vits and mins.. and all that confusing stuff

[Montys mom]

Hi guys....


i so want to get it right but i find reading up on the dusting confusing.

and want to make sure i getting the right stuff..

today i dusted.. with beaphar reptile minerals

but i have orderd vits with cal and d3 ? i could have it with out but i really dont know do i get it with or with out...

please guys can you help and whats the best thing to feed crickets

i so want to get this right as after monty passed (resuce)

i want to get every thing right for jr as i know keemys are so diff to all other reptiles one thing he like veg.just need to cut it up super small. i dont know how old jr is but hes really tiny..and been told hes eating size 3 crickets.

 

[Olimpia]

I know it can be confusing, but lets see if we can clear things up

If you want to look more into what each vitamin/mineral does and why it matters you can check out this blog: http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

But in short, here's what you want to have and why:

1. A plain calcium (this means no vitamin D3 and no phosphorus)
2. A calcium with D3
3. A multivitamin

(You can use a multivitamin that has calcium and D3, like an all-in-one, to combine 2. and 3.)

A lot of our feeders (like crickets) are really high in phosphorus and really low in calcium, and this is bad because we want these two elements to be pretty even, so we want to use calcium to correct this. That's why we recommend that we use plain calcium at every feeding to make sure the chameleon has enough calcium to grow, build strong bones, and run all bodily functions.

Then, you want calcium WITH D3, only a couple (2) times a month, because your UVB bulb should be doing most of the work as far as letting the chameleon make this vitamin naturally in the skin. However, it's a good idea to give it a few times a month to fill in any possible gaps there may be. You never want to give D3 every day because it is a vitamin that builds up in the body over time, and can cause health problems. So, think good UVB bulb and just a little D3 here and there.

And of course you want a multivitamin to fill in any nutritional gaps. This can be used 2-3 times a month as well.

But the calciums with and without D3 are the most important ones to keep track of, in my opinion.

As far as what to feed crickets, this link has more info but here is an chunk of it: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/

Suggested Ingredients
Best - These gutloading ingredients are best because they are highest in calcium, low in phosphorus, oxalates and goitrogens. They should be the primary components of your gutload:
mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion leaves, collard greens, escarole lettuce, papaya, watercress and alfalfa.

Good - These gutloading ingredients are good because they are moderately high in calcium and other vitamins/minerals. They should be used in addition to those from the previous category:
sweet potato, carrots, oranges, mango, butternut squash, kale, apples, beet greens, blackberries, bok choy and green beans.

These fresh fruits and vegetables can be combined with dry gutload mixes or home made mixes for optimal well-rounded nutrition. Dry ingredients can include:
bee pollen, organic non-salted sunflower seeds, spirulina, dried seaweed, flax seed and organic non-salted almonds.

Hopefully that helps! Let me know if something wasn't clear.

 

[Montys mom]

wow thank you so much.... you really helped me big time.. will will oreder cal

in and vit one now .. and go and give the crickts some better food like carrot.
and stuff

just gone and ordered him some small cal worms so things crossed he can eat them.. going to oreder the cal. now and any thing else i missed.