Vet Recommends Vitamin A

[TiffanyMariexo]

So calcium with everyday feedings and mutli plus calcium with D3 twice a month. Check we've been doing good with that The vet recommends something high in vitamin A to dust with the chams food as well... Any recommendations ?

 

[Kaianuanu]

Repashy SuperVite has a lot of A in it, but it has a good bit of D in it too so make sure it doesn't clash with your existing D3 supplementation.

 

[TiffanyMariexo]

Know of anything that's just good for vitamin A ?

 

[jannb]

I would recommend Reptivite without D3.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-vitamins/-/zoo-med-reptivite-without-d3-2oz/

 

[TiffanyMariexo]

Thanks, any idea how much of it they should get ?

 

[jannb]

Thanks, any idea how much of it they should get ?

I use it twice a month for a vitamin supplement.

 

[Kaianuanu]

Repashy makes a pure vitamin a supplement, it's called "vitamin a plus". But it's very potent, I've seen threads where people only use it on 1 to 3 crickets per month. You could also use fish liver oil from a place like gnc.

http://www.store.repashy.com/repashy-superfoods/retail/by-product-name-en/vitamin-a-plus-en-2/

 

[TiffanyMariexo]

So I can pretty much ditch my old multi vitamin then

 

[jannb]

So I can pretty much ditch my old multi vitamin then

After he gets better you could rotate around and use your old vit. once a month and your new vit. with A once a month.

 

[Kaianuanu]

After he gets better you could rotate around and use your old vit. once a month and your new vit. with A once a month.

Not to thread jack but I've been thinking about doing something similar. I have a 3 month nosy be from kammers that I'll be getting in a few days and I was thinking about doing 5 days/week plain cal, Repashy SuperCal HyD twice a month and, maybe heptivite once a month, then Reptivite w/o D3 once a month. Any input on that?

 

[sandrachameleon]

After he gets better you could rotate around and use your old vit. once a month and your new vit. with A once a month.

THis sounds like good advise.

You can also add something that contains vitamin A to your gutload, instead of buying another supplement. A boiled egg for example.

 

[JimO]

I use Repashy Vitamin A Plus for my dart frogs on an approximately monthly basis. I've been using it for my chameleons as well on the same schedule. It has a calcium carbonate base, with preformed Vitamin A (Retinol) and other source of beta carotene. The directions recommend use no more than once a week and more frequent theraputic use under a vet's supervision for Vitamin A deficiency. I like that the base has some calcium in it without D3.

Dart frogs are notoriously plagued with Vitamin A deficiency and since I've been using this product I haven't had any issues with my adults or any malformed froglets (one common problem that is partly attributed to Vitamin A deficiency in the parents).

 

[sandrachameleon]

Dart frogs are notoriously plagued with Vitamin A deficiency and since I've been using this product I haven't had any issues with my adults or any malformed froglets (one common problem that is partly attributed to Vitamin A deficiency in the parents).

I've never had any trouble with deficiency in my frogs. I use repashy calcium plus just a couple times a month . I don't think you really need all that much retinol for chams nor frogs

 

[JimO]

Many of the long-time dart froggers are wound a little tight and fret over supplements more than they probably should. In fact, I believe that Repashy made the Vitamin A Plus product at the request of the dart frog community. I would imagine that there is less of an issue with chameleons due to all the stuff that can be used to gutload their food. I know that most dart froggers don't gutload fruit flies. And, until recently, the variety of feeders available for the average dart frogger was very limited.

I haven't seen any scientific studies that explain some of the chronic problems with captive dart frogs, like spindly leg syndrome, undersized offspring, and just failure to thrive. A lot of fecal tests are done and it doesn't seem to be a parasite problem, so many folks assume it is a dietary deficiency and probably over supplement. I've wondered if the abundance of inbreeding is one overall cause. Also, in the wild the weaker tadpoles and froglets don't make it. But, I've seen folks go to great lengths to keep a weak or malformed dart frog alive. This probably also weakens the overall captive populations.

Sorry for the tangent, but it sounds like I shouldn't have any vitamin deficiency problems.

Thanks

I've never had any trouble with deficiency in my frogs. I use repashy calcium plus just a couple times a month . I don't think you really need all that much retinol for chams nor frogs

 

[Turningdoc]

An aside. You can't gutload fruit flies( use search fxn on Dendroboard) thus the focus on supplementation. I think this may be one of the problems that can arise with keeping bradypodian if keepers are using a fly heavy feeding regimen.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I try to give my frogs as much variety as I can, so maybe that's why I am successful without heavy supplements. Fruit flies, sometimes fly maggots (more gutloadable than the flies!), bean beetles, terrestrial isopods, spring tails, baby mealworms, pinhead crickets, occasionally mites, fungus gnats, the occasional baby silkworm, leaf rollers (in season),sometimes aphids,...

Lack of variety in feeder prey is quite possibly a problem for some chameleon keepers too.

 

[Turningdoc]

Maybe you should change usernames to Sandrabugs!

 

[spencer451]

I've been using a pure fish oil, just dabbing a little on a roach a couple of times a month, it has cleared up the problem I was having with his eye getting a film on it.

 

[kuzitiso]

Why bother dust? I just feed my feeders butternut squash or sweet potato in their gut load rotation. Both very rich in vitamin A.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Why bother dust? I just feed my feeders butternut squash or sweet potato in their gut load rotation. Both very rich in vitamin A.

no, actually, they are not. They are rich in carotene, which some animals convert to Vitamin A. It is not clear if any/all chameleons (or feeder prey) do this, or with what efficiency. Some keepers have no trouble providing zero pre-formed vitamin A, but others find it very necessary.