Let's see if I can shed some light here...the differences in the supplements listed so far are the type of calcium salt in the ingredients, and more importantly the concentration. There are a few reasons for different calcium salts specifically in human medicine (interactions with the parathyroid gland, lactose intolerance, propensity to form kidney stones due to other interactions, etc) and thus there are many that have been investigated and formulated. Now that they are readily available in multiple forms it is easier to see different types of calcium salts for human products in the ingredients list of reptile products. Some stay in solution better at certain pH, or with certain flavorings. The big picture though is that in reptiles, it really doesn't matter what form the calcium is in. What I worry more about is the concentration to make sure they're getting
enough of the
elemental calcium. And what "enough" is varies based on the need (lower for maintenance than for MBD for example).
Some brain food (from someone smarter than I):
Calcium Acetate 1g = 12.6mEq, 253mg, 6.30mmol
Calcium Carbonate 1g = 19.9mEq, 400mg, 9.96mmol
Calcium Citrate 1g = 10.5mEq, 211mg, 5.26mmol
Calcium Chloride 1g= 13.6mEq, 273mg, 6.80mmol
Calcium Glubionate 1g = 3.29mEq, 66mg, 1.64mmol
Calcium Gluceptate 1g= 4.08mEq, 82mg, 2.04mmol
Calcium Gluconate 1g= 4.65mEq, 93mg, 2.32mmol
Calcium glubionate is 23.6mg/ml (1.8g/5ml = 118mg/5ml ( 1.8 X 66 mg) elemental calcium). The dosage for treatment for MBD is around 66mg elemental calcium per kg given orally twice daily but most vets use 1ml/kg Calcium glubionate quite successfully, which would be 23.6mg/kg. Calcium glubionate is readily available OTC most places, and we know it is absorbed well in reptiles and comes in a consistent form easily adjusted for large or small reptiles so that is generally the primary recommendation for liquid supplementation in the veterinary world.
Soooo....let's talk about some of the supplements listed.
- The Zilla spray supplement - they list calcium in ppm, which to change to mg/ml I need the density of the overall solution. Based on the fact that you spray it on I am skeptical that it would be enough since the spray dilutes it. But without the true concentration it is difficult to evaluate.
- Fluker's Liquid Calcium for Reptiles - Listed as no less than 6%, which would mean at least 60mg/ml of calcium if the percentage applies to elemental form calcium (not really specified - if they mean 6% calcium chloride then that would make it 16.38mg/ml elemental calcium).
So you can see why there is so much confusion around the different types because there is a lack of consistency in how the ingredients and concentrations are listed, and the type of ingredients influences the amount of elemental calcium. That's one of the reasons we in the vet field also chose one forumlation that we know is consistent to recommend to make it less confusing. In the end, the type of calcium salt doesn't matter in itself, but will influence how much elemental calcium there is available. I got some calcium glubionate for my gravid girl and MBD tortoises and dose it based on the 1ml/kg recommendation. For my gravid cham I give her a drop twice a week. Here's some more info on
https://www.chameleonforums.com/liquid-calcium-quad-female-tips-info-94815/#post882300"]dosing.
As for making a homemade formulation of liquid calcium...too complicated. Not delving into that. If your female is eating at all then you should be able to heavily dust those feeders until you can get a formulated product that is reliable.
The powder is calcium carbonate and is not helpful for gravid females.
Not true at all.
) and the zilla is more watered down. 
