uvb light what's the best one to help with mbd
- Thread starter jchiasson
- Start date
xraygirl
Established Member
Most folks here recommend using the 6% Arcadia or the 5% Reptisun linear (tube) bulbs. Arcadias can be replaced once a year and the reptisun's need to be replaced around every 6 months.
Do you have any pictures of your little one?
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Have you looked at the fixtures from www.lightyourreptiles.com? Arcadia bulbs are very highly rated.
The root cause of MBD is lack of the proper calcium ratio in the diet. How are you addressing this? Without calcium, it matters not what light bulb you use.
The root cause of MBD is lack of the proper calcium ratio in the diet. How are you addressing this? Without calcium, it matters not what light bulb you use.
Last edited:
jchiasson
New Member
when we got your chameleon the breeder never give us the (calcium only) we receive calcium with d3 and vitamin supplement I know calcium with d3 are not for everyday use what make me believe that my chameleon was not properly feed from day one.
so we gut load the crickets and superworm,mealworm ect.. and for about 4 days now she 's having a lot of trouble with her right front paw.
regular calcium only is on the way had to order online,because the pet store here don't have any she told me not to give chameleon dusted crickets with calcium everyday because they get enough calcium from the crickets yeah right.
so I when online and order some but never got here in time but now I use a little bit of calcium pills crush in powder and put in her water and dusted crickets every feed finger cross that this will stop the damage and give her strength.
so we gut load the crickets and superworm,mealworm ect.. and for about 4 days now she 's having a lot of trouble with her right front paw.
regular calcium only is on the way had to order online,because the pet store here don't have any she told me not to give chameleon dusted crickets with calcium everyday because they get enough calcium from the crickets yeah right.
so I when online and order some but never got here in time but now I use a little bit of calcium pills crush in powder and put in her water and dusted crickets every feed finger cross that this will stop the damage and give her strength.
Mike Fisher
Established Member
That's a complicated issue. IMO, in certain circumstances it may be appropriate. If a chameleon is suffering from MBD, has no to little access to UVB, and if the D3 in the supplement is at a low enough concentration, I would not hesitate to use it every day, at least until symptoms improve and you get the other supplies you need.
There are several calcium/D3 supplements that recommend daily use, however there is one that stands out above the rest because of track record and low percentage of D3 relative to the other ingredients. It is Sticky Tongue Farms Miner-all I (indoor formula). See if you can get that locally. I used to use it every day for all of my chameleons before I started milling my own supplements.
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Oh yeah, that cham needs help asap. Rubber bones are not good.
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Male for sure. Coloration gave that away long before the tail shot.
Mike Fisher
Established Member
What calcium/d3 supplement did the breeder give you?
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Yes, and that is exactly why I am asking what brand of supplement you have, because using it may be your best course of action until your supplies arrive. Without knowing that, I can't give that recommendation.
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Yes, I would use it every feeding for a couple of weeks, then taper back to twice weekly. Your guy needs all the help he can get. 1000IU/kg is relatively high, so keep track how long it has been. It is still not nearly as high as Rep-Cal indoor which I have used every feeding for certain animals. That one has 4000IU/kg.
After you get a good bulb and your regular calcium, I'd use plain calcium every feeding, with your D3/calcium two feedings a week. Others may have different opinions on the schedule, and I welcome that. For every species it is a bit different and it has been awhile since I've kept panthers.
FWIW, I've recently had good luck with Repashy Calcium Plus for minerals and vitamins and you can find that one at Petco. Not much track record I can find with the rep-pro. never heard of it until now.
After you get a good bulb and your regular calcium, I'd use plain calcium every feeding, with your D3/calcium two feedings a week. Others may have different opinions on the schedule, and I welcome that. For every species it is a bit different and it has been awhile since I've kept panthers.
FWIW, I've recently had good luck with Repashy Calcium Plus for minerals and vitamins and you can find that one at Petco. Not much track record I can find with the rep-pro. never heard of it until now.
MBD is usually corrected by increasing the calcium and although hey need to produce D3 to use the calcium too much D3 can lead to bone issues. Here is an article you might find interesting...
http://www.uvma.org/chameleon/vitamind3.htm
If you need a temporary source of calcium until your supply comes you can buy a calcium gluconate or calcium sandoz. Once you get the MBD under control you need to make sure that you have a balance of nutrients to keep it from returning.
Another article you might be interested in reading...
http://www.uvma.org/chameleon/vitaminA.htm
http://www.uvma.org/chameleon/vitamind3.htm
If you need a temporary source of calcium until your supply comes you can buy a calcium gluconate or calcium sandoz. Once you get the MBD under control you need to make sure that you have a balance of nutrients to keep it from returning.
Another article you might be interested in reading...
http://www.uvma.org/chameleon/vitaminA.htm
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Good catch.
Yes, sorry I missed a zero. Actually I missed a few zeros, rep pro @10,000 iu/kg and repcal @ 400,000 iu/kg. 40 times as much. Must be getting old....I should stop trying to use just my memory for these things.
I'm trying to put together a current chart of all of the D3 supplements so we have a reference of how much D3 is in each one for a quick comparison.
Yes too much for daily use on a healthy animal, but I'd still use it every day for a few weeks then taper off on an animal I was treating for MBD.
jchiasson
New Member
alright thank a lot mike for your time and for your help!
yeah for 2 days now he decided that was enough of crickets now don't want to eat them ,he just want superworms so gut loading them and dusting with calcium of course so he can get some food in him and hope he get better!
yeah for 2 days now he decided that was enough of crickets now don't want to eat them ,he just want superworms so gut loading them and dusting with calcium of course so he can get some food in him and hope he get better!
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