calcium & vitamins

[chris16371]

Hi I'm new here and wasn't sure if my question belonged in the general discussion or feeding or if this topic has brought up before. I've never belonged to a forum before so I'm still learning.
Anyways, I read on the care sheet to use a multivitamin and calcium with d3 but I use a multivitamin with d3 and calcium without is that ok or should I use vitamin without and cal with? I'm a new bearded dragon owner, have had him or her for about 3 weeks. I also use same for my leopard geckos I've had for 5 months so if anyone knows if that's ok for geckos too that info would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[CooperDragon]

The D3 is designed to supplement what they'd produce on their own under natural sunlight. So if you're using a T5 UVB light or a Mercury vapor bulb, I suggest not using D3 supplement because those lights put out UVB at levels that are close to that of natural sunlight during basking times and they can produce enough on their own. With the lower output bulbs like a T8, I suggest using calcium with D3.

What are your feeding/dusting schedules? The calcium is usually provided more often than the vitamin powder which is why I ask. You can probably use either if you're providing multivitamins 2x per week and calcium 5x per week. If you're at a 6 to 1 ratio then I'd use the D3 supplement in the calcium to be sure you're providing enough although how much is enough is still a pretty gray area.

 

[chris16371]

I am using a t8 10.0 inside the terrarium. Im currently feeding him twice a day bc he's so young. About an hour after he wakes up and 2-3 hours before lights go off. I read somewhere to feed calcium one feeding and vitamins the next so I give him cal in morning and vitamins at night.

 

[CooperDragon]

Defer to the instructions on your supplements as they are all formulated a bit differently. Aside from that the general thought is to dust with calcium every feeding for several days and then dust with vitamins for the others. Not a hard and fast rule though.

 

[AHBD]

In general, vitamins need only be given 1-2X a week, and only a very light coating. Calcium is given more often because it helps in the development of every organ in the body. The importance is highlighted when you see pics of beardies with MBD [ metabolic bone disease ] that may very quickly cause neurological as well as muscular problems [ shaking, twitching,weakness, etc. ] as well as skeletal deformities which can be very severe [ misshapen jaws, crooked arms, huge humps on the back,crooked tail ] and all occur within the first year of life.

The vitamins, while still important, aren't nearly as crucial in the baby's development and doses can be missed with no real negative effects.

 

[chris16371]

So should I give him calcium with d3 5x a week and then the other 2 days vitamins? Is it also ok to give him vitamins with d3 on those 2 days even though I'm giving him calcium with d3 or should I do no d3 in vit? I'm currently using no d3 in cal but by the sounds of it I should switch to with d3 since he needs the cal more days then the vitamins.

 

[AHBD]

You will probably be fine giving the calcium without D3 if the vitamin has D3, but it might be best to have both types of calcium. I always feel safe having both types of calcium [ with and without D3 ] and using the D3 about 3 times a week, but because I take my beardies outside for several hours a few times a week, I use the calcium without D3 on those days.

 

[chris16371]

So 3 days cal with d3 then 2 cal without and the other 2 days vit with d3? He still gets fed crix twice a day so should I only dust one feeding a day or both? And if I do dust both feedings do u dust with whatever I used for the first feeding that day?

 

[AHBD]

You only dust one of the feedings per day, and again, do so lightly. It should never be caked on. The only exception would be with a beardie that goes for longer than a few days without eating much, then you can try to coat the bugs more heavily to increase his chance to get enough calcium.