Lighting and calcium... D3 or no?

[Abbyz2002]

So I recently got a new baby beardie. I got a reptisun 5.0 at the moment until my new light comes in. Which is gonna be the reptisun 10.0, T5 39W and 34”. I don’t know weather I should have calcium with D3 or not?? I’m also giving him the herptivive 2 times a week.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB mini Compact Fluorescents are totally inadequate (let me guess - it came with the tank kit right ?) , your globe is subpar because it's likely a 13W and it's only rated 5% UVB.

I'd return the Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB mini Compact Fluorescent 13W or 25W version (neither is adequate) and exchange it for a Exo Terra 26W UVB200 for now.

The shop should have the better globe in stock and will be able to swap as the prices are very similar , if they wont , take your business elsewhere .

Investment in a 26W UVB200 will get you out of trouble for about 6 months if set up right ( aim for 180 microW UVB / sq.cm at the basking spot and 100 microW UVB / sq.cm elsewhere in the warm zone.
Guide :

The dragon needs to be able to bask inside 8" from a 26W UVB200 (10% UVB) is it's mounted in a dome or nano-hood and NOT ontop the mesh lid.

I'm not a fan of D3 "fortified" calcium , as the synthetic vitamin D3 is not the same isomer as the natural form and will not be efficiently absorbed or metabolized in a reptile's body unlike the natural vitamin D3 that the lizard will make through photosynthesis on its absorbing UVB from the sun or a UV source. There is also a buffering reaction in the lizard's blood too which will restrict absorbance and metabolisation of dietary calcium, the fake D3 interfers with the absorbtion of calcium and restricts the concentration of Ca in the lizard's bloodstream.

Be careful on doseage of fake D3 mixed with calcium ,
Short term is OK , but long term can result in hypercalcemia and vit D3 toxicity.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's terrific you have ordered the Reptisun 10 T5, your dragon will love it.
The herptivite vitamins is fine, two times per week, as it has beta carotene in it so it shouldn't
become toxic. Since you will be using a higher UVB output light, I would recommend to just
use calcium without D3. You can use D3 every so often but it doesn't need to be on a regular
basis.
Be sure to post some pictures of your setup, once you have your lighting all in place!

Tracie

 

[Abbyz2002]

Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB mini Compact Fluorescents are totally inadequate (let me guess - it came with the tank kit right ?) , your globe is subpar because it's likely a 13W and it's only rated 5% UVB.

I'd return the Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB mini Compact Fluorescent 13W or 25W version (neither is adequate) and exchange it for a Exo Terra 26W UVB200 for now.

The shop should have the better globe in stock and will be able to swap as the prices are very similar , if they wont , take your business elsewhere .

Investment in a 26W UVB200 will get you out of trouble for about 6 months if set up right ( aim for 180 microW UVB / sq.cm at the basking spot and 100 microW UVB / sq.cm elsewhere in the warm zone.
Guide :

The dragon needs to be able to bask inside 8" from a 26W UVB200 (10% UVB) is it's mounted in a dome or nano-hood and NOT ontop the mesh lid.

I'm not a fan of D3 "fortified" calcium , as the synthetic vitamin D3 is not the same isomer as the natural form and will not be efficiently absorbed or metabolized in a reptile's body unlike the natural vitamin D3 that the lizard will make through photosynthesis on its absorbing UVB from the sun or a UV source. There is also a buffering reaction in the lizard's blood too which will restrict absorbance and metabolisation of dietary calcium, the fake D3 interfers with the absorbtion of calcium and restricts the concentration of Ca in the lizard's bloodstream.

Be careful on doseage of fake D3 mixed with calcium ,
Short term is OK , but long term can result in hypercalcemia and vit D3 toxicity.

No I do not have the mini compact bulb. I have the Zoo Med T8 ReptiSun 5.0 UVB Fluorescent Reptile Lamp. But The other one comes in tomorrow. So all I needed to know was about the calcium not the extra stuff you said

 

[Abbyz2002]

Hello,

That's terrific you have ordered the Reptisun 10 T5, your dragon will love it.
The herptivite vitamins is fine, two times per week, as it has beta carotene in it so it shouldn't
become toxic. Since you will be using a higher UVB output light, I would recommend to just
use calcium without D3. You can use D3 every so often but it doesn't need to be on a regular
basis.
Be sure to post some pictures of your setup, once you have your lighting all in place!

Tracie

I don’t know how to post pictures on here so I’m gonna try to explain it. So he has around a 90 gallon tank, with tile at the bottom. He has a dome fixture with his intense 100 W basking bulb. Then he has nothing on the cool side because it’s already at 80-85 degrees. And for his UVB it’s a reptisun terrarium hood to hold the light in place. And that light is sitting on top of his cage that has mesh at the top.