Herpvite or Reptivite?
- Thread starter Dagreek
- Start date
fluxlizard
Avid Member
There is some debate as to whether lizards can convert beta carotene (herptivite) into usable vit a (as found in reptivite). Some studies have shown that beta carotene cannot be converted by lizards.
That said, studies are not always right- there are many variables, and all of them are not always taken into account. Many times the important variables to include are not even identified and understood.
Some forum members here have been able to use beta carotene only as a vit a source for their chameleons, and successfully reproduced them as well as kept them healthy with very long lives for many years on beta carotene only.
I have failed both times I tried. The first time was right after herptivite came out. I switched from reptivite and about a year later had hundreds of panther chameleon eggs fail, one clutch after another, from different pairs of parents- I went from very high hatch rates to 100% fail rate. Eventually after trouble shooting I made the switch back to reptivite and never had this problem again. Then years later I joined the forums, saw the reports of success with beta carotene only, so I tried again, this time raising some panthers on beta carotene only from juveniles. This time I had eye problems within several months in these animals. I tried treating with antibiotic eye ointment for a couple of weeks from the vet, no luck. On more than a hunch I tried giving vit a from a human capsule (1 drop every day or two) and in less than a week the eye problems cleared right up beautifully. Again switched to reptivite- never had eye problems from them again.
So take away what you like from this post. Beta carotene if you can manage it, would prevent overdose. But IMO so many eye problems pop up on the forums again and again- using reptivite fairly regularly (dosing schedule is a whole other debate, my feeling and philosophy is slightly more often than current forum guidelines) would probably prevent a lot of these and a limited amount is safe.
That said, studies are not always right- there are many variables, and all of them are not always taken into account. Many times the important variables to include are not even identified and understood.
Some forum members here have been able to use beta carotene only as a vit a source for their chameleons, and successfully reproduced them as well as kept them healthy with very long lives for many years on beta carotene only.
I have failed both times I tried. The first time was right after herptivite came out. I switched from reptivite and about a year later had hundreds of panther chameleon eggs fail, one clutch after another, from different pairs of parents- I went from very high hatch rates to 100% fail rate. Eventually after trouble shooting I made the switch back to reptivite and never had this problem again. Then years later I joined the forums, saw the reports of success with beta carotene only, so I tried again, this time raising some panthers on beta carotene only from juveniles. This time I had eye problems within several months in these animals. I tried treating with antibiotic eye ointment for a couple of weeks from the vet, no luck. On more than a hunch I tried giving vit a from a human capsule (1 drop every day or two) and in less than a week the eye problems cleared right up beautifully. Again switched to reptivite- never had eye problems from them again.
So take away what you like from this post. Beta carotene if you can manage it, would prevent overdose. But IMO so many eye problems pop up on the forums again and again- using reptivite fairly regularly (dosing schedule is a whole other debate, my feeling and philosophy is slightly more often than current forum guidelines) would probably prevent a lot of these and a limited amount is safe.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Since Reptivite has the preformed A, just to be on the safe side I normally recommend it to new keepers. I recommend to lightly dust your chams feeders twice a month. Here's a couple of blogs by my vet about vit. A that you might find interesting.
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2011/06/vitamin-a-in-chameleons-friend-of-foe/
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2012/09/vitamin-a-deficiencies-strike-again/
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2011/06/vitamin-a-in-chameleons-friend-of-foe/
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2012/09/vitamin-a-deficiencies-strike-again/
What's the preformed vit a called? I have my reptivite reptile vitamins with d3 and the only one I could find was vitamin a acetate.
I actually have similar symptoms on two of my chams. One males eyes are fine but hes turned darker. He also sometimes rubs his eyes. I also have a female who has had one eye closed for a long time and has been on an antibiotic regimen without much success when it comes to her eyes.
Just bought a bottle of reptivite vitamins no d3. What's the reasoning behind using it only 2-3 times a month? Too much vit a?
I actually have similar symptoms on two of my chams. One males eyes are fine but hes turned darker. He also sometimes rubs his eyes. I also have a female who has had one eye closed for a long time and has been on an antibiotic regimen without much success when it comes to her eyes.
Just bought a bottle of reptivite vitamins no d3. What's the reasoning behind using it only 2-3 times a month? Too much vit a?
ataraxia
Avid Member
That is the preformed version.
Rubbing his turret on the branch is more than likely a possibility of one or more of the following: long periods of low humidity, debris, shed and lastly possible infection.
Female turret closed. Give her long water sessions.
The reason any preformed version of a vitamin is recommended 2 times a month. Is because, in a preformed setting. When the body receives this form. It automatically absorbs it. It doesnt have to naturally convert it to this form. It simply sees the already processed form and absorbs it with abandon. The body doesnt know when enough is enough and then this leads to overdose.
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