CALCI DUST!!

[AJBD]

Hi there what would be the best calcium dust to use with crickets for a baby beardie

Also quickly( and a bit of subject) but is the mercury vapour bulb worth the money as i heard it gives both uvb and heat?

Thanks Thomas?

 

[dezismom]

I use Rep Cal phosphorous free calcium with vitamin D3 ultra fine powder. It must be good, because my boy is three years old and very big and very healthy.

After much research, I chose a 24" Zoo med reptisun flourescent bulb, which I replace every six months. It covers the entire vivarium and provides even light, and is often recommended by others on this site, and in books. I had read that mercury vapors can cause damage to the retina, so I have never used one. Of course, even the reptisun warns that if it is placed too close to the eyes it can damage the retina, so I follow the directions that come with it about distance from lamp to top of head.

 

[CooperDragon]

RepCal is a good option. I like Repashy products quite a bit as well.

A high quality MVB (you get what you pay for) can be good but I find them better for portable basking areas and travel. I don't like that you have to set the bulb at appropriate height for UVB output and cant' adjust for proper heat. I prefer using a T5 tube for UVB so that's set in the correct spot and then I can adjust my basking light (halogen flood light) independently. I feel that's a better way to manage the main tank.

 

[KeyBlu422]

The zoomed MVB is pretty effective. I used it at one point but, because of what Cooper said about the MVB and its absurd cost, I went back to bask bulb and UVB separate.
Also, while rep cal is probably the best, other brands like Nat Geo are good too. What you really want to watch out for is multivitamin choice. Herptivite for example, uses retinol(I think) and beta carotene(reptiles can dispose of excess beta carotene through their poop) while some multivitamins use retinol, aceitate, or both and synthetic vitamin A(reptiles can't dispose of excess synthetic vitamin A through their poop like beta carotene). So, while somewhat unlikely, you can unintentionally provide too much vitamin A to the beardy(hypervitaminosis A) when giving multivitamin.