no calcium for a few days

[Jakeelias93]

I won't get my order of calcium without d3 for a few days and was just wondering if that's ok too feed crickets non dusted, or should I dust like one cricket with d3 until the non d3 comes. I have repcal right now with d3.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Yes it is ok to feed un-dusted crickets for a few days.

 

[Tyaeda]

If you're worried about calcium intake for the next couple days, try gutloading with items that are high in calcium like Collard Greens, Oranges, Kelp, and Sesame Seeds. If you have a veiled, I would suggest offering him some collard greens directly to see if he'll eat it.

 

[mhfan305]

If you're worried about calcium intake for the next couple days, try gutloading with items that are high in calcium like Collard Greens, Oranges, Kelp, and Sesame Seeds. If you have a veiled, I would suggest offering him some collard greens directly to see if he'll eat it.

can I feed a stable diet to the crickets of sesame seeds and oranges for proper gut loading?

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

can I feed a stable diet to the crickets of sesame seeds and oranges for proper gut loading?

Your going to need more than that. Collard greens and kale are very good to add, along with brewers yeast. Sandra chameleon has a great blog on gut loading.

 

[mhfan305]

Your going to need more than that. Collard greens and kale are very good to add, along with brewers yeast. Sandra chameleon has a great blog on gut loading.

So I have to blend it all up? Would it be alright to just get a bottle of flukers cricket quencher to save money?

 

[Lathis]

The flukers cubes don't have a good reputation with experienced keepers. Plus there is a real concern about bacterial growth inside the jar. Honestly, the flukers cubes are actually going to be more expensive in the long run. Produce is pretty inexpensive, just takes a little more effort to keep in the house. I actually keep cores and extras from fruit that I eat to give the bugs.

Some things like oranges and squash will keep in the fridge for a long time. The dry ingredients recommended in Sandra's blog will last a very, very long time before you have to resupply.

The trick is to offer variety that is balanced. It seems overwhelming, but it just takes a little research and practice. It doesn't have to be super complicated, just take it one step at a time

 

[pssh]

A few days without calcium should be fine. If you are really worried you can buy a cuttle bone (for birds) and grind some up, or even use boiled egg shells that have been ground up. I've also heard of people using powdered Tums.

 

[fluxlizard]

Dust with d3 or don't dust.

A few days of either option is not going to make much difference.

Bad effects from both extremes is the result of long term husbandry, not a few days.

Personally- I'd dust with the d3 if the animal is young and growing or a mature female with developing eggs, probably wouldn't if it was a full grown male.

I used calcium with d3 long term for many years (10+ years hundreds of chameleons, veileds and panthers over generations, several other species successfully bred and grown in that time as well) and my chameleons were fine. I'm not saying current information isn't better, nor am I intending to encourage you to dust that way long-term, only letting you know that a few days with d3 dusting is not likely to have any ill effect on your lizard whatsoever...