Hi everyone. I am new to the forum and have a juvenile veiled Chameleon, who is adorable. Just wondering about vitamins and D3 as I believe they only need to be given twice a month. I am wondering because the gut loading pellets for crickets have already got these vitamins in them. Am I okay to use these or should I gut load with Kale for example.
Vitamins
- Thread starter Jackster
- Start date
Hi I will have to look at the gut load pellets when I get home. Dont know the exact age of the Chameleon, he is captive bred and was sold as a juvenile. He is approx. 8 inches .Supplements are calcium, calcium + D3 and exo terra multi vit (remembered that one). I just dont want to overdo the vitamins etc
Welcome to the forum!
Most vitamins are water soluble and you shouldn’t be able to overdose them since they should be excreted…but that doesn’t mean go crazy with them. The ones to be careful with are the fat soluble ones like prEformed vitamin A and vitamin D3 because they can build up in the chameleons’ system and lead to overdose. These two you only want to provide lightly twice a month.
D3, from the proper UVB lights we recommend using (Reptisun 5.0 or Arcadia 6%, long linear tube UvB lights) and from direct sunlight (that does not pass through glass or plastic), should not build up as long as the chameleons can move in and out of it at will. D3 from these sources is produced in the body as needed. PrEformed vitamin A is ready to go and will also build up in the chameleon’s system. PrOformed sources of vitamin A won’t build up, but it’s not known to be converted into prEformed by the chameleon…or not converted efficiently enough, so are considered not necessary/useful to the chameleon.
We recommend to dust the insects, just before feeding them to the chameleon, lightly at all feedings but 2a month with a phos free calcium powder and then on the two other feedings, once every two weeks, dust lightly with a vitamin powder that contains a prEformed source of vitamin A and D3 on those two days.
Hope this helps a bit!
Most vitamins are water soluble and you shouldn’t be able to overdose them since they should be excreted…but that doesn’t mean go crazy with them. The ones to be careful with are the fat soluble ones like prEformed vitamin A and vitamin D3 because they can build up in the chameleons’ system and lead to overdose. These two you only want to provide lightly twice a month.
D3, from the proper UVB lights we recommend using (Reptisun 5.0 or Arcadia 6%, long linear tube UvB lights) and from direct sunlight (that does not pass through glass or plastic), should not build up as long as the chameleons can move in and out of it at will. D3 from these sources is produced in the body as needed. PrEformed vitamin A is ready to go and will also build up in the chameleon’s system. PrOformed sources of vitamin A won’t build up, but it’s not known to be converted into prEformed by the chameleon…or not converted efficiently enough, so are considered not necessary/useful to the chameleon.
We recommend to dust the insects, just before feeding them to the chameleon, lightly at all feedings but 2a month with a phos free calcium powder and then on the two other feedings, once every two weeks, dust lightly with a vitamin powder that contains a prEformed source of vitamin A and D3 on those two days.
Hope this helps a bit!
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Flick boy
Chameleon Enthusiast
This is what I will be using, in the past iv used the full Arcadia range, which has been pointed out to me by a good member things need to be on point, in the beginning I just used plain calcium nod3 then twice a month repti vite plus d3 , and along with fresh fruits and vegetables I used Arcadia insect fuel
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Flick boy
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yeah too much d3
I would not use D3 in your gutload...
So you know the multivitamin you are using does have D3 but does not have vitamin A which is needed. So you are adding in too much D3. I am not all that fond of the exo terra supplements.
You could keep using the repticalcium if it is without D3. I could not see the label completely. Anyways if it is then you would use it at all feedings and then you would use a multivitamin only 2 times a month. Say the 1st and the 15th. I would suggest you use Repashy calcium plus LoD version. 3 oz jar is plenty https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DLJRMV2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
THen if you want a gutload you can easily make get repashy bug burger and follow the mixing direction. This one when mixed ends up being good for water as well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RM796YA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you want to do fresh veg gutload then here is an image that will guide you.
