?Boy was that a read and a lot to take in! WAIT So you don't use earthpro ca or calcium pro? I do earth pro a every feeding and then every 2 weeks earthpro ca and calcium pro... is this incorrect? I still feel just as confused ? haha
There is a ton of information and research presented in this thread. I don’t think anyone can definitely say “you have to do this or you’re putting your animal at risk.”
my thoughts about Arcadia Earthpro-A and why I use them are this.
1) it supplies a phosphorus free calcium source
2) unlike many Ca sources it offers daily inclusion of other essential vitamins
—- B complex vitamins; water soluble, little to no evidence of overdose but essential to multiple functions within the body
—- essential amino acids; again unlikely to overdose. Not going into specifics, but not called “essential” for unsubstantiated reasons
—- broad spectrum carotenoids; I’ll have to rely on theory over concrete science here, but so is being certain carotenoids are useless in vitamin A production in chameleons.
—- mineral clay; anyone that breathes is taking in local “mineral clay” constantly It’s highly unlikely that minerals are not supplemented from the Dust in the Wind so to speak. If you eat off the ground, which includes EVERYTHING a chameleon eats or drinks in the wild, you are accessing a significant amount of mineral supplementation. What’s here over Calcium? Variety (that’s what all diets should have right?)
3) each vitamin and mineral does not function in isolation. As noted earlier D and A can be antagonistic. Many of the vitamins and minerals require their alphabet buddies to be properly absorbed, assimilated, allocated, and/or used
4) bee pollen; everyone needs a magic bullet, maybe this is mine. And it has a $#!+load of these essential vitamins (if they’re accessible to the Cham)
Feeding a large variety of feeders (more than what most of us do: dozens of different feeders, not 5 or 10 or 15) might ensure that all of the B vitamins, amino acids, and carotenoids are available to our chameleons, but EarthaPro-A supplements non-toxic (as far as current science understands) vitamins and minerals daily and ensures availability for those that need a certain Cofactor for absorption or function
I also use CalciumPro-Mg and RevitaliseD3.
With CalciumPro-Mg, I’m a believer. Mg is a key factor in making calcium biologically accessible to the chameleon. Don’t forget calcium’s most important function occurs outside of the bone in a multitude essential biologic functions. This is why MBD happens. The body needs calcium immediately available or multiorgan failure will occur. It takes calcium STORED in the bone for survival even if this leads to degradation of the integrity of the bone.
I use RevitaliseD3 to hedge my bets. I’m fairly certain D3 is unnecessary with proper UVB. I lean towards dietary PREformed A also being non-essential. I buy into the theory of broad spectrum carotenoids providing the necessary substrates for Vitamin A production within the animal (along with many other vitamin cofactors)
I’m not an expert. I don’t have years of experience. I fortunately have access to many of you who are experts, are experienced, and might even be “celebrities”. I listen to the debates, try to research the evidence, listen to experts (some with celebrity status), and then decide how I’ll approach the issue
@kinyonga is a national treasure, but I think I’ll head to Canada instead of trying to claim her for the US
@DeremensisBlue has influenced my husbandry more than anyone in the community through his website and podcast (thank you!)
I’ve listened to several interviews with John Courteney Smith and read a couple of his books. I’m completely convinced that he is striving for optimal care for captive reptiles (if he sells snake oil, those m-fing snakes need it), and his understanding of nutrition is as good as anyone in the hobby
enough rambling. I’m going to have a shot of earthpro Kool aid and go to bed
