How much D3 is too much and why?

KingJulien

New Member
Hi, all. I tried searching for this and couldn't find an answer.

Why do we have to be careful not to oversupplement with D3? What is the danger of using Calcuim with D3 regularly instead of the normal every other week D3?

It just seems it would be easier to use the same Calcium all the time, but I imagine there must be a reason!
 
Too much D3 can build up and actualy cause absorption of bone, and mineralization of organs. The amount of D3 calcium and vitamin A need to be in balance for bone development.

The brand of D3 supplement and how often your chameleon goes outside, as well as the type of chameleon and what you gutload with, dictate how often you should supplement.
 
You might find these links interesting / informative:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/174-whats-supplements-brand.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

There is no single schedule that fits all situations.
But just Generally, a potent D3 supplement like Rep-cal brand should be used about twice a month. Whereas something like the Sticky Tongues indoor product could be used more often, weekly or perhaps even twice a week. Just remember that supplements are supposed to be supplementary - good UVB lighting should allow the chameleon to create much of what it needs.

What I do on a daily basis you can read about in my food diary blog:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/food-diary/
 
You might find these links interesting / informative:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/174-whats-supplements-brand.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

There is no single schedule that fits all situations.
But just Generally, a potent D3 supplement like Rep-cal brand should be used about twice a month. Whereas something like the Sticky Tongues indoor product could be used more often, weekly or perhaps even twice a week. Just remember that supplements are supposed to be supplementary - good UVB lighting should allow the chameleon to create much of what it needs.

What I do on a daily basis you can read about in my food diary blog:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/food-diary/


Watch out for that first link, it is a doozy. Lol. That one will take a little while to soak in, but it's very thorough. Thanks for the info.
 
If you only dust with a proper reptile supplement with D3 in it a couple of times a month lightly and leave the chameleon to produce the rest of the D3 it needs from its exposure to the UVB it should be okay. As long as the chameleon can move in and out of the UVB it shouldn't cause an overdose.

There is more to it than that though....vitamin A and D3 can affect each other...so you need to look at that too.

More later...have to go now.
 
I was wondering about vitamin A, also. My cham has a respiratory infection and a droopy eyelid and the vet prescribed baytril and said to supplement with 80 IUs of vitamin A every other day. I am currently giving him this in a liquid along with his baytril.
 
how do they get vitamin A? or what do they get vitamin A from?

They get it from what they eat. either via the gutload you feed the bugs or via a supplement powder, or as an oral solution.

Some will say that you need to provide pre-formed vitamin A (retinol / acetate). Others, like me, have had success relying on Pro-formed vitamin A, beta carotene.
Too much Pre-formed Vitamin A is toxic. Beta carotene doesnt build up in their system, so its near impossible to overdose with it. however, there is controversy as to whether or not Chameleons, or which bugs, convert beta carotene into Vitamin A.

Id say offering a small amount of pre-formed vitamin A via your gutload now and then is a safe way to go, especially if you are using a limited variety of bugs.

More Info: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html (Scroll about half way down the blog entry)
and http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...rnals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html
 
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I was wondering about vitamin A, also. My cham has a respiratory infection and a droopy eyelid and the vet prescribed baytril and said to supplement with 80 IUs of vitamin A every other day. I am currently giving him this in a liquid along with his baytril.

Wow. That seems like far too much Vitamin A to me. That much every two weeks would be sufficient, IMHO, for an adult Panther or veiled.

Did your vet weight the chameleon? Did you discuss your gutloading and supplement ingredients?

make sure you are providing LOTS of water.
 
Wow. That seems like far too much Vitamin A to me. That much every two weeks would be sufficient, IMHO, for an adult Panther or veiled.

Did your vet weight the chameleon? Did you discuss your gutloading and supplement ingredients?

make sure you are providing LOTS of water.

Hm. He did weigh him. 40g if I remember correctly. We talked about gutloading and supplements. I do a standard dusting schedule (Calcium without D3 most of the time, multi and D3 twice a month), and gutload crix, supers, and dubias primarily with carrots and flukers cubes and oats and wheat bran. Of course I've only had him 25 days. He felt I should use the multi (reptivite) more often.

Do you think I should just feed vit A to the feeders? It might be harder to determine how much he's getting that way.
 
I dont provide any pre-formed vitamin A at all to my chameleons, and they live long healthy lives. Their bugs do get lots of beta carotene. I presume that one or more of the various bugs I use convert it, if the chameleons can not do so themselves.

Others on this forum have the same approach as me. Others insist some preformed vitamin A should be provided weekly.

Probably the best bet is to walk the fine line between these extremes. Maybe a small dose quarterly.

I sure as heck would not give 80 IUs of preformed vitamin A every other day to such a small chameleon. To me, that sounds like too much. But your vet should know better than me. I read a post, ( I think it was Jim of the Chameleon Company? ) in which it was suggested giving between 100-200 IUs retinol per 100g of chameleon every few weeks.
 
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Thanks for the advice Sandra. I have given him two doses so far. I have already seen improvement, so maybe I will lay off for a while and just keep an eye on him. Less is more, right?

I have a feeling that if I keep feeding the feeders baby carrots all the time like I have been, he won't have a vit A problem again.
 
Thanks for the advice Sandra. I have given him two doses so far. I have already seen improvement, so maybe I will lay off for a while and just keep an eye on him. Less is more, right?

Ya, See how it goes. Maybe talk to your vet about the dosage.

I have a feeling that if I keep feeding the feeders baby carrots all the time like I have been, he won't have a vit A problem again.

Well, Just crickets and carrots are not be sufficient for good health. Carrots dont have much in the way of important B vitamins, for example. And crickets may not be able to convert beta carotene into vitamin A, or at least not well. You want an assortment of good gutload vegetables and fruits, and a variety of prey.
let me know if you'd like more info about gutloading.
 
Ya, See how it goes. Maybe talk to your vet about the dosage.



Well, Just crickets and carrots are not be sufficient for good health. Carrots dont have much in the way of important B vitamins, for example. And crickets may not be able to convert beta carotene into vitamin A, or at least not well. You want an assortment of good gutload vegetables and fruits, and a variety of prey.
let me know if you'd like more info about gutloading.

I've got crickets, dubias, and supers so far. He's not really going for the dubias yet, but he's getting over his URI so I'm just giving him whatever he wants right now. I'm trying to get colonies established of all three. I hope to keep silkworms, too. So far, I do think my gutloading is somewhat lacking. I am planning on going to the reptile show in Sacramento in September, and was thinking I should buy some cricket crack, or other good gutloading supplements.

I'm just hoping I can keep the gutloading as simple and easy as possible. I read that someone on here (sorry I can't remember) gutloads with frozen fruits and vegetables. They put them in an ice cube tray. I thought that sounded easy enough.

Do you have an info sheet on gutloading?
 
sweet, thanks! I noticed today when my cham chomped down on a cricket, orange goo got stuck on his lip. I'll definitely throw some other fruits and veggies in there so he can get a better array of vitamins.
 
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