Good Vitamins/Supplements?

[LilahFaye]

I've recently had my beardie on calcium w/D3 and now I'm switching him over to a calcium w/o D3 (I've heard they can get overdosed with the D3) and he should be able to produce his own natural D3 levels in his body. I'm also thinking about getting him a new multi-vitamin, and I was wondering if Reptivite was a good brand. I've seen it in some pet stores and online, it's in a powder form. If I were to get this multi-vitamin, how many times a week would I give it to a 6-7 month old bearded dragon? He's about 10-11 inches long (he's missing some of his tail, he would have been much longer with it.)

Thanks for the help!

Also, here is a link to the vitamin online: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6016+6057+6415&pcatid=6415
If you click "More Information" you can see all of the vitamins/nutrients.

 

[fresnowitte]

Hi Lilah!

Unless you are using a Mercury Vapor Bulb I'd suggest to continue using the w/D3 calcium. The best brand for beardies as for supplements in my opinion is the RepCal. They have a herptivite/multivitamin too which I give to all my beardies 2 days a week.

Sorry I don't know anything about that supplement you posted I've always used RepCal, but I'm sure someone will come along that does. :wink:

 

[LilahFaye]

Ok Thanks. I've also heard about RepCal Herptivite, but I can't find that brand anywhere in my area. I may have to get it online

 

[fresnowitte]

These are the 2 places I order supplies from online.
We have local stores that carry it but they want more than double the online cost if you order a few different supplies or items for your beardie it makes it worth paying shipping. :wink:

http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cName=Supplements&cPath=22&sort=3a&page=3

http://www.petmountain.com/search/0/0/1/1/?s=repcal+supplements&g=+

 

[LilahFaye]

Thanks! I've ordered quite a few supplies from Petmountain.com

 

[LilahFaye]

The biggest reason I've been thinking of changing my beardie's calcium dust, is because it apparently contains a small amount of Phosphorus. The label on the bottle says the it includes a small level necessary for proper calcium utilization. I don't know if this is bad, because everyone says not to have a calcium with phosphorus in it. So, should I buy a new calcium dust, that still includes D3? The brand I'm using now Tetrafauna "ReptoCal" :| :?

 

[fresnowitte]

I personally would go with phosphorus free supplements. As your beardie already is getting some phosphorus from the foods they eat. For instance with superworms it's recommended that you dust with calcium to raise the calcium levels in the Ca ratio.

If Ca;P ratios are improper this is what will/can happen.

MBD is complex disease. In it's simplest terms, MBD results from an improper calcium to phophorus ratio in the body. Normally this ratio should be around 2:1 calciumhosphorus (in the range of 1:1 to 2:1). When the calcium level is relatively low the body tries to compensate by taking calcium from wherever it can, for example the bones. This leads to a softening of the bones, making them susceptible to fractures and also leading to a deposition of fibrous tissue as the body tries to strengthen the bone in an absence of available calcium. Calcium also impacts a number of other physiological systems including muscle contraction (including the heart) and blood clotting. The 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus that is ideal in the diet, but calcium metabolism is not that simple. Vitamin D (especially D3) is also vital to calcium metabolism, and because some reptiles do not absorb vitamin D that well (much like humans) they need ultraviolet light exposure to manufacture their own vitamin D.

 

[LilahFaye]

That's what I thought :| Hopefully I'll be able to have the new supplements soon. Do you think I should hold back on giving him any more of the calcium he has now until I get the new one? (which may be some time next week.) I don't think him not having his calcium for a couple of days would hurt him..