I would email the manufacturer of Rep-Cal and ask for their opinion. Many people have used the product for years without problems. Sometimes it's not that a product cannot be absorbed at all, but is absorbed at a lower rate than another form.

Oyster shell is calcium carbonate, same as coral calcium and any other form of calcium carbonate (tums, vitamins). Much of the research done on calcium supplements is in the area of human nutrition. The drawback to many calcium carbonate supplements is that they came in hard pressed tablets that were difficult to digest without sufficient stomach acid, or the manufacturing process rendered them a lower quality. Having calcium carbonate available in powder form makes it much more available nutritionally, as does taking it with meals.

There are other forms of calcium: dolomite, dicalcium phosphate, calcium gluconate (very high quality), calcium citrate, calcium from bone meal, etc, etc, etc. In my opinion, the key to optimum calcium metabolism is proper diet along with quality UV exposure. Whole foods and foods high in natural calcium sources along with a regular (but overdose) of calcium supplement will be part of a good husbandry plan.

I haven't read the article at Varnyard site's...this is just info from my own background. However, I find that if I have a question about a product or read a questionable review, I like to ask the manufacturer for their position. When some rumors/reviews were going around about the quality of frozen feeders a few years ago, I went to the supplier and asked for their opinion and other info. I currently have some questions about another new supplement on the market and am waiting for that manufacturer to answer a few questions.

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