10.0 should be fine. Make sure your skink can get out of the UV if it wants to. With UV you should not supplement with Calcium with VitD3.(or if you still want to, I'd reccomend using calcium w/o for the most part). Overdoing D3 is a real possibility-esp. with several supplements on the market that have quite high amounts of it...again meant to be used on animals maintained without UV

Have you found any evidence of BTS having issues due to too much D3? I used to always caution people the same thing, but I've never heard on any issues with supplementing D3 with blueys (only other species) and I know lots of people that supplement a lot of D3. From what I've seen, the concern for D3 toxicity seems to be unwarranted as long as people use some common sense with supplementation, but I'm curious to know if you've heard otherwise.

I use UVB and alternate just calcium and calcium w/ D3 - usually use the Ca w/ D3 every 3-4 feedings. Not very scientific, I know, but we don't have very accurate information at this point!

[SapphireTigress1]

good question! I dust my food every time i feed them (every 3 days), but I dont use UVa/b so... ?

What are the symptoms of D3 toxicity? I'm not really that worried, since all my guys seem fine, but I am curious.

[El Lobo]

From Merck:

"Excessive levels of oral vitamin D3 can lead to the excessive absorption and utilization of calcium.

An inappropriate calcium:phosphorus ratio or inadequate levels of vitamin D can result in nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, fibrous osteodystrophy, osteomalacia, cystic calculi, cloacal calculi, and rickets. Pathologic fractures, bone deformities, and soft or deformed shells in turtles may occur. Terminal signs may include tetanic seizures. The skeletal maladies that result from abnormal calcium:phosphorus metabolism are referred to as metabolic bone disease."

[SapphireTigress1]

O.O wow, should I dust less often? thats scary!

[reaperreptiles]

Im not exactly sure, but I have a UVB on all my skinks and I give them calcium once a week (gravid females two times a week) and I give a multi-vitamin every other week(once a week for gravid females). i have never had any issues with my method. Not really relavant but I also own chameleons, I have them on high UVB and I give them calcium twice a week and multivitamin once a week with great results. I just think it depends on the size of the cage and the intensity of the UVB. If you have a small UVB or none i would definantly give calium. But if you have a medium to large UVB setup then once a week or not at all should be fine. Correct me if im wrong but this seems logical to me.

[JoshChimera]

Ever since I read a topic on UVB and Calcium D3 on this forum; I only use a multi-vatimin every week. My terrarium has a UVB lamp, so my skink gets plenty of D3.