Supplementation?

[chameleon guy]

Okay not totally sure about supplementing so I am going to have to number my questions.

1. for veiled chameleons up to 6 months I have to give calcium with d3 2 times per week and adults 2 a month.
2. how often should I give herptvite to juveniles and adults?
3. How often should i give calcium to adults and juveniles?
4. For each time i supplement should i just supplement a single feeder?

thanks

 

[kinyonga]

For veileds, I supplement with a phosphorous-free calcium powder (Rep-cal's) at most feedings for all ages. The babies thus get it more often since they eat more often.

I dust twice a month with a vitamin powder (Herptivite) that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A for all ages...this way the vitamin A can't build up in the system. If you feel that you want to or need to use a vitamin powder with a preformed vitamin A or a (preformed) vitamin A supplement then its in your control by doing it this way although I don't give mine any preformed vitamin A. Mine may get a bit from the insects though.

I also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder (Rep-cal's) lightly for all ages because my chameleons rarely get any direct sun.

I dust every insect every time for all three supplements but I don't ever make them look like ghosts!

There are many opinions about what to use and how often to use each...all I can tell you is that generally my females live to be over 6 (often over 7) and my males over 8. I have raised quite a few of my veiled babies (hatchlings) too and I haven't had a case of bone disease, no eggbinding, no eye issues, no URI's, etc. for years.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Only you can decide what works for your situation. There is no single schedule that fits all situations. what I do, what works well for me, what anyone else says, may not be the best choice for you and your chameleon. Those that get access to sunlight need very little D3 in their diet, if any. Those with excellent gutloading and a variety of prey insects may need less supplementation dusted on prey than others. The brand of supplement makes a considerable difference. Rep-Cal has 400,000 IU/kg of D3 whereas Miner-All (I) has 4,400 IU/kg of D3 and I think 150IU D3 in Nutribol (which also has Vit A so be wary of using this very often). That's a considerable difference in D3 strength. Herptivite uses beta carotene, so is very safe. Reptivite has preformed vitamin A and thus should be used with caution and infrequently.

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

My chameleons dont go outside.
Regardless of age, I use Rep-Cal with D3 about twice a month.
I use RepCal Calcium (no D3) on most crickets most days. I use Hertivite about twice a month also. Other feeders I use little or no supplements on. I pay close attention to good gutloading and ensure a wide variety of feeder insects (try not to offer the same thing more than twice in a row)