Calcium dosage

[Anthony Hendrick]

Hi,

I have a 2 year old male panther.

Two vets have told me on separate occasions that he practically cannot get enough calcium.

They said MBD is extremely common but they have never seen (although they know it's possible) a reptile that overdosed on calcium.

I give my chameleon calcium every day but now that he's nearly fully grown, surely I can start to give it to him less often?

Half of his urate is usually orange and I'm starting to think that it's the calcium as the vets did say he would excrete the excess.

I gave him no calcium for a week a month ago and the orange disapeared so that also leads me to believe that he's getting way more than he needs.

Also he has a small bone growth on his arm, this is the second time he's had a small growth.

The vet passed it as ok but i'm starting to think this is happening because of the extra calcium.

Any info would be much appreciated

thanks guys

Anto

 

[kinyonga]

Can you post pictures please?

Since the insects we feed them usually have a poor ratio of calcium to phos. if you stop giving them calcium then you are back to them getting a poor ratio of calcium to phos. aren't you??

Here are some sites with information about calcium...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
http://chameleonnews.com/02MayDonoghue.html

BTW...I think hypercalcemia is more likely to occur if you are over-supplementing the D3.

 

[sandrachameleon]

You may want to increase his access to water - run your dripper for longer, or mist more.

It is possible to over-do it with calcium, but not if you're only lightly dusting crickets and other insects with a poor calcium to phos ratio.

You might like to provide answers to the "how to ask for help" questionaire sticky, and post a couple pics.