Multivitamin Brand debate for Jackson's chameleon

[schwingirl89]

Hello all. I am new to the forums and have been gathering very useful information here and various sites, on care for Jackson's chameleons. I have had a Fischer chameleon in the past, and was not sufficiently educated on adding extra supplementation to the diet. Soon will be my first time in having a Jackson's chameleon. I am hoping to purchase a male between the age of 4 to 6 months. And, I'm debating on which brand I will be choosing for a Multivitamin supplement. I have read good things about Repcal's Herbivite and Repashy's Calcium+. I would like to hear about other people's experience in using such brands, and their results. Thanks!

 

[Lovereps]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
Jackson's need --and can only tolerate--about 1/2 the supplementation of Veiled and Panther chams. More is definitely not better when it comes to supplementing montane types of chams.

For that reason, I would be wary of using an all in one for use every day supplement.
Here is a thread with cautionary tales and they were not even Jackson's who had problems:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/repashy-calcium-plus-input-101541/

The typical forum recommendation for Jackson's is to use plain calcium at every other feeding. calcium with D3 1x a month and a multivitamin 1x a month.

The problem with RepCal Herptivite is that the vitamin A in it is beta carotene, a form that no one is certain that reptiles can actually use.
Zoo Med's Reptivite without D3 contains what is believed to be the type of vitamin A that reptiles can actually use.

Feeding the feeders a good diet (called gutloading) is an important part of a cham's nutrition. If the feeders are properly gutloaded then the multivitamin becomes a bit of insurance, rather than the main way of getting good nutrients into your cham.
Using a variety of feeders also helps to ensure good health.

Here is some basic montane species care. Jackson's are a montane cham, as you probably already know.
Fewer supplements, lower temperatures and more water are the most basic summary of how Jackson's differ.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/hoj/634-montane-chameleon-care-info.html

Hope this helps you.

 

[schwingirl89]

Hello and thank you for the welcoming and very insightful information. I forgot to mention in my post of my awareness of using the multivitamin less often as plain Calcium. But, I still thank you for providing me with assurance that what you mentioned is the correct method I read up more on the links you provided, and I think I will end up choosing Zoo Med's Reptivite for a monthly multivitamin. I haven't really chosen what I will gutload the feeders with yet. But, I will certainly do some more comparative research in the matter. I'm really looking forward to purchasing a chameleon again soon and all of the necessities to go along with one. Thanks again!

 

[Lovereps]

You're very welcome.
I'm glad to see that you're doing some research beforehand to ensure that you'll be meeting your future cham's needs.
Jackson's typically have a nice temperament but are a bit unforgiving if things aren't just right for them.

For some great gutloading info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/446-basics-gutloading.html
and
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

 

[Psychobunny]

You're very welcome.
I'm glad to see that you're doing some research beforehand to ensure that you'll be meeting your future cham's needs.
Jackson's typically have a nice temperament but are a bit unforgiving if things aren't just right for them.

For some great gutloading info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/446-basics-gutloading.html
and
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

I agree, Noogie and my last jacksons love to come out of their cages and climb on everything in the house (outside it too!!)
But if I water him the 'wrong' way, he will not drink.
Needs to be from the rain dome!! nothing else is acceptable

 

[sandrachameleon]

It's not the brand that really matters, it's how u use it. Jacks do better if you gutload properly and use very little supplementation.

 

[schwingirl89]

You're very welcome.
I'm glad to see that you're doing some research beforehand to ensure that you'll be meeting your future cham's needs.
Jackson's typically have a nice temperament but are a bit unforgiving if things aren't just right for them.

For some great gutloading info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/446-basics-gutloading.html
and
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

Thank you Lovereps, Sandrachameleon, and Psychobunny for the great info. I feel more confident now in providing a nice home in the future for a Jackson's cham. I can't wait till I get the money for it lol. I've been gathering all of this helpful info (along with other web resources) and am now narrowing down to specific products.