Getting confused about supplements

[Kate]

After reading recent threads about calcium and d3 I need some advice. First off Popeye appears healthy and thriving. He is a panther about 18 months old. Up till abou 6 weeks ago I was using plain calcium most feeding ( doesn't eat every day) every 2 nd day approx and Nutrabol every two weeks. I then switched to Repeshey calcium plus most feeds. Very light dusting. His main feeders are locusts and crickets. Within the last 6 weeks I introduced silkworms. He will eat about 2 most days, not dusted. He very rarely gets outside. His uv is Arcadia t5 I think 5 or 6%. I gutload with one of Sandra's reciepe. What should I Change if anything?

 

[ISA my Veiled]

I personally am not very familiar with the Rapshey(if thats how you spell it?lol) but to me everything sounds great, not to mention you use arcadia, which are the high end of UVB bulbs. My supplement schedule for my Veiled goes Plain calcium every feeding, and on the 1st and 15th of every month she gets her multivitamin and calcium with D3. He can go to town on the silkworms by the way, they are an awesome feeder for chameleons and are healthier than most worms.

 

[Kate]

I personally am not very familiar with the Rapshey(if thats how you spell it?lol) but to me everything sounds great, not to mention you use arcadia, which are the high end of UVB bulbs. My supplement schedule for my Veiled goes Plain calcium every feeding, and on the 1st and 15th of every month she gets her multivitamin and calcium with D3. He can go to town on the silkworms by the way, they are an awesome feeder for chameleons and are healthier than most worms.

Thanks for replying. Started to become unsure after reading several other threads that mention supplements. I like Repeshey as I don't have to remember which day it is.lol with having t5 and introducing silkies I wondered if he was getting too much of anything.

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Thanks for replying. Started to become unsure after reading several other threads that mention supplements. I like Repeshey as I don't have to remember which day it is.lol with having t5 and introducing silkies I wondered if he was getting too much of anything.

Yeah no problem. As I said I am not really familiar with using it myself but a lot of keepers on the forum use it. I may be picking some up at my next reptile expo in november. Maybe someone who uses it will respond to the thread and give you a better explanation. But besides that I think everything is good. The silkworms have some calcium in them if I am not mistaken.

 

[kinyonga]

The idea is to attain a balance between calcium, phos, vitamin A and the D3 and not to overdo any of them.

Dusting with a phos - free calcium powder at most feedings helps to make up for the usually poor ratio of calcium to phos found in most feeder insects.

Dusting twice Asa month lightly with a phos - free calcium / D3 powder ensures that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and leaving it to produce the rest from its exposure to the UVB. D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to health issues.

Dusting twice a month with the vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A will ensure that it gets its vitamins without overdosing it. Beta carotene. Is prOformed and will not build up in the system like prEformed vitamin A will...so this leaves you in charge of whether to use a prEformed vitamin A or not.

Appropriate lights and temperatures are also important.

Hope this helps even though it doesn't give you a direct answer.

 

[Kate]

Thanks for replies but still a bit unsure rather than confused. Any more input would be welcome.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Thanks for replying. Started to become unsure after reading several other threads that mention supplements. I like Repeshey as I don't have to remember which day it is.lol with having t5 and introducing silkies I wondered if he was getting too much of anything.

perhaps use Repashy Calcium Plus (or the Nutrobol) once a week, lightly
and a vitamin free and phosphorous free mineral (largely calcium) supplment, lightly, at most other feedings (especially for crickets, mealworms, superworms).

If you feed your silkworms in mulberry, dandelion and grape vine leaves, feel free to skip dusting them with calcium half the time (or dust only half that you give on a given day).

If you are wondering why not Repashy more often, well I simply believe it is unnecessary to use it that often. Indeed, it may be problematic:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/calcium-plus-how-often-90525/

Its not an easy "one size fits all" topic, so dont feel bad about being confused.
Here is a link to a bunch more info, which may seem overwhelming at first - but give it a try:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/174-whats-supplements-brand.html

My best advice is to supplement in moderation, offer as wide a variety of prey you can, gutload well, and ensure plenty of water is provided.

 

[Kate]

Thanks Sandra. I was hoping you would come in. I trust your judgement as you have studied the subject in detail for a long time and i just cant get my brain round the conflicting advice given. I now feel i have a safe schedule for for my boy. Thanks again.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Thanks Sandra. I was hoping you would come in. I trust your judgement as you have studied the subject in detail for a long time and i just cant get my brain round the conflicting advice given. I now feel i have a safe schedule for for my boy. Thanks again.

thanks for the compliment! Im glad you found something useful in my post.
Here is another link, to a blog entry Olimpia made about supplements - it is worth a read:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html