Powersun MVB and Calcium with D3

[danab]

Hello!

There have been some posts regarding my question, but none of them seem to have been answered or the information is conflicting. I'm throuroughly confused now.

I recently changed one of my beardies Wasabi (she is about a year old and in a 40 gallon breeder) to the Powersun 100 MVB. Some posts say that if you use an mvb, do not supplement D3. Another stated that D3 was not needed for MVB's because their UVB output is higher than standard tubes so you only have to supplement D3 with tubes. Then they stated how much UVB both types gave off, and the Powersun MVB was about the same as the Reptisun 10?

So for those of use who are using the Powersun MVB's should we be supplementing with D3 or not? To D3 or Not to D3 that is the question!

Thanks!
Dana

 

[Terminator7777]

You dont have to use the d3 with good uvb lighting. But giving it to them is fine but dont really need it with proper uvb.

 

[BadCon]

Whether to use D3 or not depends entirely on the overall level of UVB exposure your dragon experiences. Without knowing the precise output of the current crop of PowerSuns, I couldn't really say whether you should use D3. So I'll err on the side of caution and recommend you alternate between a pure calcium and calcium D3 blend every other dosing. You could split the difference and get a "low" D3 supplement...I know Repashy makes one.
Dragons housed under lower output UVB tubes, like Reptisuns, need a D3 supplement.
Those who live outdoors in full sun do not need a D3 supplement.
MVB users probably fall somewhere in between these two extremes. But I know the output of the recent crop of MVB's has dropped considerably...so the recommendations of just a few years ago may no longer apply.

 

[lauraj1055]

I use the Powersun MVB 160 watt and you DO NOT need to supplement calcium with D3... Plain and simple

 

[danab]

Anyone else using a Powersun 100 that is not using D3 with no ill effects?

If I decide to play it safe and giver her every other D3 doses is there a chance for toxicity? She gets limited sun when I take her outside and no sun during the colder months since we are in CO. So pretty much all her UVB is coming from bulbs.

I am considering buying a UV meter in the future so I can really see what our beardies are getting (since there seems to be conflicting info and all bulbs seem to have problems at some point), but with 3 rescues and vet bills etc. I am going to have to wait a bit. I just want to make sure I do the best for my chubby lil' mama. One thing I did notice is that her colors really pop under the new bulb. :wink:

 

[RioReptiles]

Dana,
I wouldn't worry too much about D3 toxicity with her right now, it takes time to build up before it shows any ill effects, and her needs are probably more on a therapeutic level at this time. Supposedly, a dragon needs about 20 IU of D3 per week, so it depends on what brand of calcium you are using too. Rep cal contains 400 IU per 1000 mg (1 gm), while Zoo Med contains 122 IU per 1000 mg (1 gm), but they are two different kinds of calcium and coat insects differently. Rep cal is a coarse ground calcium and doesn't stick to most bugs very well while Zoo Med uses a precipitated calcium which is made similarly to a distilling process. We also use the precipitated calcium because of the super fine consistency and it's ability to cake and stick to superworms and roaches, so I think less D3 is needed with this type of calcium since more is actually ingested. The added D3 also has to be metabolized propertly to actually aid in calcium absorption and that relies on liver function. The D3 that is made from UVB exposure is done when the index is above a 3 and the Powersun 100w meters at a 5. I use both Powersuns with all my females while giving calcium complex powder that contains 17 IU D3 per gram of calcium, and I still get small tail kinks in some females during their 3rd and 4th clutches.

 

[danab]

I currently have Flukers Calcium With D3 and the Zoomed without. I am not planning on breeding Wasabi (shes not my crooked rescue gal and is nice and straight boned at the moment). I am also using the Zoomed reptivite with D3. Wasabi can be a stinker and she doesn't always want to bask (even though the temps with my infrared thermometers are good at about 95-98 degrees) as much as I would like so she's probably getting a little less UVB. Its hotter here in CO than normal and the house has been getting up to 85 degrees so that might be why she doesn't feel the need to go right under her light as much as she did last year. I had her under a new Reptisun 10 before I swapped to teh Powersun and she was doing the same thing so I'm not concerned that it is the bulb.

I am thinking that I'll go to no D3 for her straight calcium and she will get a little D3 with her multivitamins. I'll keep a close eye on her. :lol: