Repashy Calcium plus input

[chameleongalore]

I'm just wondering what people think of this product. I know one breeder lost his male chameleons because there was too many vitamins in the product and than I know a breeder that uses it everyday and has for two years. I would love to hear other breeders experiences, kind of confused about it. Thanks

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I breed panthers and I use it every day. I really love it and my chameleons are healthy and absolutely gorgeous. I would like to know how this guy knows his chameleon died from too many vitamins did he pay for an autopsy?

 

[chameleongalore]

I breed panthers and I use it every day. I really love it and my chameleons are healthy and absolutely gorgeous. I would like to know how this guy knows his chameleon died from too many vitamins did he pay for an autopsy?

Thank you for your reply. I just emailed him to ask how he knows if thats the product. I personally think parasites are more common than overdose on vitamins. I started selling quality worms such as silk, horn, butter because I lost chameleons to parasites that the crickets carried. Some cricket breeders over pack them or keep them in very dirty environments and I think that was the problem. Now I feed crickets once a week, my wild caughts love them.

 

[carol5208]

I breed panthers and I use it every day. I really love it and my chameleons are healthy and absolutely gorgeous. I would like to know how this guy knows his chameleon died from too many vitamins did he pay for an autopsy?

there is another thread going around right now and there is one member who said he lost 9 chameleons from using it everyday in addition to some tree frogs and something other reptile also. i am not sure how he knew that the repashy caused the deaths.

 

[chameleongalore]

there is another thread going around right now and there is one member who said he lost 9 chameleons from using it everyday in addition to some tree frogs and something other reptile also. i am not sure how he knew that the repashy caused the deaths.

How can I find this thread, I'm interested.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Ed kammer uses rapashys he is the one who told me to use it

 

[Zen Reptiles]

I was the one who voiced my concerns and I think you're all just talking about me lol.

I got several PMs from other members who didn't want to be public about it (and continue to get PMs from people who find the old thread) they had the same problem as me several months after starting to use Calcium Plus regularly. There were a few people who responded in the thread itself who had the exact same problem as me as well.

Allen Repashy even responded in the thread admitting it may not be good to give as often to chameleons as was recommended. Or to use less of it at each feeding.

Basically there are variables. I gutload, have great UVB bulbs (I have a UVB meter), use a variety of insects, etc.

I believe it was the Calcium Plus because of the 18 total chameleons at the time, 9 of ultimately died (some died after I made the original post), there were 4 others that looked like they were heading in the same direction. I stopped using the Calcium Plus when I realized that's what it could be and those 4 turned right around, and since I removed Calcium Plus from the diet completely I have lost NO animals.

Also the several animals which had no problems throughout the entire fiasco were the picky eaters of the group....they got much less of the Calcium Plus because they naturally did not eat as much...they are the ones still here.

Fecals came back clean so it was not parasites. When the Repashy was removed = the problem stopped. To me it was obvious.

I will grant you there are tons of variables in care we all give. Sandra mentioned the better care you take of your animals, the more harm the all-in-one supplement could cause because it would compound on top of the natural nutrients from diet and especially good UVB exposure.

All in all, there is too much vitamin A and too much vitamin D3 for it to be considered to be used daily. Now that everyone is fine I have just started using it twice a month, more or less often for some individuals. Babies get it more often. Nobody used a supplement with D3 in it every day, that is unheard of....what makes Repashy different? It has the SAME levels of D3 as those products we all use only once or twice a month.

It's a great product and I have just started using it again sparingly, it just comes with harmful directions. My animals did great for about 8 months on it until I started seeing problems. It's a buildup, it takes time to occur.

 

[mcleodschams]

I use repashy 3 times a week cut with plain clcium 50%repashy to 50%calcium and then plain calcium the other feedings for my gravid and just laid females I gutload withbugburger and fresh veggies and for dry I use fluker crap and dry bugburger mith bee pollen and superpig added. I have had no propblems using that schedule. Everyone does things different but this has really worked well for me.guess I shoul mention I only feed everyother day.

 

[chameleongalore]

I was the one who voiced my concerns and I think you're all just talking about me lol.

I got several PMs from other members who didn't want to be public about it (and continue to get PMs from people who find the old thread) they had the same problem as me several months after starting to use Calcium Plus regularly. There were a few people who responded in the thread itself who had the exact same problem as me as well.

Allen Repashy even responded in the thread admitting it may not be good to give as often to chameleons as was recommended. Or to use less of it at each feeding.

Basically there are variables. I gutload, have great UVB bulbs (I have a UVB meter), use a variety of insects, etc.



I believe it was the Calcium Plus because of the 18 total chameleons at the time, 9 of ultimately died (some died after I made the original post), there were 4 others that looked like they were heading in the same direction. I stopped using the Calcium Plus when I realized that's what it could be and those 4 turned right around, and since I removed Calcium Plus from the diet completely I have lost NO animals.

Also the several animals which had no problems throughout the entire fiasco were the picky eaters of the group....they got much less of the Calcium Plus because they naturally did not eat as much...they are the ones still here.

Fecals came back clean so it was not parasites. When the Repashy was removed = the problem stopped. To me it was obvious.

I will grant you there are tons of variables in care we all give. Sandra mentioned the better care you take of your animals, the more harm the all-in-one supplement could cause because it would compound on top of the natural nutrients from diet and especially good UVB exposure.

All in all, there is too much vitamin A and too much vitamin D3 for it to be considered to be used daily. Now that everyone is fine I have just started using it twice a month, more or less often for some individuals. Babies get it more often. Nobody used a supplement with D3 in it every day, that is unheard of....what makes Repashy different? It has the SAME levels of D3 as those products we all use only once or twice a month.

It's a great product and I have just started using it again sparingly, it just comes with harmful directions. My animals did great for about 8 months on it until I started seeing problems. It's a buildup, it takes time to occur.

I only use D3 once a week but i'm considering twice a week. My vet already told me that dusting more than once a week when you change your bulbs every 6 months and take them ouside in the summer ( which I do) is toxic to their organs. The fact that my chameleons get 50% silk worms, 20% horn and the rest is butter, wax, super and crickets already gives them a great balanced diet.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Any chameleon will regulate their D3 levels naturally by exposing themselves to UVB radiation whether under a UVB light or direct Sun.

The problem is that the body knows to shut down D3 production when in the Sun and making it naturally, when the body is 'full' of D3. It doesn't keep making vitamin D3. When you give powdered D3, it DOES push the levels past 'full' and that leads to problems.

Indoor chameleons should be getting D3 but not that much. Once a week is more than enough, I do it every 2 weeks but to each his own.

I believe outdoor chameleons with D3 in their supplements will bask for heat, not for D3. Once thermoregulation is achieved, they can retreat to the shade and not have to worry about staying in the Sun to make D3.

In an indoor enclosure, the chameleon will have a hard time escaping from UVB since most lights will penetrate much of the available space in the enclosure...making products with D3 even more toxic to those of us who cannot house their animals outdoors all year.

 

[carol5208]

I use no d3 on my adult chameleons as they get sun pretty much every day for anywhere from 2-8 hours. I just got a new baby who will not be getting as much outdoor time so I am going to give d3 a couple of times a month and that is it. I am afraid to use the repashy everyday when he is going to get natural sunlight pretty much every day. Not as many hours as my adults but still will get outside as longt as I can be outside with him. I had him outside in his cage for 4 hours today. I do not think d3 is necesary to give when you are getting that much natural uvb.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I'm just wondering what people think of this product.

I think its a good product, one among many others that are also fine.

IMHO Repashy Calcium+ should be used spairingly. 3-4 times a month would be fine, assuming you are providing a nice range of prey that is well gutloaded. A vitamin and phosphorous free calcium/mineral powder can be used, if and as needed, the rest of the time.

 

[nickb]

I think its a good product, one among many others that are also fine.

IMHO Repashy Calcium+ should be used spairingly. 3-4 times a month would be fine, assuming you are providing a nice range of prey that is well gutloaded. A vitamin and phosphorous free calcium/mineral powder can be used, if and as needed, the rest of the time.

I would like to follow this advice, as I feel the information you provide is spot on (as do most members). Especially if Allen chimed in and mentioned it may not need to be used so often with chameleons.

Earlier today I was in my local exotic's store and they're pretty good about their info, but the girl at the counter rarely wants to hear second opinions

I was talking to her about this thread and she totally shut me down - didn't even want to hear why calcium plus shouldn't be used as regularly with chams because "FL chams swears by it". I've also heard Kammers swears by it. I was asking her if I should get the calcium with or without d3 in addition to the once a week repashy dusting and she kept saying to just use repashy every feeding.

So... could it just be that these larger companies are unfortunately assuming most of their chams will be fed a mostly cricket diet and live primarily indoors, receiving no natural UVB?

It's hard to sift through all this information and get a straight answer as to why it's doing what.

I think this thread should be viewed by more users, repashy is a common product and this could help solve a lot of issues i'm sure

 

[erik775]

My sambava got gular edema I'm guessing also from the repashy calcium plus i was dusting his food every single feeding with repashy calcium plus...and don't they get gular edema from over supplementation ?

 

[chameleoman]

i use it on my male veiled around 3-4 times a month and he does fine. Hes also been out in the CA sunshine

 

[jannb]

I have never used the product because I don't personally supplement that much. I use such a wide variety of very well gut loaded feeders that I feel when I do want to use a little supplement that I want to be in control of what supplements I provide. Also I live in south FL and take my guys outside for some natural UV just about daily.

 

[Dr O]

while my chams were indoors under lights, i used it exclusively and had no issues. additionally, it was cut 50% by adding SuperPig to the dusting jar. i also don’t feed my (older) lizards every day and most shouldn’t be fed anywhere near that often. so it never mattered to me that the instructions say to use it daily; it really should say use at every feeding, which i still believe is fine for the average cham that is under the average UVB lamp for it’s entire life.

now that my chams have been relocated exclusively outdoors, i’m back to standard protocols of just calcium (again, cut with SuperPig) with most feedings, and vitamins every few weeks. All Repashy, and i don’t think i have seen another brand of calcium that is nearly as finely powdered as Repashy’s; it’s as fine as talcum powder. which i really think helps with its “sticking” properties for insects and even fruit flies.

allen repashy and i have spoken on a few occasions and of course this did originally come about via gecko diets. imo i really think he should make a “Calcium Plus for Chameleons" with no D, reduced levels of A, and continue to use the other ingredients that are already in there. at that point i think the vast majority of novice and intermediate owners who just want to make things a little bit easier would have just the right product.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

It's already been discussed at length https://www.chameleonforums.com/calcium-plus-how-often-90525/

Note: I made the thread when I started noticing problems, that's why the numbers are different. The 4 ill chameleons died, I kept 3 holdbacks I did not count in the original total and 2 of them died, and shortly after the thread there were 3 more that died. The Phelsuma and dart frogs had died 2-3 months earlier.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Calcium Plus was designed for 'tough' herps in the hobby like leopard geckos, crested geckos, and bearded dragons. They can take a lot more than a chameleon can.

I strongly agree ^ he should make a chameleon or 'low dose' line of this product.


It really is a superior product and I have NO problems at all with every other product Repashy has. Most of the supplements and products I use are Repashy. It's the Calcium Plus I have a problem with, and mostly the recommendations made for its use on chameleons.

 

[nickb]

while my chams were indoors under lights, i used it exclusively and had no issues. additionally, it was cut 50% by adding SuperPig to the dusting jar. i also don’t feed my (older) lizards every day and most shouldn’t be fed anywhere near that often. so it never mattered to me that the instructions say to use it daily; it really should say use at every feeding, which i still believe is fine for the average cham that is under the average UVB lamp for it’s entire life.

now that my chams have been relocated exclusively outdoors, i’m back to standard protocols of just calcium (again, cut with SuperPig) with most feedings, and vitamins every few weeks. All Repashy, and i don’t think i have seen another brand of calcium that is nearly as finely powdered as Repashy’s; it’s as fine as talcum powder. which i really think helps with its “sticking” properties for insects and even fruit flies.

allen repashy and i have spoken on a few occasions and of course this did originally come about via gecko diets. imo i really think he should make a “Calcium Plus for Chameleons" with no D, reduced levels of A, and continue to use the other ingredients that are already in there. at that point i think the vast majority of novice and intermediate owners who just want to make things a little bit easier would have just the right product.

I bet Cham owners would love that and buy it exclusively, you should tell him to give it a try