Understanding Calcium with/without D3

[HandBag]

I have a question about dusting with calcium containing D3 and calcium not containing it. I've had my Veiled Chameleon for about a month (he's about 8-9 months old) and I bought him from a reptile store that told me to dust his food with D3, but after reading some posts, I'm a bit confused. Can some one explain the difference? I'd hate to be doing it wrong...

thanks!

 

[carol5208]

He will get D3 from his UVB bulb, or better yet(depending on where you live) taking him outside in the sun. Too much artificial d3(meaning the kind we dust the insects with) can cause damage to their organs and overall health. We suggest twice a month to give them a little bit of artificial d3. Some brands can be used more that twice a month, depending on their concentration. Some calcium powders with d3 contain more d3 than others. The formula of twice a month seems to be successful with the majority of us and that is why we do it and recommend it. My chameleons do not get any, as they pretty much live outside being in Florida. I don't find it necessary to give them artificial when they are getting it from the sun everyday.

 

[HandBag]

Calcium/ And another quick question

Thanks for the answer! It seems like I've been doing it wrong then and will buy calcium without it tomorrow. He is getting some natural sun as well. I've had him about a month but I had a chameleon before him years ago...I'm not sure what I did with the other chameleon...so thanks! That's very helpful...

Another quick question...the shop I bought him at is a reptile shop but I think he was placed in lower temps (like 80 degrees tops) during the day and no hotter spot for basking even. As I said, I've had him a month and he is doing great, growing, eating, pooping, everything. I keep his cage at 80-85 degrees with about 73 degrees at the bottom of the cage. I've noticed he is gaping his mouth open (more often lately). I have a ficus tree he can crawl into right next to his cage and he often spends some of the day on the tree in the sun (they are very old windows) so not sure how much UV he's getting while he's out of the cage. Should I be worried that his cage is too hot? It seems like he prefers lower temps and perhaps that could be because of where he spent the last 6 months in the shop...
Thank you for any suggestions!

 

[kinyonga]

Glass makes the UVB useless when light passes through it.