Thoughts on calcium?

therealmermaid

New Member
Okay I'm rather confused about how we should be dusting the feed with calcium/D3. I'd like your thoughts on the situation but first I'll let you know why I'm so confused!

My supplier and breeder of my Nosey Be Panther Chameleon (Roger :)) only ever dust crickets/food with Nutrabol at every feed. They've obviously had a success with that, and that's what I have been doing with my cam - and Roger is growing to be a very beautiful boy indeed! I've had him since October last year, and he's 1 year old now. He eats 6-8 crickets/locusts every 2 days and drinks very well and is really active.

But I read on here that Nutrabol (calcium with D3) should only be given once a fortnight? And that the rest of the time it should be just pure calcium with no D3? I've bought some and started this routine just in case, as so many of you have said that this is the best routine.

Just wanted to know what people thought, or indeed if you know something that I don't? Or if you've been doing the same routine that I have been doing all this time? So many questions :)

Thank you,

Hollie & Roger
 
Hi There.
I personally do not think Nutrobal (calcium plus multiple vitamins) needs to be offered more than once weekly. Your chameleon should be getting the majority of the vitamins it needs from the variety of well gutloaded insect prey you are offering. We add a plain (vitamin and phosphorous free calcium) more often, because it is hard to get most of the typical prey offered to the right calicum to phosphorous ratio otherwise, even with good gutloading. There are exceptions of course, where no calcium dust is needed either (butterworms, terrestrial isopods, snails). Remember also that your chameleon is getting/producing some D3 for itself from the sunshine it is exposed to (or from the UVB producing light tubes).

Here are a couple of links you may find useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/174-whats-supplements-brand.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html
 
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