Calcium with d3, conflicting info.

[jenneelk]

I'm at a loss on what to do with my calcium for my beardie.. additional d3 formula or without the d3? He's only been on the without kind so far.
On here I recall people posting they use the d3 kind and elsewhere i have seen some say to use it.. but there are many others who say not too. It can be too much for them, like OD, and they get enough from a good UVB.
I just bought some with the d3 and am thinking of doing 4 days with just calcium, 1 day of d3 calcium and 2 days of his multivitamin. Does this sound ok?

He's about 5 months and had a retipsun mini 5.0 for 2 months and now in his 100 gallon he has a 24 in. reptisun 10 tube (not the high output one) about 8 inches from both his basking. Think this is fine for his d3? I'm thinking of getting a 2nd tube, right now the 24 inch is centered in his tank that's 60 long and the old mini is also above one basking area but about 12 in from it (no screen though).

Also.. he eats about 20 large reptiworms a day with his crickets (starting dubi's tomorrow).
thanks for any guidance.. I don't want him to overload on d3 or get less either.

 

[Taterbug]

It doesn't seem like they get nearly as much benefit from supplemented D3 as from what they make on their own. Having a good UVB light is critical. Overdose with supplements is possible, but pretty unlikely if you dust correctly. Feeders should have just was sticks to their bodies, not be turned into powdered doughnuts.

You should only need one bulb, and it should be over the basking area at minimum. Just get rid of the mini (that's the compact right?) it can cause problems and you have the better bulb already.

 

[Tonja]

Beardies need D3. They cannot properly absorb calcium needed for healthy bones without it, D3 is synthesized with UVB lighting. They all work <calcium. D3 and UVB> in conjunction with each other for healthy bone growth and to stop the development of metabolic bone disease. There is little D3 in calcium so if you dust correctly they will not overdose on the D3 in the calcium but it is needed with certain UVB lights like the reptisun 10.0 tube.
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/MBD.html